6 Unexpected Sources of Toxins in Your Home

Last Updated on January 7, 2021

As an alternative, you can use candles that are made with fresh flowers and essential oils to scent your home. You may also try using white vinegar and baking soda as odor absorbers.

4. Cleaning Products

You should always check labels before purchasing any of your household cleaning products! Beware of chemical ingredients such as chemical surfactants and phthalates.

Some natural alternatives like soap powder, Borax, baking soda, vinegar, hot water, and lemon can work wonders in cleaning your home and help you avoid unnecessary toxins.

3. Plastic food containers

You sure have noticed a cloudy look on your plastic containers after using them for a while, well, it’s due to plastic break down over time, which releases dangerous chemicals into your food.

Multiple plastic containers are made from chemicals such as phthalates, which act like endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

The best thing you can do about it is to switch to glass containers once for all.

2. Prepared foods in plastic containers

You don’t necessarily need to throw away these ones but you should never heat them up in the plastic.

Heating plastic releases dangerous chemicals that seep into your food. However, it only takes few seconds to avoid all the danger.

It’s totally worth your time to take a few extra seconds to transfer your prepared food into a glass container before heating them in the microwave.

1. Carpeting

You may love that new carpet smell when you first install it, but this famous scent is actually toxic.

The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with new carpet installation include bromine, toluene, benzene, ethylbenzene, formaldehyde, acetone, and styrene, which come from the dyes and glues in the carpet.

These VOCs can be harmful to your health in high concentrations, however, their initial emissions often subside after the first few days.
You should also consider the fact that carpets can trap pollutants like mold, dust mites, pet dander, and more, which can critically after people with respiratory sensitivities.