our lives easier, but they make living healthfully harder. Recommendation: Choose natural fibers, like cotton, wool, jute, and sisal for carpets and felt for underlayment. Mohawk makes a line of carpet made from re-cycled materials and with no chemicals called Smart Strand, a truly healthy choice.


Upholstery


Synthetic fabrics have the same issues as carpet. Those chemicals designed for stain and wrinkle resistance emit gases which get in our lungs, irritate our eyes and respiratory system and do slow damage to our health.


Recommendation: The solution is much like that for carpet. Whenever possible, buy natural fibers, cotton, linen, hemp, soy, bamboo, silk or natural materials such as leather.


Vacuum Cleaning


To think, you spent all that time vacuuming, and you’ve just put a cloud of fine dust back into the air you breathe! Dust settles back onto the furniture and in your lungs. The best solution is a central, whole house vacuum system. Short of that, choosing a vacuum with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter will capture more than 99% of these fine particles. For more information on HEPA filters for vacuum cleaners, go to housekeeping.about.com/od/ vacuumcleaners/f/NeedaHEPA.htm.


T


he industrial age and technology have brought us many conveniences, and chemicals


have played a huge part in this evolution. We now understand that many of these chemicals are continually polluting the indoor air we breathe. These chemicals emit toxic gases, literally for years, causing invisible, and irreversible, damage to our health over time. By the time we realize it, it may be too late. We know that second-hand cigarette smoke is harmful. So are the chemicals lurking in so much of what is in our homes. Be informed, ask questions, and buy the best you can afford for the sake of your family’s health. H The author welcomes and encourages your questions and comments: lorraine@ walmerenterprises.com.


The House & Home Magazine 41


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