The Everything Guide to a Healthy Home

by Button, Kimberly

• ISBN13: 9781440530579
• ISBN10: 1440530572
• Edition: Original
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-02-18
• Publisher: Adams Media Corp

Summary

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the air in our houses is up to five timesmore polluted than air outside--so it's clear that our homes have become fundamentally unhealthy places. But there is hope! With this guide, you'll learn the immediate changes that make your home--and your life--healthier and safer by neutralizing the toxins, radiation, and chemicals that threaten the average house. Inside you'll find: Instant-fix checklists that will immediately make your home, workplace, and school safer Room-by-room explorations of the most common and avoidable threats Special tips designed to protect vulnerable infants, children, and pets With detailed checklists that are ranked by the projected health impact of making the fix, you'll be able to make real, concrete improvements to the health of your home. Whether you make every change or just a targeted few, the decisive steps in this guide will result in a safer, more comfortable, and more livable home for you and your family.

Author Biography

Kimberly Button is the Green Living Expert for Daytime, a nationally syndicated TV show. She offers private home consultations, and has frequently spoken about how to create healthier living environments for organizations such as the Girl Scouts of America and the city of Orlando. In 2009, she was awarded the Heart of Green Local Hero Award. She lives in Orlando, FL.

Table of Contents

Top 10 No-Cost Ways to Create a Healthier Home	p. 10
Introduction	p. 11
How Healthy Is Your Home?	p. 13
Redefining the Meaning of Health	p. 14
Causes for Concern	p. 16
Where the Problems Come From	p. 18
New Homes versus Old Homes	p. 21
Do You Have to Change Your Lifestyle?	p. 23
Common Household Dangers	p. 25
Mold	p. 26
Lead	p. 28
Radon	p. 32
Carbon Monoxide	p. 35
Indoor Air Quality	p. 41
The Problem with Indoor Air	p. 42
Dust and Dust Mites	p. 44
Heating Systems	p. 47
Air Fresheners	p. 49
Keeping Your Air Clean	p. 52
Air Filtration Systems	p. 54
Water Quality	p. 59
Safe Drinking Water Act	p. 60
Drinking Water Contaminants	p. 61
Testing Your Water	p. 65
Filtering Your Tap Water	p. 66
Bottled Water	p. 69
EMFs and Radiation	p. 73
Radiation	p. 74
What Is an EMF?	p. 77
EMF Sources in the Home	p. 79
Microwaves	p. 81
Cell Phones	p. 82
Sunlight	p. 83
Decorating Your Home	p. 87
Furniture-The Hard Elements	p. 88
Furniture-The Soft Elements	p. 90
Paints	p. 92
Window Coverings	p. 94
Throw Pillows and Blankets	p. 96
Lighting	p. 96
Candles	p. 97
Flooring	p. 101
What Flooring Will Work Best for You?	p. 102
Pros and Cons of Flooring Materials	p. 104
Anatomy of a Carpet	p. 105
Hard Flooring	p. 107
Area Rugs	p. 110
Existing Flooring	p. 112
Kitchen	p. 115
Nonstick Cookware	p. 116
Plastics in the Kitchen	p. 118
Avoiding BPA	p. 120
Avoiding Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)	p. 123
Avoiding Polystyrene	p. 124
Proper Food Storage	p. 126
Exhaust Fans	p. 127
Cleaning Products	p. 131
Dangers of Household Cleaners	p. 132
How You Are Exposed	p. 133
Unhealthy Cleaners	p. 134
DIY Solutions	p. 136
Purchasing Green Cleaners	p. 138
Specific Cleaning Concerns	p. 139
Bathroom	p. 145
Shower Curtain	p. 146
Shower Filtration	p. 147
Towels	p. 150
Toilet Paper	p. 152
Bath Mats	p. 153
Medicine Cabinet	p. 154
Killing Germs	p. 157
Not All Germs Are Bad	p. 158
Antibacterials	p. 161
Hand Sanitizers versus Hand Washing	p. 164
Disinfectants	p. 166
Steam Cleaning	p. 167
Personal Care Products and Cosmetics	p. 171
Shocking Truths about Cosmetic Regulations	p. 172
Avoiding Unhealthy Ingredients	p. 174
Label Claims	p. 177
Cleaning Up Your Cosmetics	p. 178
Shopping for Cosmetics	p. 180
Bedroom	p. 185
Mattress Risks	p. 186
Choosing a Healthy Mattress	p. 188
Pillows	p. 191
Bedding	p. 193
Adding Comfort and Protection to Your Bed	p. 195
Babies and Children	p. 197
Why Children Have Different Needs	p. 198
Cribs and Bedding	p. 199
Diapers	p. 202
Bottles	p. 204
Food	p. 205
Toys	p. 207
Pets	p. 211
Why Pets Are More Vulnerable	p. 212
Common Household Toxins	p. 213
Toys	p. 214
Sleeping Areas	p. 216
Bathing and Grooming Products	p. 217
Flea and Tick Control	p. 219
Cat Litters	p. 221
Pest Control	p. 225
Products Designed to Kill	p. 226
Methods of Exposure	p. 228
Human Health Problems	p. 230
Fix the Causes First	p. 231
Alternative Ways to Kill Pests	p. 234
Less Toxic Pesticides	p. 235
Hiring a Professional	p. 237
Lawn and Garden	p. 241
Weed Killers	p. 242
Fertilizers	p. 245
Lawn Equipment	p. 247
Professional Lawn Care	p. 249
Eco-Friendly Landscaping	p. 251
Outdoor Living	p. 257
Pools	p. 258
Hot Tubs	p. 260
Hazardous Materials in the Garage	p. 262
Decking and Play Sets	p. 265
At Work	p. 271
Electronics	p. 272
Work Locations	p. 273
The Most Common Workplace Offender	p. 274
What You Can Do	p. 277
Fighting for a Healthier Work Environment	p. 279
Encouraging a Healthy School	p. 283
Lack of Regulation	p. 284
Environmental Hazards	p. 285
Parental Support	p. 289
Talking to Teachers	p. 290
Suggest Alternatives	p. 291
Outfit Your Child	p. 293
Further Reading	p. 295
Organizations That Support a Healthy Home	p. 297
Index	p. 299
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