Clean out your home's toxic hotspots

Believe it or not, your own home could be making you sick. While it may look clean, microbiologists tell us that the air inside our homes is two to five times more polluted than the air outside. Studies have shown that women who work inside the home have considerably higher cancer rates than those who don't. Fingers of blame are pointed at the toxic and unhealthy ingredients we unknowingly use every day. Worried? Here's how to get rid of the toxins that could be making your home unhealthy.

 The Kitchen

1. Kitchen cleaning products

Most of us are unaware that numerous store-bought cleaning products contain a variety of chemicals that are not only harmful to our health, they break down into even more toxic compounds. When it comes to keeping your home clean, a good rule of thumb to remember is this: if something smells clean, it may not necessarily be so. When something is truly clean, it should be odourless. Some cleaning products are worse than others. Here is a list of the worst culprits and some alternatives:

>> Oven cleaners are highly corrosive. Use sea salt, baking soda and elbow grease instead.

>> Ammonia is found in many cleaning products, especially glass cleaners. While the glass may sparkle, it's highly poisonous. Use diluted white vinegar instead.

>> Traditional floor cleaners leave a residue of harsh chemicals, including two which are health hazards - butoxyethanol and methoxyethoxy ethanol. Again, try diluted white vinegar instead.

>>To turn your kitchen into a totally chemical-free zone, consider switching to Enjo products. These cloths and sponges are made from specially designed fibres and use only water to clean. Visit www.enjodubai.com for more information or to book a demo.

2. Microwaves

Recent research suggests that microwaving in plastic - both cooking containers and plastic film - can result in toxins leaking into your food. The solution is as simple as reading labels. Containers marked ‘microwave safe' generally are just that. If still in doubt, microwave using glass or ceramic cookware. Don't use recycled plastic food containers - they aren't heat-tested. When covering food, use waxed paper or paper towels - preferably plain white paper towels, the ink in patterned paper towels isn't designed to be heated and may also be toxic.

 3. Plastic food containers

Get to know your plastics; some contain dubious chemicals that are best avoided. Bisphenol A or BPA, identified by the #7 code in the recycling triangle, is a hard, clear plastic used extensively in baby bottles and food-storage containers. The growing controversy is due to the chemical bonds in BPA that are thought to unravel and leach when heated, washed or exposed to acidic foods, or as the container ages generally. Avoid BPA by using a good quality non-plastic reusable water bottle, such as aluminium or glass. Try not to store fatty foods, such as meat and cheese, in plastic containers since the fat allows for greater chemical absorption. Eat fresh foods in season and cut back on canned foods - most cans are lined with BPA that may leach into the can's contents over time.

 4. Non-stick cookware

Following recent studies, questions have been raised about the safety of the chemical perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) used to bond non-stick cookware. High temperatures (over 230°C) are thought to break down the non-stick coating and release carcinogenic fumes. To avoid this, only use non-stick coatings on low or medium heat. Surface damage may also cause toxins to leak, so discard if scratched and handwash using non-abrasive sponges. Teflon can be avoided altogether by switching to cast iron, porcelain or glass. Consider the Belgium-based GreenPan range of ceramic-based non-stick cookware, it's better for both your health and the environment.

 5. Stain and grease coatings

Other members of the perfluorinated (PFC) family of chemicals are widely used in grease-resistant food packaging. These are found in a range of consumer products such as microwave popcorn bags and pizza boxes. Existing studies show that perfluorinated chemicals are probably cancer-causing and hormone disrupting. They also don't break down; in other words PFCs are leaking from these consumer products into the environment. To reduce the risk of exposure in your home, minimise greasy fast foods - these often come in PFC-treated containers that keep grease from soaking through the packaging.

6. Polystyrene

Polystyrene or Styrofoam (code #6 in the recycling triangle) is often used for disposable hot drink cups or in tray-form to wrap meat and cheese. Polystyrene contains phthalates, a known carcinogen and endocrine disruptors that can be detrimental to your health. Avoid where possible. When bringing a food item home from the deli section, remove it from the Polystyrene tray and discard any part of it in contact with the tray since the toxins in Polystyrene are thought to absorb into fatty foods such as meat and cheese.

 The Bathroom

7. Bathroom cleaning products

Try these replacements in the bathroom:

>> Disinfectants often contain phenol orcresol-based chemicals listed as carcinogenic. The most commonly used products are antiseptics, bleach, mouthwashes and disinfectant soaps. Do away with them and use a few drops of tea-tree oil instead.

>> Many deodorising air fresheners contain dirty but powerful synthetically-derived chemical fragrances to cover up odours and numb our sense of smell by deadening nerves. Open up the windows to ventilate and use essential oils.

