Low Tox changes Room by Room
BEDROOM- Things you can do to turn your bedroom into a healthy, safe place to rest and restore.
DECLUTTER ELECTRONICS- Remove ALL electronics. TV, Digital radio, IPhone chargers, Laptops, printers, computers, Ipads, cordless phones (SO BAD) , electric blankets, light emitting devices. They have been shown to emit high levels of AC magnetic field and/or radiofrequency radiation which has been shown to supress melatonin (The sleep/wake hormone) They just aren’t needed in the bedroom. If you cant or don’t want to make these changes, ensure they are at least 1.5m from your head. Turn off your bedside lamps at the power point when not in use. Turn off the house WIFI router at night, set it up on a timer so you don’t forget.
BEDDING-In an ideal world we will look to swap over our bedding, pillows and mattress to low tox/organic products, but in the mean time some healthy habits would be to provide as much fresh air and sunlight to help detox and off gas. If you can, take your bedding and mattress outside in the sun. I cannot take my king mattress downstairs, so instead I push it up against open windows and leave it all day. I also do a mattress detox using specific essential oils like tea tree, lemon, on guard, purify and sprinkle the oils mixed with bi carb soda over the mattress and vacuum it up after several hours, this also helps with bed bugs and dust mites. Elevate your bed at least 40 cm off the floor so your mattress can air out underneath and reduce dust mites, but this can also create more distance between you and any underfloor wiring or currents. Ideally if buying a new bed frame/bed head avoid metal as they can generate an electric field If they are located in the vicinity of an eclectic current. Mattresses ideally should be organic or made out of natural fibers such as cotton, hemp, wool coir or rubber (latex) So if you are looking to invest in a new mattress definitely consider something like this. Mattresses are SUPER toxic and can take years to off gas Along with sheets, doonas and pillows they to should be made of natural fibers like cotton, latex, linen, silk, bamboo or hemp. Silk is naturally dust mite resistant. Definitely consider organic to avoid pesticides and harmful azo dyes. PVC mattress protectors also need to go because they leach phalates which have estrogen like effects or hormone mimicking chemicals. Try to always buy Australian made as products from other countries may contain formaldehyde and fumigants. When making your bed each day pull the doona and blankets back to allow the bed to air and dry. Avoid laundry products that contain fragrances, optical brighteners and fabric softeners.
PLANTS- The snake plant is known as one of the top air purifying plants because it removes at least 107 known air pollutants, including carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, chloroform and nitrogen monoxide. Snake plants also produce copious amounts of oxygen throughout the night. Most plants do this during the day, but the snake plant is one of only a few plants that release oxygen into the air at night making it the perfect plant to have in your bedroom as you sleep.
SURROUNDINGS- Check the walls around your bedroom internally and externally. Does you bedhead back on a electricity metre? A Fridge? An internet point? A TV in standby mode all night? Distancing yourself from these high level electromagnetic fields is so important. You need to be able to rest and restore at night and not constantly have electric currents running through your body. Backing onto an electricity metre is very bad for your health and I would immediately move the bed or move bedrooms all together. Things like mirrors with a metal backing can shield some EMF radiation from smart metres but I strongly urge you look into having a building biologist assess your home to take correct metre and provide appropriate solutions. Removing the digital communications could be another option if your supplier allows.
WARDROBES- Dust often. A nice little refreshing tip to help with musty smells, moths or any unwanted critters could be to hang a small calico bag filled with bi carb soda and essential oils inside to purify the area. Oils like terra armour, lemon, purify, peppermint, lavender, grapefruit, lemongrass would all be lovely choices in a wardrobe area. Peppermint and lavender especially are great for pests. You can also tear off strip of old cloth and place in the wardrobe with some peppermint or lavender oil on them. DO NOT USE MOTH BALLS. They are a type of pesticide and inhaling them is toxic to your health.
FRESH AIR- Every day open your windows to allow fresh air into the bedroom. Especially if using a diffuser. Avoid any air fresheners, air plug ins or scented reed sticks. They are all synthetic fragrance and are toxic to your health.
CHILDRENS BEDROOMS:
ELECTRONICS- Keep electronics on the opposite side of the bedroom or as far away from the child’s head as possible. Anything you plug into the wall will release an electric current so distance is key. Diffusers, heaters and baby monitors.
