Knowingly or unknowingly, we all use several household products and personal-care products that are laden with harmful chemicals. Long-term excessive exposure to these hazardous chemicals is a serious threat and is known to trigger many chronic illnesses. Therefore, it becomes utmost important to use alternative non-toxic or natural products wherever possible. Following few chemical based products, extensively used in every household should definitely be banished.
1. Coal-tar driveway sealant
Using coal-tar based sealants to seal the blacktop driveway is a common practice in most households. These sealants are known to contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, also called PAH’s that are harmful toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic chemicals. During rains, these toxic chemicals combine with water and run down your yard thereby polluting your local water supply. The effect is similar to that of quarts of motor oil being dumped down a storm drain.
What you can do:
As opposed to conventional coal-tar based sealants, it is advisable to use gravel or some other porous materials for your driveways. This will allow rainwater to sink into the ground, thereby preventing any damage to water treatment plants. However, if you must seal blacktop, you should choose asphalt sealant and steer clear of products containing coal tar. Lowe’s and Home Depot store have now banned the inferior quality hazardous products but smaller hardware stores still carry them. Choose what you use wisely.
2. Synthetic pesticides
All kind of chemical weed and bug killers fall under this category. Their use should be minimal or better still avoided altogether because they are harmful synthetic pesticides and associated with a lot of chronic diseases. Also do not fall for false claims like “Natural” pesticides because there isn’t any such thing. Herbicides have been linked to various forms of cancer and brain damage especially in kids. So it is best to avoid using them, both inside and outside your home.
What you can do:
Do regular indoor cleaning and vacuuming in order to prevent bugs in the first place. Store food in air-tight containers and use wood shims or a caulking gun to fill entry points of pests. For that perfect grassy lawn, try to weed yourself manually or use other organic methods. That ways you will also get to burn some extra calories and lose weight.
3. Antibacterial soaps
This is just a fad. In fact all Antibacterial soaps and detergents contain antimicrobial chemical called triclosan that has been found to disrupt thyroid gland functioning and cause other hormonal imbalances in the body. When mixed with waste water, this chemical can cause sex changes in aquatic life. Moreover, antibacterial chemicals just promote the growth of bacteria that are otherwise resistant to antibacterial treatments.
What you can do:
Good old-fashioned and conventional way of using soap and plain warm water is just as effective as an antibacterial soap. Also if you are a cleanliness freak and use hand sanitizer every second minute, at least choose the product that is alcohol based and does not contain a chemical called triclosan.
4. Synthetic fragrances
This is one ubiquitous chemical because it is extensively used in all household products. Laundry detergents, shampoos, soaps, fabric softeners, disinfectants, room fresheners, talcum powders, body lotions, hair sprays, gels, perfumes, candles, etc all contain synthetic fragrances. This it becomes extremely difficult to do away with them, but it is worth the effort. Fragrance in all the products in fact is used to camouflage the harmful chemicals that are known to disrupt endocrine function and cause several other serious health conditions.
What you can do:
It is better to opt for fragrance free products wherever possible. The air fresheners that you are using may possibly do nothing but just add hazardous chemicals in the air we breathe. Minimize using unnecessary personal care products like gels, dyes, hair sprays etc and switch to homemade natural remedies. Keep your living room fresh and smelling nice with proper ventilation and regular housekeeping. Baking soda and white vinegar work very well in dispelling an awful smell.
5. Harsh cleaning products
It is quite ironic that some of the products that we use for cleaning our homes do us more harm than good. They contaminate the air we breathe. Ammonia, a basic chemical used in most cleaning products is known to trigger asthmatic attacks and several other hazardous chemicals in these products can cause damage to children who come in direct contact. Every year it is reported that kids get into these cleaners placed under the sink and suffer third-degree burns of the throat and esophagus.
What you can do:
Do some market survey and choose the products that are eco-friendly or the ones with simple natural composition. Better still, you can try out some Grandma’s homemade cleaning agents. A general concoction of one part of white vinegar and nine parts of plain water is an effective cleaning solution and kills 90 percent of bacteria and germs. All you would need is an extra spray bottle. This solution also keeps your crockery looking bright and shining over a longer period of time. This solution can also be used to wipe clean glass tables and windows. This can also be sprayed on the kitchen shelf after preparing meat to kill the odor.
Keeping your house free from chemicals is your way to sound living.
