Many years ago (pre-children) I suffered from poor health (CFS) and made the decision to remove everything toxic from my home (or as much as I could). I read countless books and articles online which revealed that my home was filled with products that posed significant risks to my health. Now that I’m responsible for two little beings, I am even more conscious and determined to keep them out of my home. Below are just a few of the toxic products avoided in our household, as well as WHY we avoid them.
Air fresheners:
Most air fresheners mask odors with a synthetic fragrance or numb your sense of smell with chemical anesthetics. But, they do nothing to eliminate the source of the odor. Also, aerosol air fresheners spew out tiny droplets of chemicals that are easily inhaled into the lungs. Instead, ventilate well and choose natural deodorisers, such as baking soda, which contain minerals that absorb odors. Other more natural ways to freshen indoors naturally include using plants, ionising lamps and of course natural air fresheners such as those purchased from health food stores..
Oven and toilet bowl cleaners:
These can be the nastiest. Corrosive or caustic cleaners, such as the lye and acids found in drain cleaners, oven cleaners and acid-based toilet bowl cleaners, are the most dangerous cleaning products because they burn skin, eyes and internal tissue easily. We use NZ brand Eco-store which can now be found in most supermarkets.
Plastic Food Storage Containers:
Knowing that BPA containing plastics can cause all sorts of health problems, we spent a long time seeking out a BPA free plastic food container range . We found a fantastic range in the USA (preserve) , which bebe now stocks. There is no need to check for codes or not know which part of their range is healthy – the entire range is made from recycled plastic and BPA free, which is great for peace of mind when it comes to left overs, work lunches and of course school lunches.
Canned food:
Food cans are lined with an epoxy resin that contains bisphenol-A (BPA). Most experts believe this is our main source of exposure to BPA, which has been linked to hormone disruption, obesity, heart disease, and much more. Eden Foods is currently the only company with BPA-free canned foods (other than the canned tomatoes, which they haven’t found an adequate substitute for given the acidity of the tomatoes). We still have organic tinned chickpeas sometimes (makes for a super fast hommous dip!), otherwise we opt for fresh, frozen, dried or jarred foods.
Bottled water:
Most people buy bottled water thinking they’re avoiding any contaminants that may be present in their tap water. For the most part, they’re wrong. Bottled water can be just as, or even more, contaminated than tap water. In fact, some bottled water IS tap water - just packaged (in plastic that can leach chemicals into the water) and over-priced. We have invested in reusable stainless steel water bottles and am alkalised water system which we believe has contributed to great health.
Rubber duckies:
How does such a cute toy end up on a toxic product list? When it’s made from PVC - the poison plastic. Banned in over 14 countries and the European Union, PVC, also known as vinyl, is still legally sold by Australian retailers although it threatens environmental and consumer health at every stage of its product life cycle. We’ve sourced some fantastic new BPA free bath toys which we’ll be launching online and in store in the next 2 weeks – so stay tuned!
Oil-based paints and finishes:
There are 300 toxic chemicals and 150 carcinogens potentially present in oil-based paint. It’s so common to paint the nursery when pregnant as part of teh nesting process (I did it myself too!), so it’s great to be aware of healthier options. When painting we look for water-based options - ideally those that are low- or no-VOC. We also explore natural finishes like milk paint and vegetable or wax based wood finishes. Porters Paints offer some of these more natural options.
