The kitchen and living room are two areas of the home where the family tends to congregate. Because of this you’ll want to take the necessary steps to make sure that your whole family is safe from toxins, chemicals and other harmful factors. Additionally, making your home more eco-friendly can also positively affect the environment around you. With a few changes you can preserve the health of the planet and your family.

The kitchen area has many different parts to it, including preparing, cooking and storing food. These actions alone can make or break the health of your family. Even if you label yourself a “neat freak,” even the cleanest kitchens can still be vulnerable to chemicals and toxins. When it comes to washing dishes, using a dishwasher can save a lot more water than washing by hand. However, to make sure your dishwasher is efficient, make sure it has the Energy Star label on it, which means that it is guaranteed to use less water. Also be wary of the type of dishwashing liquid you use. Some contain the harmful chemical, Phosphate, which can cause water pollution after it has left your dishwasher. Instead, purchase products that are labeled chlorine-free, phosphate-free and are biodegradable.

You can even make the way you cook your food more eco-friendly. Use cast-iron, ceramic ovenware or stainless steel cookware instead of nonstick products. Nonstick pans and pots can actually release toxic fumes when cooked on high. If you’re stuck with your nonstick cookware, make sure to use low to medium heat and avoid preheating on high. Being smart about how you store your food can also play a difference in your family’s health. Regular plastic containers can actually leak chemicals into the food. The odds of this happening can increase if you heat up the food in the plastic container or if the containers themselves are old and worn out. Can’t get rid of your beloved plastic containers? Then be sure to toss out old, worn ones and purchase newer containers over time. When purchasing such items, look for those with the following label numbers: #1 PETE, #2 HDPE, #4 LDPE and #5 PP. These numbers mean that the plastic containers are considered to be less toxic than traditional containers.

The living room is an area where family and guests love to get together. Why not make sure that this environment is one where you’ll all feel at ease? To make your living room more eco-friendly, you can start by reducing the amount of allergens, dust, lead and pesticides. You can achieve this by regularly vacuuming the living room using a HEPA filter. If your children have allergies or asthma, you can provide them with a cleaner area to play and crawl around on by taking out your carpet and replacing it with wood floors and accent rugs. You’ll also want to vacuum your furniture, since sofas and upholstered chairs can also trap dust and other allergens. Spruce up your living room area with special indoor plants. Ferns, spider plants and African violets are all houseplants that are non-toxic and absorb chemical pollutants while giving off fresh air to the room.  

The living room tends to be an area that contains a number of electronic devices, such as televisions, laptops, DVD players, and sound systems. When it comes time to replace old electronic items with new ones, be sure to either donate your old electronics or find a facility that specializes in safely disposing of old electronic products. By doing this, you’ll prevent these devices from sitting in landfills, where they actively release toxins into the air.

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