Chemicals are an inevitable part of every family’s daily life – useful and harmless when used correctly. But there are also chemicals that are dangerous to the environment and health and should be avoided at all costs. We’ve put together an easy checklist to help you look at the chemicals in your home with a critical eye.
Cleaning cabinet under a magnifying glass
A clean and tidy home doesn’t need a multitude of different cleaning products. Choosing the right products will reduce the number of containers in your cupboard and lighten your chemical footprint. The key to keeping your home clean is regular basic cleaning. This prevents the build-up of dirt – which means you don’t need harsh detergents either. Often, all you need to clean your home is water, a mild detergent and a good microfibre cloth. When choosing cleaning products, it’s worth paying attention to eco-labels. In particular, families with allergies should always choose a fragrance-free detergent and avoid spray-on products.
With these four basic products, you can keep your home clean:
- A neutral cleaner, like a hand dishwashing detergent, that can be used for a wide range of cleaning tasks throughout the home. Also suitable for grease stains.
- Lightly alkaline all-purpose cleaner
- Acidic cleaner, effective against limescale deposits in the bathroom
- Toilet cleaner
Many products are advertised for their antibacterial properties, but they are often the most harmful to the environment and can be harmful to your health. Remember not to leave any substances within reach of children or pets, and always close the containers carefully.
Chemicals in children’s products
For children’s accessories and toys, pay attention to the materials – what the products are made of and when they were made. Over the last few decades, there have been a number of studies that have led to, for example, the regulation of solvents used in plastics. While it may seem like a wonderful idea to let your child play with your old toys, they should be critically examined to make sure they comply with current recommendations. The same applies to painted wooden toys – an old cracked paint finish can easily get into a toddler’s mouth and is not good for the child’s health.
Children’s dishes and feeding bottles are often made of plastic and it is worth checking that the packaging does not contain harmful phthalates. When heating baby’s food, it is a good idea to use colourless ceramic or glass dishes and undamaged frying pans. You can also replace the feeding bottle with a glass version protected by a silicone cover. Moomin Baby diapers are a safe choice for your baby. They are made from clean and safe ingredients and do not contain unnecessary chemicals such as fragrances or oils.
Carefully selected cosmetics
Cosmetic products include not only make-up, nail polish and hair care products, but also body cleansers and creams for the whole family. It’s a good idea to start by looking at the ingredients list. As a rule of thumb, the fewer ingredients, the better. The packaging should also include eco-labels and the logo of the Allergy, Dermatology and Asthma Federation.
For young children in particular, it is advisable to choose fragrance-free products, and to use sunscreen only as a cream instead of aerosol, for example, as it can irritate the respiratory tract. Liquid soap should be replaced with bar soap, which often contains fewer preservatives. Water alone is sufficient to clean baby’s skin. If possible, always favour reusable packaging to reduce waste. Also remember that all detergents should be washed thoroughly off the skin and hair. Natural cosmetics can be found in almost all well-stocked supermarkets. By exploring the options, you’ll find new greener products for the whole family.
Source: Martat.fi/in-english
