July 3, 2014

6 Surprising Toxic Secrets you Didn’t Know Your Home had

If you’ve been following our blog at Greenapple very long, you know by now that there are potential risks to using those every-day cleaners you’ve been using for years. They contain chemicals and ingredients that can cause dermatitis, irritate asthma, and even lead to more serious problems like respiratory illnesses and cancer. Avoiding these problems is as simple as using green products for your home cleaning regimen, like vinegar, baking soda, and water, and relying on Greenapple House Cleaning to provide your home with a thorough and green cleaning when necessary.

The problem is, your home may be hiding more hazards than you’re actually aware of. Not all toxins are listed on a bottle, and many hide in the strangest of places.

Here are just a few that even those who consider themselves hard-core eco-vigilantes might be surprised by.

Toxins Hiding in Your Home

• Tableware- Melamine, a popular plastic used for making many kinds of tableware, was the subject of a study last year that had surprising results. The study found that individuals who ate hot soup out of these plastic bowls actually had eight times more of the melamine chemical in their urine than those who ate from ceramic bowls.
• Your Pillow- How many times a month do you strip your pillows and wash the pillows and pillow cases? If you can’t remember, it’s probably not enough. After just two years, one third of your pillow’s weight can consist of dust mites, bugs, (and their waste,) and dead skill cells. Don’t worry, I’ll wait here while you throw your pillow in the washing machine. Just make sure to use hot water.
• Your Alarm Clock- Having trouble sleeping? It could be due to the light from your alarm clock. Even a small amount of light can confuse your body’s internal clock and mess with your hormones. The European Commission has even found that artificial light at night can lead to cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and mood disease, and may even promote breast cancer. If you can, get rid of any illuminated display, including the one on your smart phone, when you’re trying to sleep at night.
• The Volume- We don’t normally think of something like the television being up too loud or turning up the volume when our favorite song comes on the radio as ‘toxic,’ but it actually can be. According to studies, decreases in cognitive functioning, developmental issues, heart disease, and hypertension can be caused by noise pollution, or any background noise above 30 decibels. It might make you think twice before you turn the volume up.
• Flea Collars- We buy them to keep our pets safe and our homes free of pesky fleas, but are they really the best option? According to one study, the answer is no. The study showed that just three days of a pet wearing a flea collar resulted in enough pesticide on the pet’s fur to result in neurological risks to any child it played with. Just think about what would happen after two weeks or even a month. Instead of relying on flea collars, stick to non-chemical solutions and baths.
• Dust- Sure, it makes you sneeze, but is it really dangerous? The answer is yes. Dust is the final resting place for all of the toxins in your home. Don’t stir it around. Instead, use a microfiber cloth when dusting to capture dust and get rid of it for good.

For home cleaning, you know that using green products and hiring Greenapple House Cleaning is the best solution for keeping your family safe, but what about other toxic secrets in your home? Take care of these problems by understanding what they are and finding green solutions to take care of them.