We like to think of our homes as being a safe place to be--a refuge from

a dangerous world. Yet some of the exposures that you have

day-to-day that are most hazardous to your health and the health of

your family happen right at home. The good news is that for every toxic product you'll find in your home,

there is a safer alternative. You just need to know where to look for

those toxic exposures and what safe solutions are available. Here are ten common toxic exposures most Americans have in their

homes, and some simple, inexpensive things everyone can do to reduce

household toxics. 1. Save yourself from exposure to toxic ammonia by washing your

windows with vinegar and water. Ammonia can cause irritation of the

eyes and respiratory tract, and burn your skin. Instead, mix distilled

white or apple cider vinegar half-and-half with water in a spray bottle.

Squirt on windows and wipe with recycled newspapers for a streak-free

super shine. 2. Free yourself from toxic formaldehyde exposure by sleeping on

untreated cotton sheets. Formaldehyde exposure can cause

insomnia?es, insomnia?nd respiratory problems, among other

symptoms. Bypass formaldehyde-coated polyester/cotton sheets and

no-iron cotton sheets and choose cozy cotton flannel sheets or

untreated cotton percale sheets, both available at major department

stores and online. 3. Put up a detector to protect your family from carbon monoxide

exposure. Carbon monoxide starves the body and brain of oxygen and

can be fatal. First symptoms include sleepiness, headache, dizziness,

flushed skin, and disorientation. All homes with gas appliances or

heaters should install carbon monoxide detectors, available in most

hardware and home improvement stores or on-line. 4. Replace toxic mothballs with sweet sachets. Mothballs are made from

100 percent paradichlorobenzene, a volatile toxic chemical that can

cause headaches and severe irritation to nose, throat and lungs. Over

time it can cause liver and kidney damage. Because the balls look like

candy, they are a very attractive poison to children. Protect your

woolens from moths by making sachets from dried lavender, equal parts

dried rosemary and mint, or whole peppercorns. Cedar products are

also effective moth repellants. 5. Use soap-based cleaning products instead of poisonous detergent.

While detergents seem safe, they are a petrochemical-based product

that is responsible for more household poisonings than any other

substance. Soap, on the other hand, is made from natural oils and

minerals and has been safely used for centuries. Natural and organic

soap-based products can be found in natural food stores and online. 6. Refill your own non-plastic water bottle instead of using toxic plastic

water bottles. While it's good for your health to carry your own water

and drink it throughout the day, if it's in a clear polycarbonate plastic

bottle, it is leaching a toxic substance into your water--even if the bottle

is sitting on table at room temperature. Bisphenol-A. BPA is a potent

hormone disruptor that can impair the reproductive organs and have

adverse effects on breast tissue and prostate development. Drink from

a glass bottle or carry an aluminum or steel bottle, available online. 7. Avoid toxic pesticides by making dinner using fresh, organically-grown

produce. Most food sold in supermarkets are sprayed heavily with

pesticides, many of which cause cancer. Find out where to buy

pesticide-free organically grown food in your community, go there and

purchase what looks good and is in season. One taste and you?l go

back for more. A great variety of organically-grown food can also be

ordered on-line. 8. Wash away petrochemical perfumes and take a botanical bath. Many

commercial bath products contain detergents and artificial fragrances

that can be irritating to sensitive areas. You can have a luxurious

relaxing bath by adding natural substances to warm bathwater, such as

fragrant dried or fresh herbs (try lavender, rosemary, or peppermint), a

quart of buttermilk, or 1 cup Epsom salts. For bubbles, use a natural or

organic soap, available in natural food stores and online. 9. Get some color in your life without toxic solvents by choosing colorful

water-based pens and markers. Check through your pens and markers

and throw away any with "permanent" ink. They contain very toxic

volatile solvents such as toluene and xylene. Every office discount

warehouse and art supply store I have been to carries water-based

pens and markers in every size and color. 10. Clear the air with a couple of houseplants. In addition to being

beautiful to look at, houseplants also freshen the air by absorbing the

carbon dioxide we exhale and releasing the oxygen that is vital for us to

breathe. Some plants, such as the popular spider plant, also remove

some air pollutants. To learn more about toxic products hidden in your home and safer

alternatives, buy and read Home Safe Home: Creating a Healthy Home

Environment by Reducing Exposure to Toxic Household Products

(http://www. dld123. com/homesafehome. html). To find nontoxic

products online, visit Debra's List at http://www. debraslist. com. Hailed as "The Queen of Green" by the New York Times, Debra

Lynn Dadd has been a leading consumer advocate for products

and lifestyle choices that are better for health and the

environment since 1982. Visit her website to learn more about her new

book Home

Safe Home, to sign up for her free email newsletters, and to

browse 100s of links to 1000s of nontoxic, natural and

earthwise products. http://www. dld123. com

Author:
Debra Lynn Dadd