BABY MONITORS- If you have a baby monitor please consider removing it all together or at least as far away as possible from the baby. Remove cameras near the cot or on cot and do not use devices on the baby, especially if operated with WIFI or Bluetooth. I understand parents needs for these devices, especially if there is a medical condition, however consider placing the monitor just outside the door so you can still hear your baby if they need you or position a camera on the other side of the room so you can still your baby but there is a distance away from the device. Keep the parent unit away from your head too, ideally 0n the other side of the room.
BEDDING- Babies sleep in their beds longer and more often so babies mattresses also need airing in the sun ideally and outside ideally. A great habit is when babies wake up, place the blankets over the side of the cot to allow them and the mattress to dry out. Basinet mattresses can also be turned on their sides to air out in between naps. Mattresses ideally should be organic or made out of natural fibers such as cotton, hemp, wool coir or rubber (latex) So if you are looking to invest in a new mattress definitely consider something like this. Mattresses are SUPER toxic and can take years to off gas along with sheets, doonas and pillows they to should be made of natural fibres like cotton, latex, linen, silk, bamboo or hemp. Silk is naturally dust mite resistant. Definitely consider organic to avoid pesticides and harmful azo dyes. PVC mattress protectors also need to go because they leach phalates which have estrogen like effects or hormone mimicking chemicals. Try to always buy Australian made as products from other countries may contain formaldehyde and fumigants. When making your bed each day, pull the doona and blankets back to allow the bed to air and dry. Avoid laundry products that contain fragrances, optical brighteners and fabric softeners.
FRESH AIR- In the morning opening windows and allow fresh air to fill the room everyday.
DUST- Keeping rooms as dust free as possible, especially pulling out furniture and getting in and behind things for a really deep clean and checking for mould. Stuffed toys sitting on a shelf also harbour dust and possible dust mites, so I often give them all a good clean in the washing machine every few months. An air purifier is a great investment to help control and trap dust, ensure it has a HEPA filter which often contains dead skin cells, hair, clothing fibres, bacteria, dead bugs, pollen, microplastics and pesticides.
TOYS- Minimising the amount of toys children have in their room as most toys are plastic and synthetic and are constantly off gassing. Toys can also contain things like Azo dyes, cadmium, ink, paint, BPA, phalates in plastics, and flame retardants in plastic and soft toys. Avoid toys from cheap $2 shops as these toys are not safety standard tested and often contain very harmful ingredients. Australian Standards still allow for low levels of lead to be in children’s toys. Major toy brands however invest heavily to ensure their products meet compliance. Always wash a new stuffed toys and place them in the sun before giving it to a child or baby as a bare minimum one wash. Ideally you can wash several times air outside to help release any VOC’s (Volatile organic compounds). Avoid baby toys with PVC as they contain plasticizers which can disrupt hormones. Antique and imported toys can be tested using a lead testing kit from hardware shops. Stuffed toys that contain foam are likely to contain flame retardants, formaldehyde and dyes. Second hand is a good option as they have had the opportunity to off gas.
DETOX YOUR HOME
LIVING ROOMS- Ensure doors or windows are opened daily. Invest in a good quality air purifier, one with a HEPA filter. Dust regularly and vacuum using a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner. Check to see where WIFI routers are located and ideally move them out of main living room spaces where you spend the most amount of time. Consider hard wiring your WIFI if it is located in a main living area where you spend a lot of time. Rugs can contain synthetic fibers and glues that are toxic, it is always good to consider natural fibers for rugs like wool. When purchasing new furniture consider the country of manufacture. Had it been imported into Australia? Has it been fumigated upon arrival into Australia? What glues have been used to hold the furniture together? Some contain formaldehyde. When purchasing couches or chairs try second hand as they would have already had some opportunity to off gas. New couches should be aired safely outside/undercover for a few months prior to bringing them into the home. Avoid scotch guards or any protective sprays the shops try to sell you.
GARAGE- If you have a garage attached to the home, avoid idling the car in there. This is to help reduce car fumes going into the house. Always open any windows and the garage door and seal the door between the garage and the home.
