Spring-clean Your Life Guide: Detox Your Home
Frank Lipman, M.D.

HOME > HEALTH

There are 500 to 1,000 chemicals in the typical house trapped in carpeting, dirt, insulation, tap water and more. Some have been linked to asthma and allergies, others to cancer, and still more to disorders of the nervous system. So when you're spring-cleaning, take the time to implement these five simple strategies to detox your home.

Home Detox Strategy No. 1: Leave your shoes at the door

The soles of your shoes can track in pesticides (from the park or your neighbor's well-manicured yard), lead (from the street), and just plain dirt. Keep a pair of slippers to change into by the front door -- they'll be comfier anyway -- or designate a pair of shoes as house-only.

Home Detox Strategy No. 2: Freshen up

Ventilate your home by opening the doors and windows when the weather's pleasant. Keep a plant in every room of your house to help remove the toxins from the air. And instead of spraying chemical air fresheners, make your rooms smell nice with fresh flowers or herbs like sage and rosemary.

Home Detox Strategy No. 3: Clean naturally

Scrub your tiles with baking soda, remove stains with hydrogen peroxide, and use vinegar in place of bleach. These natural cleaners are not only better for you, but also much cheaper.

Home Detox Strategy No. 4: Skip the stain guard

Even though it seems practical if you have a kid around the house, avoid buying stain-guarded furniture or bedding. They're usually treated with perfluorinated acid, a chemical linked to fertility and kidney problems.

Home Detox Strategy No. 5: Get a fabric shower curtain

Many plastic curtains contain BPA (a chemical linked to cancer) and phthalates (which may cause endocrine and developmental problems). Avoid plastic elsewhere in the house too: Skip the plastic wrap, plastic containers, and plastic bottles -- unless the packaging specifies they're BPA- and phthalate-free.

Frank Lipman, M.D., is the founder and director of the Eleven-Eleven Wellness Center in New York City. He is also the author of Revive: Stop Feeling Spent and Start Living Again. His website is DrFrankLipman.com

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