by Sara Mould

Going au naturel in your home is good for your health and the environment.

They say charity starts at home. Start saving the environment (and your health) by greening your home.

Come clean
Your home may be filled with dangerous substances masquerading as cleaning products: including some oven and drain cleaners, washing powder, floor polish, paints and other household regulars. Dr Rajen Naidoo, head of occupational medicine at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, explains that these chemicals can lead to poisoning and upper and lower respiratory problems. Household cleaners dissolve into our soil and waterways and are taken up by people and animals along the way. “A simple rule is to use natural, non-toxic products in your home,” says Cheryl Koorn of naturalwise.co.za Always clean with the windows and doors open and make sure children are kept away from newly cleaned areas of the house. “These small changes will have a major impact on our health and the greater environment,” says Koorn.

Bin expired meds
Nearly two-thirds of us take expired drugs on occasion, finds a survey. Forgetting to clear out your medical cabinet regularly can be life threatening. “Your expired medication may not have the desired effect when taken, and ineffective asthma medication or blood pressure drugs could put your health at serious risk,” says pharmacy manager Liana Loots. “Some medicines like tetracycline antibiotics, may even become toxic resulting in organ failure and even death,” she says. Your bathroom cabinet may not be the best place to keep them as they degrade faster in hot, moist conditions. Keep a permanent marker nearby and write the date you opened the medication on the container so you know when to throw it out. Instead of flushing them, which can contaminate almost 60 litres of drinking water, put them in a sealable plastic bag and throw it in the bin.

Clear the air
Research suggests that an average smoker can produce enough garbage from ash, cigarette stubs, boxes and empty cartons to fill a 40 litre bin in one year. Dr Naidoo says “The best way to discourage indoor smoking is not to have ashtrays in the house. Indoor passive smoking can aggravate conditions like asthma and sinusitis amoung children and chronic bronchitis in adults.”

Choose natural
- Next time your home needs of a lick of paint, try low-VOC options. VOCs are harsh chemicals that are extremely harmful to your body and the environment: causing headaches, nausea, nose and throat irritation. Buy low-VOC paints from Breathecoat or Harlequin Paints – the good news is they’re not any more costly than regular options.
- Carpets collect dirt, dust and animal dander – according to the National Asthma Education Programme these are some of the most common indoor allergens in South Africa. Consider hard-surface floors and natural furnishings. “Bamboo could be good option provided it is properly treated,” says Professor Paul Potter, head of allergology at the University of Cape Town. Bamboo is a fast growing, sustainable and eco-friendly option.
- Invest is some foliage: Indoor plants are lovely to look at and produce clean oxygen. In fact, NASA research found that plants are so efficient at absorbing indoor pollutants (such as formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and benzene) that some will be launched into space aboard future orbiting space stations. Study author Dr Bill Wolverton says indoor plants can be an effective way to provide pollution-free homes and work places.

Eco Friendly one-stop shops:

Paint manufacturers:
harlequin.co.za
breathecoat.co.za;

Floors and furnishings:
cabinetworks.co.za
ecowood.co.za
forestcreations.co.za
junglefurniture.co.za
pandabamboo.co.za

Household products:
naturalwise.co.za
wellnesswarehouse.co.za
faithfultonature.co.za