When we think of pollution, most of us think of the polluted air outside our homes. But studies have proved that the air inside our house can be as polluted as the outdoors. And it is just as harmful as the poisonous air outside. The sick, elderly, and little children get more affected by indoor pollution because they spend most of their time at home.
According to WHO, about 3.8 million people die every year due to household air pollution. This household air pollution comes from many sources and includes gases, chemicals, and other substances. Cooking fuels, building materials, and chemical cleaners are major contributors to indoor air pollution. These days, even our fruits and vegetables can be full of chemicals. There are pesticides, preservatives, and even more harmful chemicals that can turn our food harmful.
How to have a chemical-free home
While it is near impossible to remove all pollutants from our life, an attempt can be made to reduce pollution. Here are 5 easy ways you can reduce chemicals in your home:
- Buy organic food: Organic food means food products that are produced without using any chemicals. These products are healthier for you and the environment. And because they have no preservatives, they are delivered fresher too.
- Use less polluting fuel: Use efficient fuels and cooking technologies to reduce indoor pollution. Fuels like wood, kerosene, coal, etc. are more polluting and can lead to severe health problems. Using more efficient cooking fuels like LPG is better.
- Use chemical-free cleaning products: Cleanliness is healthy. But using chemicals for cleaning can result in adverse effects. Most cleaning supplies like floor disinfectants, detergents, soaps, etc. are full of chemicals. They can cause irritation in the eyes or throat, or cause headaches and other severe health problems, including cancer. So, it’s advisable to use chemical-free cleaning products.
- Keep the house clean and ventilated: Mildew, bacteria, dust mites, etc also pollute indoor air. So, it is essential to keep the house clean and well-ventilated.
- Use less harmful building material and paints: Chemicals like Asbestos are commonly found in construction substances. While it is not easy to avoid polluting construction material, it is still worth trying. Use substances and paints that are less polluting.
The advantages of having a chemical-free home:
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It is healthy for you and your family:
Whether you use organic food or chemical-free cleaners, these lifestyle changes will lead to better health for you and your family. Organic food products have been proven to be fresher and healthier. Organically raised fruits and vegetables are free of pesticides and preservatives. And organically reared animals aren’t given any antibiotics, growth hormones, etc. So, organic food is chemical-free food, and healthier.
Using chemical-free cleaning products is also less polluting. They don’t fill the air with harmful gases and are safer for the skin of persons using them. If you have an elderly, invalid, or a baby at home, using chemical-free cleaners and other products is a wise choice.
2. It is healthy for the environment
Products loaded with chemicals result in toxic waste. Which, in turn, results in harm to the environment. They don’t just pollute the air but can also pollute our water supply. So, trying to have a chemical-free home is also beneficial for the environment. While ensuring better health for your family, you are also contributing to a better environment.
3. Chemical-free home smells better
Several cleaning products or construction materials like paints and polishes have strong-smelling chemicals. They can trigger headaches and worse problems. We can’t get rid of all of these irritants. But opting for greener cleaning products is easy. Natural floor cleaners, disinfectants, detergents, etc. often have a mild and pleasant smell of natural products. They are less irritating and lead to better smelling air inside the house.
4. Chemical-free cleaning products can be cheaper
When it comes to chemical-free cleaning products, they are often cheaper than popular toxic ones. And they are not less effective. So, trying to have a chemical-free home can even help your budget!
5. Natural cleaning products are also safe around children
Chemicals and children should never be close. Household chemical substances like paints, disinfectants, deodorizers can pose a serious risk to very young kids. Babies and toddlers might touch them or drink them out of curiosity. This is a serious health hazard and can be fatal. This danger can be avoided by opting for natural and chemical-free products as much as possible.
6. Safer meals
A residue of cleaning agents like dish-washing soap or disinfectants can be left behind on utensils, kitchen slab, sink, cutting and chopping board. This can easily contaminate the food during cooking or serving. Using greener products reduces the harmful effects of this contamination and keeps the food safer.
Conclusion:
These are just a few of the advantages of chemical-free homes. While reducing all pollutants from our homes is not possible, we must still try to minimize this pollution. A home is a refuge. It must remain as safe as possible.