>> Antibacterial soaps are registered pesticides and can do more harm than good since they don't actually kill all bacteria. The remaining bacterium becomes resistant creating potential ‘superbugs'. Antibacterial soaps also contain triclosan, a pesticide with a dubious reputation - reject any product with triclosan as a listed ingredient.

8. Personal care products

Considering our skin is our largest organ and has the greatest capacity for absorption, it's worth taking the time to consider what we slap on it. Controversy has arisen over the use of parabens, a preservative found in common personal-care products, and the link to breast cancer. More research is under way, but in the meantime eliminate the risk by checking the ingredients of any personal-care products and ditch it if it contains anything ending in ‘-aben'. Also avoid buying cosmetics with the phrase ‘fluoro' or ‘perfluoro' in the listed ingredients - these belong to the suspected carcinogenic perfluorinated (PFC) family of chemicals.

9. Mould

Luckily more than 200,000 types of mould are harmless and pose no threat to our health, but a handful are toxic - one in three people are allergic and may experience problems such as asthma and skin rashes. The biggest offender is black mould that sends mycotoxic spores into your living environment. To detox your home of black mould, set your air conditioning thermostat to the highest temperature you can bear - ideally to 25°C or over; any lower and the buildup of condensation creates a damp breeding ground ideal for mould. And make use of ceiling fans to dry up condensation. Have your air conditioning systems thoroughly cleaned and sanitised at least every three years, or annually if someone is suffering asthma or allergy-related symptoms. Try EPSCO for thorough cleaning (www.epsco-intl.com).

10. Shower curtains

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is found in outdoor and bathroom furniture, plastic pipes and shower curtains. PVC often contains phthalates, a chemical that releases toxic gas. A PVC-coated shower curtain will leave you breathing noxious fumes during a hot shower. Switch to a non-PVC shower curtain - and ditch any other PVC products (identified by the #3 code in the recycling triangle).

The Bedroom

11. PBDE-free mattresses

Mattresses often contain flame retardants called PBDEs (polybrominated diphenylethers), a class of toxic chemical that is currently being phased out of dozens of common household products. You'll find it in the padding below your carpet, on your bed, mattress pad, couch, easy chairs and foam pillows. Until PBDEs are discontinued there are a number of simple steps that can be taken to avoid contact. Firstly, inspect all foam items and replace anything that is ripped or misshapen. When purchasing new products ask the manufacturers what type of fire retardants they use - avoid any brominated products and opt for less flammable fabrics and materials, such as leather, wool and cotton.

12. Dust bunnies

That pile of dust building under your bed contains a chemical cocktail of phthalates, flame retardants and various pesticides from other synthetic products. The solution is to reduce clutter in the bedroom, dust and vacuum often. Use a vacuum fitted with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter; they are more efficient at trapping small particles and will likely remove the most contaminants and other allergens from your home.

13. Building materials

Formaldehyde is a carcinogenic chemical preservative and disinfectant that is present in most households. It is most often found in synthetic carpets, upholstery fabrics and building materials such as plywood, chipboard and furniture veneers. The fumes in formaldehyde do eventually dissipate, so if you've had your new furniture for a few months, chances are the toxicity will have evaporated by now. To make sure, ventilate your home regularly. Before buying new furniture or upholstery, ask what it's made of. Non-VOC (volatile organic compound) materials such as natural wood or fabrics made from untreated cotton, wool or linen are safe - although generally more expensive.

The Laundry

14. Fabric softener

While it may be nice to have clothes that feel soft, smell good and are free of static cling, new health reports say some liquid fabric softeners contain harmful chemicals that are not so snug. Fabric softeners coat the surface of the cloth fibres with chemicals that seep toxins into our skin and the air we breathe. Try vinegar as a fabric softener (½ cup in the wash cycle). And to dissipate static from the clothing in your dryer, either line-dry (it's better for the environment) or put a piece of scrunched up aluminium foil the size of a small tennis ball in the dryer.

15. Dry cleaning

In about 85 per cent of dry cleaning processes the solvent perchloroethylene (PERC) is the primary cleaning solvent, a probable carcinogen. Reconsider your reliance on the dry cleaner - it isn't always necessary. Clothing makers often use the ‘dry clean only' label on tags because they can be held liable if an item is damaged (which is more likely if washed at home). Many of these items can be safely hand-washed. If you must use a dry cleaner, make sure to ventilate the garments. Remove the clothes from the plastic bags and air them outside before wearing. New alternative methods have been developed but are not yet readily available in the UAE. Enquire with your dry cleaner so they are aware of a demand for safer methods of dry cleaning.