Home Detox: 5 Easy Ways to Start Living Healthy

How you manage your home plays a huge part in your health. Get started on healthier habits by going through a home detox to rid your home of toxic products.

If you want to get healthy and stay healthy, it’s as easy as making some simple changes. Begin by taking small steps to make your home toxin-free. It’s really pretty simple. Start by becoming aware of what goes into you, onto you and surrounds you. Here are five easy steps to decrease the amount of chemical toxins you are exposed to daily.

1. Cookware: Phase in new pots and pans.

You used to hear that nonstick cookware was dangerous only if you heated it at a high temperature without food in the pan or pot.

Now we know the chemicals that make pots and pans nonstick are pretty terrible. They can get into food and migrate into the air, water and soil. A group of scientists published this opinion in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives; their statement includes the signatures of more than 200 scientists calling for researchers, governments and manufacturers to limit the production and use of the water- and oil-repellent chemicals called PFASs and to develop safer alternatives.

Detox right now: Start cooking your eggs in stainless steel.

Shop smarter next time: As your nonstick cookware wears out, replace it with stainless steel, cast iron or ceramic pieces, which can be found for less than $30. And consider swapping anything with PFASs, including stain-resistant and waterproof clothes.

2. Food Containers: Toss your plastic.

You used to hear that as long as your plastics were BPA-free, you were good.

Now we know that, just when you finally have sprung for all “BPA-free” plastics, that label isn’t enough anymore. One of the chemicals that replaced BPA is BPS. Recent studies show it’s potentially just as bad.

Detox right now: Avoid storing your leftover pasta sauce (or any other acidic food) in plastic. Don’t microwave in plastic containers or even leave them in a hot car. The heat and acid exacerbates the leaching of BPS.

Shop smarter next time: When your plastic containers mysteriously go missing or get cracked and need to be replaced, choose glass or stainless steel (which is just as light as plastic for toting to work). And, sorry, price isn’t a good excuse. A 10-piece set of glass food-storage containers (that will last forever) costs less than $20.

3. Couches & Cushions: Use Caution!

You used to hear that fire retardants may not be the best for your health, but they’re deep inside your couch, so what can you do about it?

Now we know they’re way more insidious than we thought. Studies show these chemicals get into the air and settle as dust. From there, some of them, including a class called PBDEs, can accumulate in blood and breast milk and have been associated with lower IQs and impaired motor skills in children. Research has found that about ninety-seven percent of American adults have measurable levels of these chemicals in their urine. A recent study from the University of New Hampshire found that PBDEs can cause metabolic and liver problems that can lead to insulin resistance.

Detox right now: Vacuum regularly with a HEPA filter and wipe surfaces with a wet cloth or mop to reduce dust and chemical residue.

Shop smarter next time: If you live in California, you can inspect the label on furniture (such as couches, upholstered chairs, futons and carpet padding) to determine if it’s free of chemical flame retardants. The Center for Environmental Health co-sponsored a bill last year requiring manufacturers to identify products containing them. Many stores, including Ikea and Williams-Sonoma, slowly are beginning to comply with the law. So make sure you always ask before you buy. You also can look for furniture made from additive-free, flame-resistant materials such as wool. It may not be practical to get rid of your current sofa. So if you’re planning to reupholster, consider replacing the old foam with retardant-free foam at the same time. Companies offer chemical-free foam replacement for your old cushions with prices ranging from $45 to $95 per cushion.

4. Shower Curtains & Home Fragrance: What’s that Smell?

You used to hear that phthalates are found only in shower curtain liners.

Now we know that replacing your shower curtain liners is still a good call, but we have to worry about phthalates elsewhere. Everywhere. The key word is “fragrance.” There can be up to 100 different chemicals hidden in that harmless-sounding term. phthalates. Exposure to the chemical DEP, the most common phthalate in fragrances, has been associated with lower sperm count, sperm damage and endocrine disruption.

Detox right now: Quit with the air fresheners and skip fragrance-laden products whenever possible.

Shop smarter next time: Look for shower curtain liners made with phthalate-free alternatives, such as PEVA, EVA, cotton, hemp or linen, all available for less than $10. Shop for detergents, fabric softeners and other cleaning products that are fragrance-free or made with natural scents.

5. Countertop Sprays: You’re breeding superbugs. Stop it!

You used to hear that you should skip antibacterial soap so you didn’t contribute to the drug-resistant-bacteria problem, but that wipes and sprays were fine.

Now we know that — surprise! — you should avoid using antimicrobial wipes and sprays, too. Certain types, including those with triclosan and quaternary ammonium compounds, can, if you use them routinely, create drug-resistant bacteria that can enter your body.

Detox right now: Scrub surfaces with cleaners you make yourself with ingredients such as hydrogen peroxide, vinegar and baking soda.

Shop smarter next time: Seek out cleaning products displaying Green Seal or EcoLogo certification, which means they adhere to certain science-based health and environmental standards.