In the last 70 years, at least 70,000 new chemical compounds have been invented & dispersed.
150 chemicals found in homes are connected to allergies, birth defects & cancer.
Today, children have chemical exposures from birth that their parents didn’t have until adulthood.
For those of us who live in urban surroundings, we sometimes yearn to go into the mountains, to the beach, into a forest for a safari or some space that gives us quiet and peace. Living a holistic and sustainable lifestyle means balancing the fine line of urban living inspired by forest living. To walk this middle path so one is not bound to experience the ill effects of over-urbanization yet not touched by the isolation of living in a forest. This is what we at Half The Grid try to achieve and experience.
In our homes, we are continuously exposed to so many harmful toxin substances through everyday objects which we use without a thought. The first step towards conscious living is to remove as many toxins from the air we breathe every single day. I’m going to give you 5 hacks that will help you to keep your homes or workspaces with the least amount of toxins!
1. Our time in air conditioned rooms has certainly increased. The paint on our walls, the chemicals in our flooring, lacor on the cabinets and sprays on pin boards are all giving out toxins that are harmful for us. This same air circulating from the AC makes it even harder for us to breathe clean air. It’s time to use more natural flooring options such as stone and lead-free wall paints in order to keep our indoor spaces toxin-free.
2. In 1 decade, there has been a 42% rise in asthma due to longer exposure to household chemicals. Instead of using artificial room fresheners let's try to use more natural and harmless ones. Use camphor in your homes and cars. Burn fragrant oils for their scent. Keep flowers in your homes. Use natural dhoop or agarbatti for their medicinal properties. Burn neem leaves to get rid of those mosquitoes in your homes.
3. Most laundry detergents & chlorine bleaches contain toxins which cause respiratory disorders. Out of 2435 pesticide poisonings in a 1-year period, over 40% were due to exposure to disinfectants. Today, many natural detergents are available in the market which are made from organic and natural materials. Use of reetha, lemon, shikakai are ideal to wash your clothes or even utensils. Use of vinegar or baking soda is also recommended for stains, cleaning countertops or surfaces.
4. Formaldehyde is a highly toxic substance. One in five people are sensitive to it. Hence reducing the usage of plastic in our kitchen is of utmost importance. Use glass, steel or aluminum dabbas to store food or grains. Reduce the use of the microwave and heat your food on a slow burning gas flame in natural material utensils.
5. Lastly, the most important thing one can do is to avoid using artificial plants or lawns at home and plant as many indoor plants inside your homes! Plants give us pure oxygen and take away a majority of toxins from the air - all the time. There are plants that do not need much sunlight, much water and maintenance. Planting these kinds of plants indoors would help reduce toxins from our homes and workplaces.
If we live in toxin-free homes, work in toxin-free offices and breathe pure air, the chances of healthier lives and a cleaner planet would exponentially improve!
Please feel free to contact us at [email protected] or IG @halfthegrid for any comments or information!
Reshma.
Co-founder of Half The Grid
BIO: Half The Grid was founded by a Pune couple Abhishek Pallod and Reshma Kane. They studied and worked in the US and returned to Pune to start Half The Grid - a lifestyle concept to live halfway off the grid. A community that enjoys urban pleasures yet is inspired by a forest lifestyle to combat the unnecessary evils of an over-urbanized society. They live in Pune with their 2 little kids and love to expose them to the outdoors.
Reshma