Serving Size: 4.82 MB Servings Per Container: 1 In Your Body On Your Body For Your Home For Your Family Seeking Medical Treatment How to Detoxify Your Body Guide to Symptoms A Healthy House Values, Vision & Mission Background & History Staff & Advisors News & Upcoming Events Join Our Mailing List Contact Us Recommended Resources Index of Terms Works Cited This product contains 100% natural ingredients. Easy Pay Pal Donations TNTP Grade A Brain-food More Special Features Home Decor  |  Home Furnishings  |  Household Cleaners  |  Kitchenware  |  Lawn & Garden  |  Plastic Page: 1 | 2 | 3 Next This category includes all of the products you purchase to give your home that personal touch. For a list of suggested businesses to purchase more natural products from, visit our Recommended Resources page. Air Fresheners CHEMICALS CONTAINED: Fresh air is a good thing, right? Conventional air “fresheners” may actually do the opposite, however, by adding potentially toxic or at least irritating chemicals to indoor air. Researchers have identified many chemicals in air fresheners with known toxicity, including toluene, limonene, and methoxybenzaldehyde. HEALTH CONCERNS: Researchers in one study observed that emissions from a common solid air freshener caused negative health effects in mice, from irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory tract, to asthma-like reactions, to neurological effects. These effects were seen at levels comparable to what humans would experience when using the air freshener. Researchers even simulated emissions of the air freshener in a room and observed the same effects in mice. TIPS & ALTERNATIVES: We feel that the best way to freshen the air in a room is to add air to it that’s actually fresh. That means opening the window. We recommend opening the windows in your house for at least a half-hour a day – even in the winter. Not only will that get odors out of the room, but it will get other contributors to poor indoor air quality out too. (Remember that the EPA estimates that indoor air pollution is 3 – 5 times greater than outdoor air pollution.) But if you really want to make the air in your house smell a certain way, you can use non-aerosol room sprays made from plant-based ingredients, herbal potpourri, or essential oils in a diffuser. You can also simmer water and scented objects from nature (pine boughs, cinnamon sticks, orange peels, etc.) in a saucepan on your stove. (Only do this while you’re home and can keep an eye on the stove!). [By the way, you can also use the non-aerosol sprays or do the “open window trick” in your car, instead of using those little tree or candle shaped fresheners on a string.] Bedding CHEMICALS CONTAINED: Most synthetic pillows are made from polyurethane and other foams. Polyurethane also contains and releases isocyanates and diisocyanates, including but not limited to toluene diisocyanate (TDI). These are collectively referred to as NCO. Mattress pads are made from a combination of cotton and synthetic fibers and foams. Sheets may be made from a blend of polyester and cotton—combining synthetic fibers and bleached cotton (which is probably heavily treated with pesticides) into a fabric that will rub against your skin all night. Most sheets are treated with a formaldehyde resin finish to prevent wrinkling. HEALTH CONCERNS: Formaldehyde emissions decrease greatly after a product treated with it is washed, but out-gassing of formaldehyde will continue indefinitely. Recent research shows that NCO emissions or skin contact from common consumer products containing polyurethane may cause respiratory effects including: triggering/onset of asthma, dermatitis, elevated immune response, and others. Synthetic fibers break off as skin rubs against the fabric, and can cause skin, eye, nose, and throat irritation. TIPS & ALTERNATIVES: Ideally, choose 100% organic cotton sheets that haven’t been treated with formaldehyde resin. Flannel sheets that are 100% cotton have not been treated with formaldehyde resin, but all cotton/polyester blends, and some 100% cotton non-flannel sheets have been. Use of formaldehyde resins doesn’t have to be included on labels—instead, look for clues, such as the words “Permanent Press” or “No Iron” on the tag. You can buy nontoxic pillows made from natural latex foam, organic cotton, or wool. Candles & Incense CHEMICALS CONTAINED: Conventional candles are made from paraffin wax, a petroleum byproduct, which gives off toxic chemicals when they burn. They can also contain wicks made with heavy metals such as lead, which emit dangerous chemicals when burned. The concerns with incense are similar: burning synthetic materials that produce soot and give off toxic chemicals. HEALTH CONCERNS: Candles and incense produce soot and give off toxic gases when burned. The soot, gases, and heavy metals in wicks can potentially cause respiratory irritation. TIPS & ALTERNATIVES: Burn candles made from beeswax, soy, palm, or other plant-based wax rather than paraffin. (Plant-based wax also gives off chemicals and produces soot when burned, but much less and with much less toxic chemicals.) Look for candles that are unscented or are scented with essential oils (avoid candles with the word “fragrance” on the label). Burn candles that have a metal-free or 100% cotton wick. You can make your own candles quite easily too! Look for incense made from natural, plant-based materials. You can also use essential oils in a diffuser ring on your lamps or simmer water and scented objects from nature (pine boughs, cinnamon sticks, orange peels, etc.) in a saucepan on your stove. (Only do this while you’re home and can keep an eye on the stove!) Page: 1 | 2 | 3 Next