Realtor’s Guide to Green Living: Toxic Chemicals

Our home is our safe haven but we may be sick sometimes because of the toxic chemicals in our homes. The products we use to clean our windows, carpets and floors may be the cause of skin irritation or upper respiratory problems that we or our children constantly experience.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a toxic substance means any chemical or mixture that may be harmful to the environment and to human health if inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin.

Are we poisoning ourselves or our children without knowing it? As we clean our homes and manicure our lawns, do we know what we are using and emitting into our environment? These are few harmful chemicals that the National Safety Council identified in most homes: Formaldehyde from inexpensive wood furniture and cushions that causes eye irritation, upper respiratory irritation and may even cause cancer. Arsenic from pesticide, vinyl chloride also known as carcinogen, hydrofluoric acid, ammonia and the list goes on.

As you go around your house, read the labels on all household cleaning products and hygiene products, you will find warning signs everywhere.

Your perfume, hairsprays, drain cleaner, oven cleaners, floor and furniture polish and dishwashing detergents have harmful chemicals.

As your realtor and a father of two beautiful girls, I am becoming more aware of what I bring into my home. What is supposed to clean and disinfect may perhaps be dangerous. Our indoor air quality could not be what we think they are because of the cleaning products and even the air freshener that we plug in to get refreshing smells.

Pediatricians are discovering that more and more young children are suffering from asthma, food allergy and cancer. Could it be the air quality in our home?

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wrote, 374 children in the United States ages 0 to 19, are treated everyday in emergency rooms due to poisons from household cleaners and medicines. That is an alarming statistic.

Another poison is carbon monoxide. You can prevent it by servicing and updating your oil, butane or propane furnace. Homeowners are advised to have a carbon monoxide detector in their home for extra precaution.

What steps can you take as responsible parents and homeowners?

As I start this series on green living, I see a lot of truths in going green and buying products that are made of natural ingredients.

My wife said vinegar, lemon and baking soda can do lots of cleaning jobs in our house. You may have other methods and if you do, please let us know.

Avoid air fresheners and some candles, instead, use natural air fresheners like lemon or bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies if you have an open house or boil water with cinnamon and apples.

When choosing a house cleaning service, look for companies that use green products and are certified.

Don’t take risks; check out how you can minimize the exposure of toxic chemicals in your home. We would love to hear from you about steps or products you use.