9 THINGS FOR A HEALTHIER HOME
For many of us, indoors is where we spend the majority of our time. It has been reported that on average a UK adult will spend approximately nine hours of their waking day inside during the cooler winter months. These hours are spent sleeping, in our morning and evening routines, plus increased WFH (that’s working from home), our time at home soon adds up even when it feels like we’re never there!
Consciously creating our surroundings is important for our overall well being. I touched on how to do this from an Ayurvedic perspective in my blog on Vastu. In this blog post, I’m sharing some of the ways I’ve been able to make swaps in favour of creating a healthier environment for myself and the family (including the dogs!).
Read on for 10 ways to make the inside of your home (by all means bring these practices into your workspace too!) healthier in the long run for you and those you live with:
1.AVOIDING PESTICIDES FROM FRESH FOODS AND FLOWERS
Many fresh foods can be bought certified organic. However, for non-organic fruit and vegetables, you can help reduce pesticide residue on bringing them home by washing in a veggie wash. When it comes to flowers, check the label for pesticide-free cut flowers by looking for logos such as:
A supermarket’s own initiative (such as the Waitrose & Partners Foundation, which supports the communities in Kenya who grow, pick and pack their flowers).
2. NATURAL ROOM FRAGRANCE
I’ve shared sustainable fragrances that are better for the skin and body, and I adhere to the same principles when it comes to keeping my home smelling good by opting for natural ingredients too. Instead of plug-in air fresheners and synthetically-scented candles, which can be loaded with undesirables such as Phthalates and Formaldehyde (both linked to hormonal abnormalities and compromised immune systems among other health dangers), I use all-natural incense sticks from Ume for special occasions or when I want something earthy and grounding St Palo. For easy day-to-day use, an essential oil diffuser - either electrical (aromatherapy mist diffuser) or a simple reed diffuser (which you can hand make) both work wonders when it comes to making your home smell fresh. Over time I’ve built a wardrobe of essential oils and enjoy mixing and matching them, either as a subtle scent that builds over time in the case of diffuser reeds or a much more powerful statement in the case of mist diffusers as the scent wafts around your home (which happens to be very relaxing to watch in action too!).
For a more traditional way to fragrance your home and add some ambience you can purchase natural blend candles. I like the Honey and Tabcacco candle by Urbee and the Holistic Earth Lemongrass candle - both packaged in tin - they are eco, vegetable wax based (which burns cleaner and longer than chemical releasing paraffin and petroleum based wax candles), naturally scented with essential oils, light to ship, hand poured in the UK and come with lids so… goodbye dusty candles! For something a bit more classic try the Neom Perfect Night Sleep candle in a reusable glass jar or the Kalmar in Calm.
3. AVOIDING OFF-GASSING FROM FURNITURE AND FABRICS
Something to be aware of when purchasing new items for your home is off-gassing. This is when a new product releases a chemical in a vapour form aka that ‘new item smell’. Those particles can linger around your space for as long as 6 months (especially in Winter when we are less likely to open windows too) before becoming more diluted so we can’t detect them so easily by smell. Airing things outside before leaving them shut inside is ideal if you can, this will help to get rid of as many of the VOCs as possible.
Where possible, opt for products made from 100% natural materials from start to finish. This is even more important for babies and young children who are more sensitive. Two of my top recommendations for bedding are Naturalmat and Little Green Sheep who both create natural and organic mattresses and accompanying bedding. Also opt for an eco-blackout blind such as the Pure Earth eco blackout blinds which help to keep the air cleaner and are made from 100% organic, non-toxic materials and are plastic-free.
4. AIR PURIFIER
An air purifier can be a nifty tool to have in your arsenal to help keep the air in your home cleaner without any effort from you. From my research the Levolt Air Purifier comes highly recommended - efficient in removing 99.97% of pollen, allergy particles, dust and smoke, it is also 100% Ozone free (a nasty chemical which can affect young children and any asthma sufferers). I’ve used a Dyson one in my bedroom for the last 4 years with a HEPA filter which captures 99.9% of ultrafine particles. It also prevents pollen, allergens and bacteria from staying in and around your home.
5. LIGHTING
The effect of blue light is a hot topic in the wellness world, which is where blue light glasses come into play. Blue-light glasses can help prevent the blue light from screens and lighting affecting your melatonin (the hormone that helps you get to sleep more easily). You can even go one step further and use amber flow light bulbs and SAD (seasonal affective disorder) lamps if you are someone who struggles with seasonal issues when the days are long and dark. Both the bulbs and SAD lamps have a mood-enhancing ability and who couldn’t benefit from that on a dark 6 pm evening!
6. COLLOIDAL SILVER
Colloidal silver is a supplement which can help your immune system fight off bacteria and viruses. Metals like silver (as well as gold and copper - see below) have long been known for their antibacterial properties (silver was the preferred dining ware by royalty and the wealthy for this reason), and the meaning of colloidal is when “one mixture’s particles are held inside another substance” so, in this case, silver particles held in a liquid form. Colloidal silver has been deemed a ‘hero product’ for supporting your immune system during the cold and flu season that comes around every winter.
7. BATHROOM ESSENTIALS
Let’s start with my essentials. My Tongue Tingler, made from copper, is designed to keep your mouth happy and healthy without the use of harsh mouthwashes which can disrupt the natural microbiome of the mouth.
Another item I would recommend is a poo stool, which you can place in front of your toilet and allows your knees to be higher than your hips - helping mimic a squat - a more natural position for the body to take. This helps to ensure a complete evacuation, and can help ease constipation all while supporting your pelvic floor.
8. FOR THE FURRY FRIENDS
For those with a four-legged friend, dog shampoo is essential for keeping your pets fresh without stripping their skin. Dogs have a different PH than us so it is best to avoid using your own toiletries on them! Brands such as Troopets Dog Shampoo or Little Beast, both avoid the same chemicals that we want to omit in our own beauty products, contain no petrochemicals and are only formulated using 100% essential oils. They are also packaged in cardboard which is a great way of avoiding plastic bottles building up in your home (plus easily transportable if you’re going away).
9. SAFE KITCHEN EQUIPMENT
When considering the material and chemical make-up of the different items in your home, one of the main rooms to consider is the kitchen and your kitchenware. Traditional cast iron pans are a great example of a long term investment that only gets better with time. While Teflon coated pans are tempting, the non-stick coating is very easy to scratch and breakdown, and there is lots of info on the web now as to why we don’t want to not only be eating foods from a Teflon pan (especially one that has degraded) but also breathe the air once a pan reaches 260C.
It is also worth considering how you store your food. Try glass and stainless steel containers, which not only last longer but are better for you in the long term as opposed to plastic or plastic-coated tupperware which scratches easily and can distort at high temperatures such as in the dishwasher. It can also have an unfavourable reaction with food, especially hot food or when used to freeze food, or if it come into contact with acidic ingredients such as lemon, vinegar or tomatoes. Recent studies have shown the toxic PFAs that many plastic containers contain can leach into the contents within which in turn can have health implications in the long-term. An easy swap and one that can make a big difference!