6 Toxic Health And Environmental Nightmares To Kick Out Of Your House Immediately

We think of our homes often as being clean, pristine places, but unfortunately, many of the things we use to keep our houses feeling like healthy environments are working counter to that goal. Here we list six of the things that you need to kick to the curb right now.

1. Air fresheners

The NRDC conducted a study that showed 13 common brands of air freshener contain chemicals that aggravate asthma and may impact reproductive development in children. Some air fresheners contain carcinogens, which are cancer-causing chemicals, and other toxic substances.

2. Candles

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, 40% of candles sold contain lead wires in their wicks and that lead is added to the fragrance oils in the wax as well.

Additionally, they release lead in amounts that can be hazardous to children. A great alternative to these candles would be beeswax candles with cotton wicks. You can make your own too pretty esaily.

3. Some art supplies

Your fingerpaints are just fine, but some art supplies like rubber cement, acrylic paint, permanent markers and epoxy are loaded with nasty chemicals that can exacerbate allergies, cause organ damage, and are even carcinogenic at times. Kids are especially vulnerable.

4. Shampoos.

There is no definitive study that shows shampoo causes cancer, but scientists have found that shampoos are often loaded with toxic shit that you don’t need to be putting on your skin.

5. Deodorant and antiperspirants

I’ve used coconut oil as a deodorant for well over a year now and haven’t looked back. I don’t smell bad and I avoid things like aluminum and other nasty chemicals, some of which can cause cancer, that exist in our standard store-bought deodorant.

6. Shower curtains

This one was the most surprising to me. It turns out, shower curtains are often treated with various chemicals and can emit something called VOCs, or volatile organic chemicals.