Getting Started with a Green Clean Healthstyle in 7 Simple Steps

Through my experiences in studying and putting into practice healthier living techniques, I have found it more and more vital for you to incorporate more green living into your lives.

No, I am not passionate about saving energy by buying a different light bulb or turning off the lights after I leave a room (my husband is the one who usually goes behind me turning them off).

These may be important for saving energy and I am not here to discredit their validity, however, it does not find its way up on my “important to do list”.

What I have learned and am very passionate about is limiting the amount of toxic chemicals that our families are bombarded with on a daily basis from cleaning products, to shampoo, food, and even cosmetics.

By cutting down on the potential exposure your family has to these dangerous chemicals, you are taking one more step to creating a lifetime of health for your family.

Today I really want to talk to you about how you clean your home and really rethinking what you view as clean.

What makes up a truly green clean home?

1. A truly clean home will have no ingredients that will harm your family
2. A truly clean home will have no ingredients that will hang around in your home environment to harm your family.

Let me tell you a little secret: that lemon-y clean smell that is advertised as clean and what you come to expect in your clean home actually consists of dangerous chemicals that are hanging around in your environment.

These chemicals are breathed in by your family and can lead to so many issues such as breathing problems, asthma, allergies, and many others that are all due to toxic chemical exposure.

So how do you protect your family from these chemicals and make sure your home is truly green clean?

• Research “what is green clean?” in order to understand that clean does not mean you have to use dangerous chemicals and smell it afterwards. Real clean is odorless. Remember how you felt the last time you were outdoors in the middle of nowhere or up in the mountains? Fresh and clean just feels light and airy not full of lemon chemicals.
• Decide right now to protect the health of your family by switching to green clean. (Switching to green clean does not sacrifice ability to actually clean…those chemicals don’t make it any better to clean your home)
• Start small by choosing one room in your house to green clean.
• Throw away any toxic chemicals and cleaning products in this room. Those that have “danger” and “caution” warning labels really do mean they are toxic for your family.
• Did you know cleaning manufacturers do not have to label all their ingredients that they use? They can easily be leaving out others you are not aware of that can be very hazardous to your health. Check out hpd.nlm.nih.gov to see what is in your cleaning products.
• Before throwing these products in the trash or dumping them down the sink which ends up leading back to our clean water, call your local sanitation department and dispose of them correctly.
• Buy green cleaning products that will be better for your whole family and may even ease a lot of the already existing conditions. A good brand that you can find at most stores is 7^th generation. Otherwise Shaklee products are great (Shaklee.com).

Take the next step and start taking your family’s home environment and health seriously by making sure your home is as green clean as possible. Become green clean and finally be able to breathe in fresh air and live in a very clean environment!

YOUR TURN! Let me know what you think of this article by leaving a comment below! Are you green clean? If not, what is holding you back? Don’t forget to share this with your family and friends and help them protect the health of their families by “sharing the love” below!

14 Tips for a Healthy and Eco-Friendly Bedroom

In recent years, making sure your family is as healthy and eco-friendly as possible has become very popular. A few years ago I really had no desire to be eco-friendly and really didn’t know of ways to be healthy besides exercising and having healthier eating habits.

The more I have studied up on these subjects, the more I find out how clueless I was! It can get kind of scary when you learn about all the dangers of the environment right in your own home.

Now that my husband and I are in our first home and I have started envisioning how I am going to decorate and furnish this home, I have decided to share with you ways to clean up your environment and maybe become a little eco-friendly starting with the bedroom!

Here are the top 14 tips I have found through my research that will help you create a true bedroom oasis:

1. Refurbish antique furniture or buy furniture that is made with renewable materials. Do not buy furniture that is made of particleboard or composite wood due to the glue and chemicals used. These chemicals include formaldehyde which is a known carcinogen and some studies have linked it to the development of allergies and asthma.  This also applies to upholstered furniture due to the flame retardant that is used that emits formaldehyde vapors.
2. Choose bare floors with rugs made of natural fibers to help decrease the amount of allergens present in your house.
3. When it comes to choosing curtains, choose natural fabrics such as organic cotton, canvas, linen, or hemp to cut down on allergens and harsh chemicals. Curtains are great dust collectors so make sure to buy washable fabrics.
4. When buying blankets to keep warm during the long winters, choose natural linens such as wool, organic cotton, linen, or hemp. Do not dry clean blankets because some of the chemicals that are used have been linked to various cancers. If you do choose to use an electric blanket, warm up your bed before you climb in and then turn the blanket off. Electric blankets create an electromagnetic field as you sleep.
5. Choose fabrics such as organic cotton, wool, buckwheat, or natural latex when you buy pillows. Regular pillows are often made of foam which can contain flame retardants.
6. Sheets should be 100% organic cotton and not contain any dyes. Make sure it isn’t treated with formaldehyde or any other chemicals. Do not buy permanent press sheets because it contains formaldehyde of which vapors you will inhale when you sleep. Remember, your skin is your largest organ in your body and will absorb anything that comes in contact with it. Be careful what dyes and types of fabric you want touching your skin!
7. Did you realize that you should pay attention to what type of mattress you are sleeping on? You should choose a mattress made of organic materials. It is quite common for mattresses to contain flame retardants which are carcinogenic, reproductive toxicants, and endocrine disruptors. It has the flame retardant because of the foam which is made of petroleum-based products which are flammable. Wool is a natural fire retardant that is great for mattresses or even mattresses that are cotton filled. Savvy Rest is a great choice for organic mattresses that are made of latex.
8. Choose organic cotton mattress pads which will cut down on dust mites.
9. Choose air filtering plants. Visit NASA website for more information on best plants to choose.
10. Change your air filter on a regular basis to decrease allergens and purify the air.
11. Keep windows open for better air quality. Cross ventilation is a plus. Outdoor air is typically cleaner due to all the chemicals and dust that are found in furniture, fabrics, and other products in your home. Choose an air purifier or vacuum with a HEPA filter.
12. Choose low/no-VOC paint for walls, furniture, and ceiling to cut down on chemical pollutants in your home.
13. Wash your bedding each week with fragrance free detergent to decrease mold, mildew, and dust mite accumulation.
14. Choose a stylish ceiling fan to help circulate the air in your home which will help with cross ventilation when you have your windows open. Choose one made of renewable natural materials. You will also save on your electricity bill!

Do you have any thoughts or more tips to add? Leave me a comment below!

Today’s question:

What is one way you can improve the health of your bedroom starting today?