Eco-Friendly Alternatives to 10 Common but Dangerous Products in the Home

While dangerous chemicals abound in the modern age, it is simple to limit your exposure at home. Just keep dangerous products out of your house. Avoid buying items with known toxins and other harmful ingredients. Once you know what to look for, incorporating these ten simple alternatives into your buying habits will help you feel better and will likely save you money as well.

1. Buy plain soap, not antibacterial soap.
Not only can antibacterial soaps promote the development of drug-resistant strains of bacteria, triclosan, the key ingredient in many antibacterial ingredients may pose a variety of health risks. Planet Green notes that triclosan is also chemically similar to the carcinogenic substance known as "agent orange." So think twice before reaching for that bottle of orange hand soap and choose regular soap instead. Some varieties even include essential oils that fight viruses and bacteria naturally.

2. Skip traditional fabric softener.
Phthalates, the same compounds banned in children's toys, are present in most scented fabric softeners. Choose environmentally-friendly products like Seventh Generation or simply replace fabric softener with plain vinegar, which is much cheaper.

3. Stay away from chlorine bleach. Safer options include hydrogen peroxide solution and non-chlorine bleach alternatives such as OxiClean.

4. Buy a safer shower curtain.
When selecting a curtain for your shower, opt for nylon, PEVA, or polyester rather than toxin-laden PVC. An article on Shine by Yahoo noted that PEVA would be much safer than PVC; a new PVC shower curtain can emit compounds that exceed air quality standards by 16 times the recommended maximum.

5. Dye hair naturally.
According to WebMD Health News, using commercial hair dyes may increase the risk of blood cancer. To reduce your risk of exposure to harmful chemicals, try making your own dyes from natural ingredients. See Scott Kessman's article for tips on how to do this.

6. Look for low-VOC or no-VOC paint.
Paints are the second largest source of harmful volatile organic compounds emitted, according to an article from Kathryn McKenzie Nichols, but there are now many low-VOC paints available for health-conscious buyers.

7. Nix toxic nail polish.
There are now many formulas that are free of formaldehye and other nasty volatile organic compounds. The brand Hardy Candy is one of the most affordable "three free" polishes at around $5 a bottle, notes Becky Striepe at Green Upgrader.

8. Don't use toxic air fresheners.
Air fresheners have been found to contains harmful chemicals that may affect reproductive development aa, according to a study from the NRDC. Instead, choose aromatic essentail oils like lavender that are effective and also free from phthalates.

9. Go with natural rather than artificial food coloring.
There is a growing awareness that some children are sensitive to artificial food dyes. Even some of the big food corporations are responding and starting to use vegetable colorings, like beets, to color their products naturally.

10. Treat coughs in children with natural remedies.
Giving children--especially toddlers and infants--cough medicine from the pharmacy shelf can cause serious problems that send them to the emergency room, according to a report by CNN. Instead of cough and cold medicine, try soothing coughs by adding moisture to the air with vaporizers and applying essential oils like eucalyptus (which are found in non-medicated products like Vick's Baby Rub).

When shopping for household products, it is vital to know which ones should not even enter your home. Stay away from products containing harmful substances like phthalates and VOCs and use safer products. Fortunately, options for consumers who are concerned about their health and the environment are growing. As more consumers demand better product safety, companies will be pushed to offer safer alternatives.

Sources:

Ask an Organic Mom, The Daily Green. Organic Mom: How to Choose Safer Shower Curtains. Shine from Yahoo.
Ballinger, Jana. "The Toxic 12" Beauty Ingredients. Planet Green.
DeNoon, Daniel J. "Hair Dye Linked to Blood Cancer. WebMD Health News.
Gardner, Amanda. Cold Meds Sending Fewer Babies to ER. CNN News.
Kessman, Scott. How to Make Your Own Natural Hair Dye. Associated Content.
NDRC. New Study: Common Air Fresheners Contain Chemicals That May Affect Human Reproductive Development. Natural Resources Defense Council.
Nichols, Kathryn M. Low-VOC Paints Better for Health and the Earth. Associated Content.
Striepe, Becky. 5 Brands Making toxic Nail Polish a Thing of the Past. Green Upgrader.