1. Say goodbye to toxins -- the safe way. Start by patting yourself on the back for deciding to go green and vowing never to use toxic products again. But before you go out shopping for green products, you'll want to "detox your home" by getting rid of the leftover toxic products that you already have in your home. Stop right here and make sure you DO NOT just through them in the garbage! That's right, even though you can buy these toxic products at any grocery store without a biohazard license, you can't throw them away that easily. In most counties, these common household products are considered hazardous waste, so you will need to call your local local solid waste agency or utility company to learn how to dispose of these products properly. We need to prevent these items from getting throw in to the landfill, where the toxins can leech out and contaminate our soil and groundwater.
2. Be a lean, green shopping machine. You can protect your family and pets and keep toxic chemicals out of your home by being an informed consumer. With the internet at your fingertips, you can research products and their ingredients before even stepping foot in a store. If you have time, you can even make your own cleaning products with simple, inexpensive ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen such as white distilled vinegar. (You'll find a million "recipes" for cleaners online too!) But if you're like me and prefer the convenience of commercial products, there are many commercial brands that make cleaning products without the toxic chemicals. Avoid products that have scary "Danger" warnings and make sure that the plethora of products that are labeled "green," "natural," or "non-toxic" are actually that.
3. Beauty is only skin deep. But wait, there's more! Now that we've cleared the air (all puns intended), let's take a look at another common source of toxins -- personal care products. Skin is our body's largest organ, and both women and men are constantly cleaning it, moisturizing it, firming it, and trying to perfect it. It's no wonder that beauty and personal care products are a multi-billion dollar industry! However, most don't recognize the fact that when they are applying lotions and potions to our bodies, they are actually spreading chemicals such as dyes, preservatives, and detergents on their skin, which pass into their bloodstream! So instead of making you healthy and vibrant, many products are actually undermining your health as well as damaging the environment.
For example, Phthalates are often found in nail polish and test show that they can cause birth defects in animals. In order to extend the shelflife of products, many companies use preservatives that release the dangerous gas, Formaldehyde. This is a known carcinogen that has been linked to symptoms such as eye irritations, headaches, chronic fatigue, asthma, and even heart palpitations.
