Wow, it is hard to believe it is nearly the end of September and I still have a bit of spring cleaning to do. My children are on school holidays, which means a bit more of a mess around the house. Do you find you have to put your plans on hold when the children are home from school? I certainly do, so I tend to shorten my to-do list or have fewer expectations, otherwise I would be pulling my hair out.
Anyway, back to cleaning. I thought we should tackle the living room and bedrooms this week. They are the areas we relax in and for most, spent a lot of time in, so it is worth making sure there are no items that could be harmful to your health. You will be surprised at the type of items that can be toxic. So let’s get detoxing!
Flame retardants (Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs))
These can be found on your couch and bed matress and have been shown to have hormone-disrupting effects, in particular, on oestrogen and thyroid hormones. The PBDEs are inhaled and can accumulate in the body, particularly areas such as the blood, breast milk, and fat tissues. Some countries have banned the use, but it is worth being aware and asking the question if buying a new piece of furniture.
Dust
Believe it or not, your dust can be toxic. That dust that builds up under your bed, on your furnishings or under your couch could contain a chemical mix of pesticides, flame retardants and phthalates. These toxic chemicals get into the air and take a ride on the dust we breathe in our homes. Synthetic products make up much of the environmental toxins produced by items such as vinyl (flooring, curtains and wall paper to mention a few), electronics and air fresheners. Look for environmental alternatives when looking at furnishing. Using what you have means stopping the dust to build up. Remove any clutter and get your duster out or better still use an HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaner.
On the subject of dusting, it is best to use a microfiber cloth. Avoid aerosol and wood cleaners.
Paint
Most paints are made from petroleum, which affects the air quality in your home. Switch to environmentally friendly low VOCs paints, vegetable based or milk based.
Bedlinen
How many of you like to get into a nicely made bed, with flat sheets that have been ironed to perfection? I know there is a few of you out there, otherwise, there wouldn’t be a market for No - Iron sheets. But the problem with these is that many contain formaldehyde, a nasty chemical that I don’t think you want to wrap yourself in. Opt for organic products such as cotton or bamboo, that don’t contain chemical dyes, and definitely no formaldehyde.
Candles
Candles can add a great atmosphere to a room and can give a great aroma. However, many candles are made from paraffin (a petroleum based product). Use soy, veggie or beeswax instead containing natural essential oils.
Organic Bamboo Bedsheets which can be found in our store. Read more
Before I finish up.
There are a few more items to look out for in the living room and bedrooms, but they have been mentioned before when discussing the bathroom and the kitchen. Things like cleaners and VOCs. You can refer to these at IT’S SPRING AND IT’S TIME TO DETOX …YOUR KITCHEN and IT’S SPRING AND IT’S TIME TO DETOX …YOUR BATHROOM.
When it comes to furniture if you decide to get rid of it make sure it goes somewhere where it can be reused. Bring it to an opt-shop or sell it. In a larger area, it may be less toxic. Remember good ventilation can help remove a lot of the toxins in the air, so there may not be a need to be so rash. Also, indoor plants are great detoxifiers, plus they add a bit of colour to a room.
Not only will you detox your life by making a few of these changes, but you will find you will be using fewer things like cleaners and spending less. A win-win for you and the environment.
Have fun being earthly passionate while you Spring clean,
Attracta & the earthly passion team.