Environmental Working Group has released a set of Healthy Home Guides. It’s the first time they have addressed exposure to chemicals in the home as a whole.
Rather than being comprehensive, these guides offer simple advice on avoiding less than a dozen chemicals of concern (lead, asbestos, flame retardants, VOCs, PFCs, antimicrobials, and radon).
Product-specific guides give only tips on what chemicals to avoid and what to look for, but no guidance on how to actually find these products.
Still, it’s a good educational effort to show there IS a problem with chemical exposures in the home and will make many more aware they should be looking for toxic-free products.
I’ve read the EWG guide and it seems incredible to me how many toxic substances are found in home cleaning products. When using conventional products in your home you should always keep your windows open to let the fumes escape and even cover your nose and mouth to protect your lungs. You should also use rubber gloves to avoid direct skin contact and also ensure your kids are not at home when using these products. After having read all this I think it’s best to go for natural alternatives or make your own cleaners.
I agree. If you read the EWG guide and came to that conclusion, they’ve done their job.