Toxic items you need to immediately discard from your home
Home is where the heart is, but it's also where our true habits lie. Our home and everything in it has a direct impact on our health, mood, well-being and safety. Every day, we use several items without having the slightest clue to how they are adversely impacting us.
Here are the four daily-use household items you need to get rid of right away.
Antibacterial Soaps and Hand Wash
If you use an antibacterial soap, hand wash or detergent thinking it's safe for your family, that's the first thing you need to discard from your home. Antibacterial chemicals like triclosan and triclocarban are extremely toxic for the body. They interfere with the body's thyroid regulation and can cause weight gain, allergies and inflammatory responses.
These chemicals are extremely harmful to the environment too, endangering the aquatic life on many levels. Washing hands with the conventional soap and water is the way to go.
Plastic Bottles and Containers
It's a known fact that plastic is made from toxic materials like BPA and is bad for the environment. However, it's just as bad for the human body too. The toxins contained in plastic leach onto everything they come into contact with, and when ingested can damage your body on a cellular level, causing some of the most dreaded diseases like cancer.
Using plastic bottles and containers also increases the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and affects the reproductive system. You should sweep your kitchen clean of all plastic bottles and containers and replace them with glass ones.
Non-Stick Cookware
We know non-stick pans are easy to clean and quite handy to make the most delicious food, however, they may also be putting you and your family’s health on the line. Most non-stick cookware contains Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) that is linked to kidney and testicular cancer, obesity, hormonal changes, and thyroid disruption.
Replace your Teflon-coated cookware for cast-iron cookware. Not only is it a safer option that is automatically non-stick when seasoned right, but it also works a good source of iron.
Air Fresheners & Cleaning Agents
While they may smell heavenly and momentarily do away with some really bad odour, air fresheners can be hazardous to health. Most air fresheners contain phthalates, benzene, propellants, solvents and other toxic chemicals. Household cleaning solutions also contain hazardous chemicals can be easily inhaled and absorbed through the skin.
Long term exposure to these household chemicals can cause damage to the lungs, kidneys, and liver, as well as cause hormone disruptions. You can instead opt for homemade air fresheners with natural ingredients like dried flowers, essential oils and spices.
Gas Room Heaters
Gas Room Heaters release toxins in the air. When used in a closed room, these can cause major a health hazard, even leading to Carbon Monoxide poisoning. They are also known to cause dryness and aggravate health issues for people already suffering from asthma and other respiratory disorders. Gas Room Heaters also present the risk of fire if there is a leaking gas pipe. In an enclosed space, that can be fatally dangerous.
Seal your doors and windows to prevent heat loss and use area rugs, throws and warm blankets to stay cosy during winters. Wear socks and an additional layer of clothing to stay warm. Use room heaters only when required.
Extension Cords, Damaged Wires & Faulty Appliances
Wires are one of the leading causes of fires in houses and offices in today’s time. We over plug our extension cords beyond its voltage capacity, pass them under furniture or over carpets and keep nearly always forget to switch off once we are done. Combine it with bursting phones and faulty appliances, and your home is prone to a fire accident anytime.
Check the recommended wattage for any lighting fixture, appliance or extension cords before using. If your home is old, get your wiring system updated to keep up with the increasing number of appliances. Keep appliances like room heaters away from curtains and rugs. Always check for any breakage in wire insulation.
Conclusion
Now you know some of the most harmful daily-use items in your house, it is time to take a deep breath and get them fixed or thrown away. It may seem a little hard to switch them up at first, but it’s essential for the safety of your family. Tackle one thing at a time, and before you know it your home will be a much safer place to live in.
Finally, no matter how vigilant you are there may always be hidden disease-causing agents lurking in the dark corners of your house or an accident waiting to happen. It is absolutely essential to insure your loved ones and your beloved home. A home insurance cover is essential to help financially safeguard it against calamities such as fire, lightning, explosion, flood, and earthquake among others. A health insurance will protect you financially if your family members suffer from recurrent health problems. So keep your house in order and your family insured for a healthy and happy life.
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How to Reduce Waste in Your Home