Spring can be your sign not only to start with a green cleanse or green detox, but also to make your home toxic free and eco-friendly with green detox at home ideas.

While taking care of the “environment in you” with a green detox, you can also begin by becoming more aware of the environment around you .

From all around us we absorb toxins from the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink, etc. So to be healthy, we also need to take care of our house, making it both cleaner and greener, eco friendly and toxic free.

Try these green living and chemical free cleaning green detox at home ideas.

I. Let’s start with the kitchen, one of the most popular rooms in the house

• For washing dishes, cleaning the floor or counters, doing laundry, switch to earth friendly, non-toxic products containing natural ingredients, without dyes or perfumes. Sometimes white vinegar (for cleaning glass deposits) or baking soda (for the sink) can do the trick.
• Switch to healthy preparation surfaces and pots and pans, for example:

Bamboo: bamboo cutting boards (always use separate boards for meat and vegetables to avoid cross contamination);

Teflon Free: eco friendly, non-toxic, Teflon free cookware (teflon coating breaks down and emits certain chemicals and particles at certain temperature; studies show that Perfluorooctanoic acid, a chemical used to make Teflon has been linked to cancer and birth defects; avoid Teflon-coated cookware especially if it’s scratched); do your research and choose wisely, paying attention to the description of the product.

II. Next step is your bathroom

• switch to soaps that contain natural ingredients, towels made of organic materials, shampoo without harsh chemicals;
• use a head shower filter to remove harmful substances from your shower water.

Did you know your skin is your largest organ? Our skin breathes to help us get rid of toxins, but can you imagine how much chlorine and other chemicals you can absorb through your skin while inhaling hot steam during your 10 minute shower?

III. Everywhere Else

• when repainting, look for water-based latex paints low in gaseous chemicals (benzene and formaldehyde can be a source of air pollution in the house);
• for the floor use environmentally sound materials with non-toxic ingredients (bamboo, solid wood, cork, etc.) Vinyl flooring is cheap but it may release harmful chemicals;
• look for eco friendly materials for your carpeting too. Sometimes they are a little bit more expensive (i.e. pure wool carpet) but it’s worth spending money, especially if you have kids and want them to be healthy;

Its never too late to start making the right choices to be healthy and raise a healthy and happy family. So, let us be choice smart and chemical free.

Breathe (only clean air), smile and be happy.

© Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health and Nutrition Coach and Counselor

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Did you know that on any given day you are exposed to up to 500 chemicals?  All these toxic chemicals can cause cancer, hormonal imbalance, headaches, menopause problems, headaches, etc.

If you are interested in reducing your exposure to these chemicals, start by using safer personal care products, or by making your own homemade beauty remedies.

Listen to an interview with Stacy Malkan, co-founder of the national Campaign for Safe Cosmetics on how to avoid chemicals in personal care products and which alternatives are safer.

If you prefer homemade beauty remedies for natural face lift, exfoliation, rejuvenation and moisturizing your skin, I would like share with you  two homemade beauty recipes I adopted from the book The Green Beauty Guide: Your Essential Guide to Organic Natural Skin Care. by Julie Gabriel. They helped to make my skin more glowing and younger looking.

Yogurt Face Scrub Natural Exfoliator Beauty Recipe

• 20 gr of powdered brewer’s yeast
• 2 tsp plain yogurt
• 2 tsp almond meal
• 1 tsp raw honey

Mix all ingredients. Use scrub immediately, and do not store in the refrigerator.

Clay and Egg Mask as a Deep-Cleansing Face Lift Beauty Recipe

• 2 tbsp white clay
• 1 tbsp
• corn flour
• 1 egg white
• 1 drop chamomile oil

1. Blend ingredients; mix well to dissolve egg white completely.  Apply to clean, dry face. If paste is too thick, you can add a little bit of  freshly brewed chamomile tea. Let it dry and wash off with warm water. Yo can keep the mix in the refrigerator for a week. (adopted from the book The Green Beauty Guide..)

* Click to listen to more Holistic Beauty Remedies with author Julie Gabriel.

