Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, can stay in your home for years, and getting rid of them can be tricky. The products we use to decorate and clean our homes can contain so many potentially harmful chemicals that it can be overwhelming and even impossible to eliminate them completely. Nonetheless, you can largely rid your home of the most harmful chemicals with a bit of knowledge, by reading labels and researching the products you buy, and by using green alternatives. Here are four home-decorating practices that could be damaging the air quality in your home.
Image via Flickr by Jeremy Levine
Acetone-Infused Polishes
Many wallpapers and wood furniture polishes contain a dangerous compound called acetone. Before people recognized how harmful breathing this toxin could be, most nail polish removers were acetone-based. Today, they’re mainly alcohol-based. While there might be less acetone in wallpapers and furniture polish than in an old bottle of nail polish remover, remember you are dealing with much larger overall amounts. So, if you install a new wallpaper or polish your furniture with an acetone-infused product, you will be inhaling VOCs for years.
The best alternative is to use a water-based furniture polish. Better yet, protect your wood furniture by simply dusting it with a microfiber cloth and preventing water contact so you don’t need to polish it as often.
Benzene-Based Carpeting and Paint
Some paints and carpets contain benzene, a very dangerous chemical that is not only toxic but also flammable. It increases the risk of cancer and has no safe exposure level.
Luckily, the alternatives to benzene paint and carpets are widely available. In fact, some paint brands have stopped putting “Benzene-free” on their product labels because they have not used the chemical in so long. But always double-check a product’s label before buying.
Ethanol-Containing Cleaners
Glass cleaners, as well as dishwashing and laundry detergents, commonly contain ethanol. While this substance is not as blatantly harmful as benzene, exposure to it can still be dangerous. Because it is basically alcohol, it can impair your motor functions, make you dizzy, cause migraines, and more. Ethanol is a subtle VOC that you want to avoid.
First of all, if you do use ethanol-containing products, make sure you have plenty of ventilation while cleaning. Better yet, look for ethanol-free detergents and cleaners to rid your home of this VOC completely.
Terpene-Loaded Soaps
Many soaps, detergents, and cleaning products get their scents from various types of terpenes. Terpenes are naturally occurring compounds, but the ones used for fragrance in soaps can be harmful to your health.
A product’s ingredients list usually won’t include the term “terpene”; instead, it will say “fragrance.” This is why it is a good idea to always buy fragrance-free products. Alternatively, citrus-based cleaners have naturally safer fragrances.
It is probably impossible to get rid of all the VOCs in your home. But just by being aware of these four common VOCs when cleaning and decorating, you can start to experience cleaner air in your home.
