It’s spring cleaning time, and that means GREEN cleaning in this house! After years of dealing with autoimmune illnesses and multiple chemical sensitivities, my health finally started to improve when I reduced my exposure to toxins, both in my environment and in my diet. Today I just want to share some simple steps I have taken to improve my health through green living which has helped me create a more allergy-friendly and healthy home. The great news is living greener is not as hard as you might think, and it’s much less expensive! It is also a way to reduce our negative ecological footprint, which we should all be concerned with.*This post contains affiliate and/or sponsored links.
The amount of toxins we are exposed to daily is mind boggling. Even the air outside in our gardens is infested with allergens. It is no secret that many household cleaners contain carcinogens. Some of them are just so heavily fragranced with chemicals they can even trigger headaches and nausea. Due to my own health battles, I switched to all natural cleaning several years ago, and I absolutely love it. I really got into essential oils, and I have found them to be highly effective and enjoyable to use.
Now Foods Essential Oils Lemon, 1 fl
No more watery eyes, itchy skin and nausea from toilet bowl cleaner and toxic scented candles!
If you are a generally healthy person, you may not have had to put much thought into whether or not you are cleaning your home in an ecological manner or safe manner. Nevertheless, none of our human bodies were made to be exposed to these chemicals. The good news is that you can easily and inexpensively make some green house cleaning changes to reduce your exposure.
Decluttering junk such as excess papers and old musty boxes in the basement is also important if you want to maintain a more allergy-friendly living space. After decluttering you will probably find that you spend less time cleaning which is always a plus! Be sure to dust of all surfaces and hard to reach areas such as underneath furniture on a regular basis with an essential oil based cleaner on a swiffer pad. Because vacuuming kicks dust up into the air which then rests on the surrounding surfaces, remember that those surfaces should be cleaned after vacuuming.
If you have carpet you will want to clean it often as it is a source of many allergens, but avoid toxic cleaners. If you DIY carpet clean, refrain from using scented carpet shampo as the chemicals can often aggravate allergy symptoms. Instead, search for a carpet cleaning service that uses eco-friendly products specifcally designed to remove allergens to promote a healthier home for your family.
Manage Pet Hair And Allergens
Dogs and cats as companions are lovely pets to have. But their adventures outside, coupled with the genetic makeup of their fur, can often be a problem for those sensitive to pet hair and the outdoors. But, unless they pose a significant risk to your home and family’s health, it’s unlikely you’re going to want to rehome your pets.
As a remedy, there are ways to limit a pet’s shedding n the house. And solutions to prevent pets from rubbing the pollen they’ve accumulated onto their fur indoors. The options are to:
- Designate rooms in the home which pets can and can’t explore, rest, and play. Ideally, bedrooms should be off-guard. As no dog or cat can resist jumping on the bed. Which causes the sheets to become contaminated with allergens. Instead, why not limit pets to the downstairs area of the home.
- Keep pets indoors on days when the pollen count is high. Use Pollen.com to survey your local areas pollen count each day.
- Regularly groom and wash your pets with gentle, all-natural shampoo.
- Wash pet areas and bedding regularly, to avoid an excess of dirt, debris, and fur gathering in your home.
Clean Eating
The human diet has a profound effect on one’s health and the environment too. Although it can take some discipline, this is one area where it is surprisingly easy to make the kinds of changes that will benefit your body and the environment at the same time. If you cut down on your consumption of animal-based foods, you will be reducing your ecological impact greatly and instantly, with pescetarians alone causing 80% less damage than red meat eaters. If you choose to go vegan, the negative impact is reduced even more.
Although I still eat some animal products, due to food allergies my consumption of animal products is limited. I have found much improved health when I follow a diet that is low in sugar and more plant based.
Just say no to GMO! Genetically modified foods are wreaking havok on our bodies and the environment. Learn to identify GMO’s and stop consuming them right away! I felt a noticeable improvement in my chronic illness symptoms when GMO’s were completely removed from my diet.
Buying organic is the absolute best choice, both for health, the environment, and the economy as well. Buying local and from small organic farmers will help ensure that real food remains available to us at a reasonable price. You can also learn to use food to help improve your health!
Are you making any changes toward green living for better health and to be a little more environmentally conscious? If you are new to holistic living, try not to get overwhelmed by purchasing products and specialty foods. Just try some of the simple DIY green cleaners online, and eat all natural whole foods. Every small green living change will make a positive impact for the sake of the planet, and in your quality of life as well.
If you would like more information on green cleaning, clean eating, and allergy free diet tips(gluten, dairy, eggs, corn, soy, sugar, chemicals) feel free to contact me at any time. I love to share my testimony of improved health, vitality and quality of life!
Best of health to you my friends!
Amber
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