* Click to listen and try facial exercises for natural face lift with Cynthia Rowland,Facial Fitness Expert and Creator of Facial Magic. 

* Click to listen to our discussion with Stacy Malkan, co-founder of the national Campaign for Safe Cosmetics on How to Find Safer Personal Care Products.

Breathe, smile and be happy.

© Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition Coach, Counselor and Radio Show Host

Everything we breathe, eat, drink, and even touch, contain toxins, substances that creates irritating or harmful effects in the body, which can sometimes even damage our tissues and organs. IR for this reason that holistic detox shouldn’t be about only the food and water we eat.

I’d like to share with you an extract from the article TOP “10″ Hazardous Household Chemicals by Richard Alexander, specialist in personal injury litigation published in www.consumerlawpage.com

Most Hazardous Household Cleansers and Chemicals

AIR FRESHENERS: Most air fresheners interfere with your ability to smell by coating your nasal passages with an oil film, or by releasing a nerve deadening agent. Known toxic chemicals found in an air freshener: Formaldehyde: Highly toxic, known carcinogen. Phenol: When phenol touches your skin it can cause it to swell, burn, peel, and break out in hives. Can cause cold sweats,convulsions, circulatory collapse, coma and even death.

BLEACH: It is a strong corrosive. It will irritate or burn the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. It may cause pulmonary edema or vomiting and coma if ingested. WARNING: never mix bleach with ammonia it may cause fumes which can be DEADLY.

CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY SHAMPOO: Most formulas are designed to over power the stain itself, they accomplish the task but not without using highly toxic substances. Some include: Perchlorethylene: Known carcinogen damages liver, kidney and nervous system damage. Ammonium Hydroxide: Corrosive, extremely irritable to eyes, skin and respiratory passages.

DISHWASHER DETERGENTS: Most products contain chlorine in a dry form that is highly concentrated.# 1 cause of child poisonings, according to poison control centers.

DRAIN CLEANER: Most drain cleaners contain lye, hydrochloric acid or trichloroethane. Lye: Caustic, burns skin and eyes, if ingested will damage esophagus and stomach. Hydrochloric acid: Corrosive, eye and skin irritant, damages kidneys, liver and digestive tract. Trichloroethane: Eye and skin irritant, nervous system depressant; damages liver and kidneys.

FURNITURE POLISH: Petroleum Distillates: Highly flammable, can cause skin and lung cancer. Phenol: (see Air fresheners, Phenol.) Nitrobenzene: Easily absorbed through the skin, extremely toxic.

MOLD AND MILDEW CLEANERS: Chemicals contained are: Sodium hypochlorite: Corrosive, irritates or burns skin and eyes, causes fluid in the lungs which can lead to coma or death. Formaldehyde: Highly toxic, known carcinogen. Irritant to eyes, nose, throat, and skin. May cause nausea, headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, memory loss and shortness of breath.

OVEN CLEANER: Sodium Hydroxide (Lye): Caustic, strong irritant, burns to both skin and eyes. Inhibits reflexes, will cause severe tissue damage if swallowed.

ANTIBACTERIAL CLEANERS: may contain: Triclosan: Absorption through the skin can be tied to liver damage.

LAUNDRY ROOM PRODUCTS: Sodium or calcium hypocrite: Highly corrosive, irritates or burns skin, eyes or respiratory tract. Linear alkylate sulfonate: Absorbed through the skin. Known liver damaging agent. Sodium Tripolyphosphate: Irritates skin and mucous membranes, causes vomiting. Easily absorbed through the skin from clothes.

TOILET BOWL CLEANERS: Hydrochloric acid: Highly corrosive, irritant to both skin and eyes. Damages kidneys and liver. Hypochlorite Bleach: Corrosive, irritates or burns eyes, skin and respiratory tract. May cause pulmonary edema, vomiting or coma if ingested. Contact with other chemicals may cause chlorine fumes which may be fatal.

If you think you eat healthy and lead a healthy lifestyle, think again. Look around your house and maybe make some changes if you want to be healthy and feel and look fabulous.

Breathe, smile and be happy

©Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Coach and Counselor

NaturalCounselor.com