Here, the Well+Good Council member and toxic-exposure expert explains why it’s so important and offers some super-simple advice on how to do it.
After nearly 10 years of research on how families can avoid unnecessary toxic exposures, I noticed a recurring strategy: Go back to basics.
Old-fashioned traditions that’ll detox your home include: Banning shoes in the home, opening your windows when outdoor air quality is good, washing your hands before you eat, and fixing more home-cooked meals. While these practices have been around since pre-industrial times, they’ve fallen to the sidelines amid our fast-paced, modern lives. And, since people tend to spend 90 percent of their time indoors, detoxing your home is arguably more important now than ever.
Since people tend to spend 90 percent of their time indoors, detoxing your home is important.
These strategies can have a high impact because the toxic chemicals that create our household products don’t stay in the products—they also get released into our air, dust, hands, food, and drinks. For example, indoor air tends to be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air—even in the most industrialized cities.
Furthermore, dozens of toxic chemicals (like pesticides, heavy metals, and chemical flame retardants) have been found in house dust across the country. Our hands then sweep these chemicals from surface areas, furniture, and clothing.