I have been researching several options for things we can all do in our homes to make them healthier to live in. I realize that a lot of health issues we deal with may be caused not only by what we eat but by what we live with. We spend so much time in our homes and asleep and some of those chemicals in our furniture, our flooring, on our walls etc. are harmful to our health. It is my new focus at my business to recommend to all my clients furnishings and finishes in our homes that will make a safer environment for our families. I hope this post helps you live healthier!

1-  When you are painting your home, choose low or no VOC paint!

All the paint companies have gone to this type of paint over the last several years…it does not have an off-gas smell. That is a good thing! You don’t need to be inhaling that stuff! Check out this paint from Benjamin Moore! http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/4932e

 

 

 

2- If you suffer from allergies remove as much of the wall to wall carpet in your home as possible! It collect dust and allergens…go to a Bamboo or Porcelain tile floor! I love this product from Crossville Tile company! I love it so much I am a dealer for it! http://crossvilleinc.com/products/speakeasy/

 

 

3- Use organically grown cotton or bamboo sheets to sleep on….Make sense!

Do you really need to be inhaling every night the pesticides and chemicals that the companies use to treat the cotton fields??? http://www.thecompanystore.com/sheets/eco-friendly-sheets/

 

 

4- Make sure you know where your interior products are coming from…some furniture companies use lots of chemicals to produce fabrics for our furniture.  Recently a wood flooring company was caught with a VERY high rating of formaldehyde in the wood flooring.  Avoid fire retardant applications on your furniture as well as polyurethane foam and Dacron…the older the furniture the more the foam disentegrates causing dust into your air. These are all toxic to you! Google BFR’s in upholstery and see what you find!

 

Exposure over time to petroleum-based products like polyurethane and urethane foam may cause neurological disorders, autoimmune weakness, nervous and immune system and cause illnesses including cancer allergies and asthma, infertility, miscarriage and child behavior disorders. As far as formadehyde, here is a quote from the National Cancer Institute, “The EPA recommends the use of “exterior-grade” pressed-wood products to limit formaldehyde exposure in the home. These products emit less formaldehyde because they contain phenol resins, not urea resins. (Pressed-wood products include plywood, paneling, particleboard, and fiberboard and are not the same as pressure-treated wood products, which contain chemical preservatives and are intended for outdoor use.) Before purchasing pressed-wood products, including building materials, cabinetry, and furniture, buyers should ask about the formaldehyde content of these products. Formaldehyde levels in homes can also be reduced by ensuring adequate ventilation, moderate temperatures, and reduced humidity levels through the use of air conditioners and dehumidifiers.” It is worth taking a look at this and being aware…it may save a life!

 

5- Window Treatments can be fabricated with organic cotton and linen fabrics. This goes without saying….If you have bad allergies or asthma you may want to consider shutters or wood blinds, or even Hunter Douglas Silhouettes for your windows instead of fabric treatments.

 

 

So, if you need help making your home safer for your family to live in, or if someone is suffering with headaches, etc. , it might be worth looking into some changes in your surroundings to a safer, less chemically invaded environment! Share this Blog with someone who may be suffering from allergies, asthma or fighting cancer….you just never know what could be the major cause of the ailment!

 

Call or Email Melinda for more information!

740-852-6226 , melinda@shopfdi.com