HOW TO REDUCE TOXINS IN YOUR HOME THIS WINTER

11/9/2017 (Permalink)

Most of us spend more time indoors during the winter season. More time indoors means more exposure to the many toxins that are found in the typical home. But fear not, you can minimize your exposure to harmful toxins this winter by taking these 4 steps:

1. Take off your shoes inside the house. Sure, this is a no brainer, but it’s so often ignored! So many of the harmful substances in your home are dragged in on the bottom of your shoes. This includes stuff like pesticides, feces, urine, dirt and microscopic bugs.
2. Clean your air ducts & fire place. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends getting your air ducts cleaned every three to five years, and the National Fire Protection Association recommends chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year.
3. Use a HEPA home air filter. Air conditioner filters only capture relatively large sized particles. HEPA filters remove smaller allergens like dust, smoke, chemicals, asbestos, pollen, and pet dander. If you can’t afford a HEPA system for your whole house, you can purchase room filters for the rooms you spend the most time in. Another option would be to use traditional furnace filters in the higher range of the MERV ratings (12-16). These filters can be used with your existing furnace and come close to the levels of HEPA filtration, with the exception of virus removal.
4. Use natural cleaners. Replace chemical cleaners with natural, non-toxic cleaners, such as baking soda, vinegar, castile soap and borax. Check out our blog next week for 5 easy to make yourself home cleaners; you’ll love it!