Using natural cleaning products can help to keep the air in your home free of harmful toxins emitted from chemically laden cleaning products.  Most commercial products available and yes even those claiming to be Natural contain chemicals which are carcinogenic and contain endocrine disruptors that can cause tons of health problems especially in young children.  Researchers are now studying the possible link between Autism and exposure to chemicals at young ages.

We cannot smell these chemicals in our homes but believe it or not the air inside your home is often times more polluted than the air outdoors mainly due to trapped fumes let off from synthetic (bad) cleaning products.

Using Natural Cleaning Products with safe, plant based and non-toxic ingredients you can rid your home of these harmful, toxic fumes and exposure to chemicals plus you are not only saving your families health you are also helping the environment.  Cleaning with healthy products can be a pleasure too because of the uplifting scent of essential oils used such as Lemon, Lime, Orange or Eucalyptus Essential Oils..  I find I clean a lot more often and my house smells great.  Another huge plus side is that natural products are a lot less irritating to the skin. I don’t feel the need to wear gloves and/or open the windows to avoid the fumes.  Oh and did I mention that a good Natural Cleaner is just as or even more effective? Score!!

Toxic Chemicals are loaded in Commercial Carpet

Ok now this is a topic that I know most people ignore.. Chemicals in the home are invisible to the naked eye and you know the old saying “outa site, outa mind” holds true.  Its easy to forget that every new product including carpet, bedding and furniture are choc full o’ toxic chemicals.   Hmmmm…. wonder why there is such a cancer epidemic?  Products we bring into our homes also affect our family’s health.  Are you aware of the toxins in your average synthetic carpet??

Chemicals commonly used in the manufacture of synthetic carpeting: (provided by a carpet manufacturer)

Ethylbenzene
formaldehyde
methacrylate acid
methyl methacrylate
acrylic oligomers
tetrachloroethylene
toluene
xylenes
4-phenylcyclohexene
acetonitrile
azulene
benzene
biphenyl
2-butyloctanol-1
cyclopentadiene-ethenyl-2-ethylene
1,3,5-cycloheptatriene
1-chloronaphthalene
diphenyl ether
dodecane
1,4-dihydroxyacenophthene
ethylxylene
1-ethyl-3-methylbenzene
hexadecanol
hexamethylene triamine
1-h-indene
1-methylnaphthalene
2-methylnaphthalene
1-methyl-3 propylbenzene
2-methyl-4-tridecene
5-methyltridecane
octadecenyl amine (oleylamine)

oxarium
polyacrylates
1-phenylcyclopentanol
2-propylheptanol
phthalic esters
styrene
1,2,3,-trimethylbenzene
1,2,4,-trimethylbenzene
tetradecene
2,3,7-trimethyldecane
undecane,2,6-dimethyl

Symptoms associated with exposure to the previous chemicals: (provided by industrial hygienists)

eye irritation
contact lens affected
blurred vision
eyes sensitive to light
throat irritation
loss of voice
cough
dry or thirsty mouth
lips burning
tongue burning
headaches
dizziness, disorientation
vomiting
nausea
chest pains
shortness of breath
irregular heart beat
high blood pressure
drowsiness
unusual fatigue
chemical sensitivity
nose burning or bleeding
loss or increase of smell
moodiness
rash or itching
hair loss
weight loss or gain
flu-like symptoms
aggravated asthma
aggravated allergies
joint pain
muscular aches
abdominal pain
memory loss
poor concentration
nervous system disorders
unusual depression
irritability
jerking in sleep
respiratory tract irritation
menstrual irregularities
sexual dysfunction

Robert Abrams, the NY Attorney General says that “The carpet industry has mounted a massively deceptive merchandising campaign the intentionally mislead the public by implying that all carpets with the green tag have met safety standards,”  “First of all, there are no such recognized standards of safety. The Carpet and Rug Institute its own arbitrary standards. Secondly, CRI’s testing program is completely inadequate because it measures only a small percentage of the chemicals emitted from carpets.

Finally, a manufacturer can get a green tag for an entire product line simply by having one small piece of carpet tested once a year.”  One of the carpets to pass the green tag testing is associated with disabling the members of the Charles Fitzgerald family of West Friendship, Maryland,who were exposed to it in their lighting store in 1992.  When tested by Anderson Labs, the Fitgeralds’ carpet caused gross nervous system abnormalities in mice.” The Consumer Product Safety Commission receives hundreds of complaints and inquiries each year about the adverse health effects associated with the materials used to make carpet,”said Abrahms.

Yet the government has chosen to sweep this problem under the rug by ignoring the public’s health concerns as well as my request to disseminate meaningful information about potential carpet hazards.”

Just another thing to have to worry about I know..  but I feel that our home should be the least toxic place since we spend so much time in it and for our children’s sake.. since they spend so much time on the carpet.