You might think your home or place of business is one of the safest possible places to be. And while that’s true in some respects — you’re unlikely to have a car accident in your living room or office — most homes and businesses harbor an array of unsuspected toxic products that can make people and animals sick.
Here are four simple steps you can take to create a healthier home and business environment in 2020, so that everyone will literally breathe easier.
- Skip those “air fresheners”. The whole world seems to be scented these days, even environments you’d never expect to exude their own “signature scent”, such as hospitals, schools, or buses. Did you know “air fresheners” are actually chemical cocktails that can cause breathing difficulties, headaches, and more severe reactions such as muscle cramps, rashes, nausea, and immune system problems? And guess what? Even fragrances and deodorizers labeled “green” or “natural” cause the same level of toxic emissions!
Instead of masking unpleasant odors with chemicals, you can make an effective, all-purpose cleaner that will work on almost anything from vinegar and/or baking soda, combined with a few other ingredients you likely have on hand. If scent is important to you, lemon juice or lavender oil does the trick.
If you’re dealing with a spill clean up situation, an XSORB Xpress Universal Spill Kit provides everything you need to make your home or office clean and dry safely and efficiently, in the healthiest possible way. We’ve remembered Fido and Fluffy, too, of course, since so many places of business include resident pets: XSORB Pet Accident Clean Up is a non-toxic, eco-friendly way to sweep up pet accidents while cleaning and deodorizing.
- Invite nature indoors. Plants are another way to purify the air. They cozy up a home, and make a lovely statement in an office or other type of business setting, as long as they receive the correct amount of light and water necessary. Plants give off oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, so they’re the perfect complement to humans. Some “natural air filters” include peace lily, spider plants, English Ivy, and aloe vera:
- Peace Lily. Especially effective if you work around hazardous chemicals in an industrial, automotive or other setting, Peace Lily filters benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene (a cancer-causing refrigerant), xylene (expelled in car exhaust, paints and cigarettes), toluene (found in disinfectants and adhesives), and ammonia.
- Spider Plant. This is one kind of spider you’ll want to have around. NASA found Spider plants removed formaldehyde and carbon monoxide. They also regularly send out “spiderettes”, which grow into baby spider plants that you can re-pot.
- English Ivy. Found growing in gardens or on the sides of houses, English Ivy is a natural dust and mold filter, which makes it ideal for people who live in damp locations, or who have seasonal allergies.
- Aloe Vera. This versatile plant rids the home of benzene (from oven cleaners and furniture polish) and formaldehyde (present in everything from particleboard furniture to permanent press fabrics; known carcinogen and respiratory toxicant.)
- Open windows daily. Unless you live by a freeway, the air inside where you live or work can be up to 100 times more polluted than the air outdoors!
- Remodel wisely. Petroleum-based paints, synthetic carpet, varnishes, glues, etc., can give off vapors for months or even years, leading to a wide range of allergic reactions. Use plant- and water-based products, and after you’ve finished using eco-friendly paint, dispose of what’s left safely, with XSORB Rock Solid Paint Hardener, the best environmental option for quick, easy and safe disposal.
Now your new year is off to a healthy start!
