| Kitchen cabinets, furniture, perfume,
| |
| | -Use "green" cleaning products. They're
|
| even candles and air fresheners - they
| |
| | cheaper and easy to make. Try these
|
| can all contribute to the air pollution
| |
| | recipes for some common household
|
| in our homes.
| |
| | cleaning jobs:
|
| Dr. Bernard Hamel, former Director for
| |
| | All Purpose Cleaner:
|
| the Institute for Environmental Studies
| |
| | -1 qt. warm water
|
| at Drexil University, estimates that the
| |
| | -1 tsp. liquid hand soap
|
| levels of potentially deadly toxins in
| |
| | -1/4 tsp. lemon juice
|
| the average American home may be five
| |
| | Works well on floors, countertops, rugs
|
| times greater than the level of toxic
| |
| | and upholstery
|
| pollutants found in the dirtiest city
| |
| | Oven Cleaner:
|
| air.
| |
| | Cover grime with baking soda. Spray with
|
| Indoor air pollution poses a far greater
| |
| | water until wet, keeping dry for 3-4
|
| risk to our health than outdoor
| |
| | hours. Let sit overnight. In the morning
|
| pollution. Exposure to tobacco smoke,
| |
| | wipe clean with clear water.
|
| structural materials, mold, and even
| |
| | Furniture Polish:
|
| simple household dust can make us sick.
| |
| | -1 pt. mineral oil
|
| Biological contaminants such as mold and
| |
| | -1 tsp. lemon juice
|
| mildew allow disease-carrying pollutants
| |
| | Caustic household cleaners and chemicals
|
| to reproduce and spread their spores
| |
| | ma be the #1 source of acute human
|
| throughout the air. Toxic chemicals found
| |
| | exposure to toxic substances, according
|
| in air fresheners, as well as average
| |
| | to research done by the American
|
| cleaning and grooming supplies can also
| |
| | Association of Poison Control Centers.
|
| be hazardous when build-up occurs in
| |
| | They make us sick and they damage the
|
| poorly ventilated rooms. Even the glue
| |
| | environment. When you have to use a
|
| that holds 90% of today's furniture
| |
| | caustic substance around your home,
|
| together contains formaldehyde, which may
| |
| | remember two important tips:
|
| cause nausea, headaches, lethargy and
| |
| | -Know how to use them properly: Always
|
| breathing problems in some people.
| |
| | use caustic chemicals and cleaners in a
|
| Another concern is lead paint, asbestos
| |
| | well-ventilated area. Use an air mask if
|
| and radon, which were used in most homes,
| |
| | possible.
|
| built before the 1980's. Odorless,
| |
| | -Know how to dispose of them properly:
|
| colorless and tasteless, these are all
| |
| | Improper disposal of household cleaners,
|
| substances that are impossible to detect
| |
| | paints and other chemicals is the main
|
| without proper testing.
| |
| | source of toxic pollution in the United
|
| When trying to safeguard your home
| |
| | States today.
|
| against indoor pollution, follow these
| |
| | Follow these tips when getting rid of
|
| simple tips:
| |
| | your household chemicals:
|
| -Use pump bottles for cleaning supplies
| |
| | -Never pour any hazard household
|
| instead of spray cans. They spray less
| |
| | substance down the drain.
|
| fumes and are easier to direct.
| |
| | -Keep original containers for ingredient
|
| -Add more ventilation, or simply open
| |
| | lists and storage.
|
| your doors and windows more often to help
| |
| | -Take lids off paint and let dry prior to
|
| air out the indoor pollution.
| |
| | disposing.
|
| -Hire environmental testers to check for
| |
| | -Take all chemical containers to your
|
| things like radon, lead and asbestos.
| |
| | local hazardous waste site for disposal.
|
