Your nose is one indicator of the air quality in your home—the cleanliness of the air your baby breathes each day. Rule of thumb: if the aroma you smell is from a natural source (such as fresh air, flowers, a sliced lemon, essential oils, or homemade bread), breathe deep and enjoy. But if the aroma is from a manufactured product, whether it’s from chemically scented candles or that “new carpet smell,” it is likely to contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
These VOCs are unavoidable in our modern lives; they are all around us. But knowing where they come from is a good step toward avoiding them in our own common household products, such as these:1
- Paint strippers and other solvents
- Cleansers and disinfectants
- Building materials and furnishings
- Office equipment, such as copiers and printers, and correction fluids
- Graphics and craft/hobby supplies
- Stored fuels and automotive products
To reduce the extent of indoor air pollution caused by these products, the EPA recommends the following:2
- Increase ventilation in your home—open a window.
- Use household products according to manufacturers’ recommendations. Potentially hazardous products often have warnings aimed at reducing exposure.
- Safely dispose of partially full containers of old or unneeded chemicals. Because gases can leak even from closed containers, this single step could help lower concentrations of volatile chemicals in your home.
- Buy limited quantities. If you use products only occasionally or seasonally, such as paints, paint strippers, and kerosene for space heaters or gasoline for lawn mowers, buy only as much as you will use right away.
In addition, I would add the suggestion that you replace products known to contain VOCs with green alternatives.
Green Product Checklist
When decorating or remodeling any room of your home, “green” means using products and materials that:
1. Are locally manufactured. Buying products manufactured nearby cuts down on the waste of fuel and the emissions that result from transporting goods long distances, and also supports your local economy.
2. Conserve natural resources. These include products that are made from rapidly renewable materials generally produced from agricultural crops, such as organic cotton, wool, sisal, cork, and bamboo, and products made from wood derived from certified well-managed forests. Examples include cork and bamboo flooring.
3. Are salvaged. Some construction and decorating components can be reused or rescued, thus reducing the consumption of new products made from raw materials. Examples include period hardware and millwork.
4. Contain recycled content. These include products made of materials that have been diverted from the landfill and put into the production of new products. An example is flooring made of reclaimed wood.
5. Are made to last. Green products don’t need frequent replacement. ....read more
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