by Linda Jones  

     I admit it, I'm not much of a housekeeper. I try to keep my home and family clean. Well, as clean as preschoolers can be anyway. Did I mention I also have a brand new, mud loving puppy as well? Needless to say, whether I'm a good housekeeper or not, I end up cleaning several areas/people each day. There's dishes, laundry, floors, laundry, dishes, bathrooms, laundry, dishes, and finally, more laundry. This isn't to mention baths, teeth brushing, hair-doing, and makeup slathering. This is all very routine and very similar, I would guess, to your routine (though probably more thorough and better organized).

      Why do we do these things? Because it's great fun and I can't wait to do another load? NO! We do it for the health of our families. Dishes are sanitized in machines so we won't get sick when we eat or prepare food, teeth are brushed so they don't get diseased and fall out, floors are sucked and mopped so our kids don't inhale and play in dirt, hair, and dander. I think you get the idea. These are very important reasons for doing what we do each day but, what if all that we're doing is actually causing more harm then good?

      Did you know that a study conducted by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that the air in our homes is 3 to 70 times more chemically polluted than outdoor air (pollution and all)? Did you know that there are 3 million poisonings each year and that household cleaners are the #1 cause of poisonings in children? Did you know that Formaldehyde, phenol, and benzine- known as cancer causing and toxic to the immune and nervous systems- are found in common household cleaners and cosmetics? In fact, most brand name household and personal care items contain hazardous chemicals. Can you believe it?! I couldn't, so I started researching the claims. This is only a small part of what I found from the EPA:

      All-Purpose cleaner, bleach, dishwashing detergent, disinfectant, glass cleaner, and scouring powder contain dangerous chemicals. Some examples are: Sodium hypochlorite- if mixed with amonia, releases toxic chloramine gas. May cause mild asthmatic symptoms or more serious respiratory problems. Ammonia- eye irritant, can cause headaches and lung irritation.

       Phenol and Cresol- corrosive; can cause diarrhea, fainting, dizziness, and kidney and liver damage. Formaldehyde- suspected carcinogen; strong irritant to eyes, throat, skin, and lungs.

      Laundry detergents, softeners, anti-cling sheets, toilet bowl cleaners, mold and mildew cleaner, and spot remover all contain toxic substances. Examples: Perchloroethylene or 1-1-1 trichloroethane solvents- can cause liver and kidney damage if ingested; suspected human carcinogen. Hydrochloric acid or sodium acid sulfate in toilet bowl cleaners- can burn skin or cause diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach burns is ingested; also can cause blindness if inadvertantly splashed in eyes.

Cosmetics and personal hygiene products contain hazardous substances as well.

Examples:

Cresol, formaldehyde, glycols,nitrates/nitrosamines and sulfur compounds in shampoos.

Butane propellants in hair spray, as well as formaldehyde resins.

Aerosol propellents, ammonia, formaldehyde,triclosan, aluminum chlorhydrate in antipersperants and deoderants.

Glycols, phenol, fragrance, and colors in lotions, creams, and moisturizers.

      This is staggering news. I even found websites that detail specific ingredients in name brand products that we use everyday. Many of these are products you would never suspect, such as baby shampoos and toothpaste.

      So, what should we do? To prevent poisoning our children we can place the items out of reach, but is that enough? They have to come into contact with shampoo, toothpaste, and the residue/fumes of several cleaners every day, whether they are kept out of reach or not. What, then, can we do to protect our families?

      The best thing we can do is to change the items we buy. Rather than reaching for the name brand cleaner in the grocery store, we should be seeking non-toxic alternatives. Only by making this product switch can we truly begin to protect our families. I've even heard testimonies of increased health and immunity, kids breathing better, and the reduction of asthmatic symptoms in families who have made the switch. Today, more and more non-toxic products are made available to consumers. Some are in grocery stores already, others in health food stores, and most are simply found onliine. Switching over will be well worth your time and effort. Before you buy, however, please research the products to make sure they truly are safe for your family and effective for your needs.

      Wow, I'm going to change products for a better home environment and the health of my family. Next thing you know I'll be eating better and excersising. Well, maybe not.

      Linda Jones is a stay-at-home mom who participates in a home business that promotes healthier homes through safer products. For information on products or how you can be involved in a home business, contact Linda at lbgjones@yahoo.com or visit her website at www.momswin.com/lindaj.