By: Delia Dorn
Owner, Form Healthy Habits
Practical Nutrition Advisor, Chemical Engineer

We all want to feel safe in our homes,
but most people are unaware that many popular products
we have in our homes do more harm than good.

Which products in our homes are unsafe?  Degreasers can damage lung tissues and dissolve fatty tissue surrounding nerve cells.  Drain and toilet bowl cleaners can be harmful simply by breathing during use and fatal if swallowed.  Oven cleaners can cause severe damage to the eyes, skin, mouth and throat.  Chlorine bleach is highly corrosive and extremely reactive.  It was listed as a hazardous pollutant in the 1990 Clean Air Act and is the chemical most frequently involved in household poisonings in the United States.  Additional examples include window cleaners, carpet cleaners, mold & mildew cleaners, germ killers and fragrances.

Did you know?

9 of 10 suspected poison exposures occur at home with household cleaning products.  A 15-year study released at the Toronto Indoor Air Conference found that women who work at home had a 54% higher death rate from cancer than those who worked outside the home.  This study concluded the deaths were a direct result of increased exposure to toxic chemicals with many found in common household cleaning products.  The Consumer Products Safety Commission reports that “of chemicals commonly found in homes, 150 have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological abnormalities.”

What other choices do we have?

Here are three simple steps to create a healthier home:

1.  Get educated and read labels.  Several popular cleaning products contain warnings that the products are dangerous, poisonous or flammable.  You probably need a magnifying glass to read the labels on personal care products, but check them as well.  Visit the National Institute of Health’s Household Products Database, www.householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov to find out what is in your home.  You can search by product name, ingredient, manufacturer, and health effect.

2.  Take action.  Apply a safer, more natural standard for the things you choose for your home and personal care.  There are now products that are safe, powerful, green and smart so you can make greener choices without sacrificing convenience or budget.

3.  Dispose of hazardous waste properly.  Contact your local sanitation department and ask them how to dispose of hazardous waste safely.

Contact Delia Dorn at Form Healthy Habits today for help creating
a healthier environment in your home and community.
610-517-1255 or delia@FormHealthyHabits.com
www.FormHealthyHabits.com

Testimonials:

“Delia is such a wonderful person to do business with! Delia is dedicated to her clients and to providing healthy alternatives for you to keep your family safe and healthy. The products are very economical and they work beautifully! Why wouldn’t you want to save money and protect your family at the same time?”      ~ Renee Goolday

“Delia is always keen to ensure her clients achieve the best results. She has exceptional follow up and is positive in every transaction. I highly recommend Delia and her products.”     ~Neen James