Clear the Air
From work to school to home, we spend up to 90% of our time indoors. While it seems like this would protect you from the pollution outside, and that’s somewhat true, many of us don’t know that the air inside our homes is 2-5 more polluted than the air outside.
Formaldehyde. Benzene. Trichloroethylene. Toluene. Methylene chloride. They come from plywood and pressed-wood products, furniture, carpeting, cigarette smoke, new permanent-press clothing, paints, adhesives, and solvents. Even tightly closed paint cans leak VOCs (volatile organic compounds). These chemicals worsen asthma and other lung ailments and have been shown to cause cancer. They can build up in our homes and this is amplified during the winter months as doors and windows are kept closed.
Even our cleaning products can be hazardous. Products containing VOCs and other toxic substances can include:
- Aerosol spray products
- Air fresheners
- Chlorine Bleach (with heat it vaporizes to form chloroform, mixed with ammonia it forms chlorine gas)
- Detergents
- Dry cleaning chemicals
- Rug and upholstery cleaners
- Furniture and floor polish
- Oven cleaners
In warm weather we can open windows to ventilate, but what can we do in the winter?
New carpeting, furniture and pressed-wood products should be aired for 72 hours in a large, well-ventilated space before being installed, and permanent press clothing should be washed before it is worn.
Formaldehyde is used in some cosmetics, dish soaps, medicines, leather treatments and fabric softeners. Read the label before purchasing, look for certified-free products, and ventilate indoor spaces, particularly when using any product containing formaldehyde or other chemicals.
Check out the Environmental Working Group’s interactive guide for information on specific spaces, categories, and items. You can also check out LiveGreen’s cleaning page on Pinterest for natural cleaning recipes and tips.
Don’t forget the plants! Many houseplants are known to take in and store these harmful chemicals while releasing pure oxygen for you to breathe. Having plants around has been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce stress, add humidity, increase happiness, sharpen your focus and mental acuity, and help you recover from illnesses faster, just to name a few.
Here are some of the best houseplants that help clear the air of toxic chemicals:
- Peace Lily
- Warneck Dracaena
- Spider Plant
- Aloe
- Pothos
- Snake plant/Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
- ZZ plant
Most are easy to care for and survive in low-light and low-water (i.e. neglect) environments. For more information about air-cleaning houseplants, click here.
Disquieting delta 8 tampa fl has been perfectly the journey. As someone fervent on usual remedies, delving into the to the max of hemp has been eye-opening. From THC tinctures to hemp seeds and protein powder, I’ve explored a miscellany of goods. Regard for the disorder adjoining hemp, researching and consulting experts have helped journey this burgeoning field. Inclusive, my experience with hemp has been positive, sacrifice holistic well-being solutions and sustainable choices.