10 Healthy Home Tips

Tip 1: Know the ingredients in your personal care products.
Just because a label says “gentle” or “natural” doesn’t mean it’s kid-safe. Look up your　products on CosmeticsDatabase.com. Read the ingredients and avoid triclosan, BHA, fragrance, and oxybenzone.

Tip 2: Eat organic & fresh foods.
Opt for organic fruits and veggies, or use FoodNews.org to find conventionally grown produce with the least pesticides. Choose milk and meat without added growth hormones. Limit canned food and infant formula, as can linings contain bisphenol A (BPA).

Tip 3: Avoid fire retardants.
Choose snug-fitting cotton pajamas for kids, and repair or replace worn out foam items.

Tip 4: Pick plastics carefully.
Some plastics contain chemicals, which are linked to cancer. Choose baby bottles made from glass instead of plastics marked with a "7" or "PC". Don't microwave plastic containers. Stay away from toys marked with a "3" or "PVC." Give your baby a frozen washcloth instead of vinyl teethers.

Tip 5: Wash those hands, but avoid Triclosan.
In addition to reducing illness, frequent hand washing will reduce kids' exposure to chemicals. Skip anti-bacterial soaps, since they can be bad for the environment, aren't any better than soap and water, and can contain pesticides that are absorbed through the skin.

Tip 6: Skip the non-stick, the dangers of teflon.
When overheated, non-stick cookware can emit toxic fumes. Cook with cast iron or stainless steel and bake with oven-safe glass instead.

Tip 7: Filter your tap water.
Use a reverse osmosis system or carbon filter pitcher to reduce your family's exposure to impurities in water, like chlorine and lead. Don't drink bottled water, which isn't necessarily better. Mix infant formula with fluoride-free water.

Tip 8: Get rid of that (toxic) dust.
Kids spend lots of time on the floor, and household dust can contain contaminants like lead and fire retardants. HEPA-filter vacuums capture the widest range of particles and get rid of allergens. Leave your shoes at the door so you don't bring more pollutants inside.

Tip 9: Use greener cleaners and avoid pesticides.
Household cleaners, bug killers, pet treatments, and air fresheners can irritate kids' lungs, especially if your kids have asthma. Investigate less toxic alternatives. Use vinegar in place of bleach, baking soda to scrub your tiles, and hydrogen peroxide to remove stains.

Tip 10: Your Healthy Home Checklist.
We created this Healthy Home Checklist for you to use as you walk through your home -- and open your bathroom cabinet, look under your sink, and check those laundry supplies. It's an easy, hands-on way to create a less toxic environment for your family.