Don't Overlook the Importance of Indoor Air Quality

Toxins from household cleaners, chemicals on mattresses and furniture, building materials, carpeting, mold and mildew, and personal care products are some of the items that are contributing to the toxicity in our homes.

Europe is way ahead of us with regard to recognizing problems with chemicals affecting our health. They have banned thousands of chemicals in personal care and cleaning products, as opposed to the U.S., which has banned a mere fraction by comparison. Here are some useful tips to clean up the air in your home:

1. Get Rid of Any Carpeting or Rugs!

Carpeting is basically a petri dish. All of the toxins in the air accumulate and become a toxic dust that gets embedded in carpeting. Vacuuming doesn't pick up micro dust particles and sometimes just spreads toxins around. The best flooring is wood that is treated with a water-based polyurethane (which is less toxic than oil-based polyurethane). If you have no choice and can't get rid of your carpeting, make sure you do not wear shoes on the carpeting, which can deposit grime from the streets into its fibers. Taking your shoes off and walking barefoot is also better for the health of your feet.

2. Get Some House Plants.

Having a plethora of plants may look good, but they are also actually keeping the air cleaner. The best air cleaning plants are aloe, spider plant, snake plant, chrysanthemum, azalea, warneck dracaena, peace lily, and English Ivy. These plants pull chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene out of the air and neutralize their negative effect. They also produce a ton of oxygen. There should be at least one house plant per 100 square feet of living space.

3. Leave a Bowl of Takesumi Out.

One nutritional supplement for detoxification is takesumi. It is carbonized bamboo. Inside the body, it works to attach to and clear out microbial imbalances like fungus, chemicals, and metals. Outside of the body, it works to clean the air. You can put a bit in a small bowl and discard it after five days.

4. Get an Air Purifier.

This is especially true if you live in a major city. Additionally, an air purifier with a UV light helps to keep the filter cleaner longer and prevent leakage of pollutants back into the air. Also, an ozone option for an air purifier is great for sanitizing the air. They are very important for allergy and asthma sufferers.

5. No More Toxic Cleaners.

Switch to all natural, no VOC containing products. There are a few good companies that sell non-toxic cleaners. Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide is a great natural cleaning option. You can use them separately or together. For the prevention and eradication of mold in the shower, I combine vinegar and hydrogen peroxide and spray on the grout. Leave for 30 minutes, then scrub away. Boric acid also works well to kill a mold problem and is actually better (and healthier) than bleach to kill mold spores. Baking soda and lemon juice with white vinegar are also a healthy natural cleaning option. To clean wood surfaces and floors, add one-quarter cup of organic white vinegar to one gallon of hot water with a few drops of essential oils such as grapefruit, rosemary, and lavender.

6. Mold or Mildew Problems.

By diffusing essential oils like tea tree oil and cedar oil, you can eliminate mold spores from the air. If you purchase an essential oil diffuser, you would have to continuously diffuse these oils into the air for approximately 48 hours. You can also purchase an oil plug-in, but make sure you do not use their proprietary chemical liquid. Instead, empty it out of the container and rinse thoroughly. Then you can refill the container with tea tree or cedar oils. You would also have to eradicate the mold from the source, which can be done with boric acid.

7. Purchase a Mattress that is Organic and Doesn't have a Chemical Flame-Retardant.

You are on your mattress about one-third of your lifetime. Breathing in chemicals from your mattress can have a negative impact on your health long term. Choose an affordable, organic memory foam mattress that has a very low chemical profile.

Implementing these changes can have long-term positive effects by reducing the toxic burden we face every day.

Dr. Louis Granirer is a leading Holistic Chiropractor in NY and Nutrition Response Testing Practitioner specializing in holistic remedies for good health maintenance and prevention of disease. Visit his website at HolisticChiropracticCenter.com to learn more.