The more we become aware of the effects of long-term exposure to different chemicals, the more urgent it becomes to reduce their use. There are over 80,000 chemicals in use in millions of products, though, and overall reduction may seem like a massive undertaking. However, you can start taking control in your own home, making small changes to reduce exposure to dangerous chemicals to make your house a safer place for your children and grandchildren.
One of the first and easiest steps is to reduce contaminants that you carry in from outdoors. When you walk around outside, your shoes come in contact with the roads, sidewalks, and parking lots. It's not just dirt and germs that you're coming in contact with, but also all the chemicals that thousands of other shoes have contacted. For example, how many lawns have your shoes or others walked across? Even lawn care companies, even organic, use a variety of chemicals that you don't want to track into your house where your children and grandchildren crawl across the floors and play with their toys. Take shoes off before walking into your home and ask guests to do the same. This simple step alone will reduce contaminants that enter the home from outdoors.
The second step is phasing out paragons found in personal products. This is a little more difficult because it may be inconvenient or call for personal sacrifice, but the safety of children and grandchildren is paramount. Read labels and look for lotions and shampoos free of parabens. These days, more and more of the leading brands are touting this feature, so it may even be possible to stick with favorites or find a suitable alternative. Cleaning is another area where chemicals can be reduced. Take care to choose safe cleaning products and minimize dry cleaning. Turning your attention to the kitchen, try cooking without plastic in order to avoid BPA. Use glass, ceramic stainless steel, or cast iron for cooking, storing and reheating.
Taken all at once, the 80,000 chemicals in use right now seems like a huge number to cope with. However, the safety in your home is an easier task to manage. You can reduce contaminants by taking some simple steps. Take shoes off before walking into your home to keep the outside from coming inside. Stop cooking with plastic to avoid BPA. Choose shampoos and lotions with care and read labels to be an educated consumer. It seems like a big task, but it is possible to make a safer home for our children and grandchildren to enjoy.