10 Tips To Help Detox Your Living Space

Colder temperatures combined with less daylight often result in our spending far more time indoors than outside. It’s important to keep your living space as healthy and free of toxins as possible. Below are 10 quick and easy tips to help keep your home a healthy one!

1. Open Your Windows Daily
It may be blustery outside during these cold winter months, but one of the quickest ways to infuse your home with fresh air is to open your windows daily. This habit also assists in recycling the air.

2. Toss Artificial Air Fresheners
Not only can the aroma from an artificial air freshener cause migraines, breathing difficulties, and even asthma attacks, the ingredients within these products are largely unknown and despite their intent can really do more harm than good.

3. Change Your Furnace Filter
Changing the air filter in your furnace on a regular basis will help prevent dirt, dust, mold spores, bacteria, and allergens from building up within the air you breathe inside your home. Not only is changing the filter simple to do, but it can also help avoid costly repairs to the heating system.

4. Add a Himalayan Salt Lamp
Not only does the soft glow of a salt lamp enhance the atmosphere and décor of your home, but salt lamps also assist in neutralizing harmful EMF (electric and magnetic fields) radiation which is emitted from our computers, TVs and mobile phones.

5. Turn your cellphone to *Airplane Mode* when you sleep
Do you keep your cellphone with you at night? Avoid placing your phone in your bed, especially under your pillow, and switch to airplane mode when possible. This setting will turn off the transmitter and thus stop emitting EMF radiation.

6. Eliminate Those Dust Bunnies – Vacuum and dust regularly
Dust, dirt, skin cells, and dander can build up quickly in a home causing respiratory issues and aggravate pre-existing conditions such as asthma. Vacuum and dust on a regular basis, not only will the task help improve the air quality, it doubles as a physical activity to keep you moving.

7. Fill Your Home with Plants
Adding air purifying plants to your home with help to improve overall air quality. Philodendron and Spider plants are popular options, and both are very easy to care for, especially for house-plant newbies.

8. Source Non-VOC Paint Options
Feel the urge to redecorate? Many paint companies including Benjamin Moore and Sherman Williams offer non-VOC paints. What does “VOC” mean? Volatile Organic Compound. With highest concentrations indoors, VOCs can be harmful to your health causing respiratory issues, allergies, and immune effects from prolonged exposure.

Non VOC Paints

9. Have a “no shoes in the house” policy
Most dirt, pesticides and germs will enter your home via your footwear. Adhering to a strict policy of leaving shoes at the door will help keep contaminants out.

10. Use Eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaning and personal care products
Similar to air fresheners, cleaning and personal care products often include a variety of ingredients that are harmful to your health. With prolonged use, these products can lead to issues ranging from chronic respiratory problems, allergic reactions, even cancer. When selecting cleaners for your home and cosmetic products, opt for those free of ammonia, dyes, fragrances, and methylchloroisothiazolinone (MIT). The latter of which is a commonly used preservative found in many liquid personal care products including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, mascara, detergents, and surface cleaners.