Month: May 2024

There’s a Latin term known as via negativa, which essentially means improvement through subtraction or elimination. (Now, we know what you’re thinking: “Yes! They’re talking Latin! Party time!” But bear with us.)

Via negativa was originally conceived in a theological context, but it’s easy to see how it could apply to other areas of life. Want to feel better in the morning? Stop eating a pint of ice cream at bedtime. Want to limit your anxiety? Stop reading about things that make you anxious.  

The same concept applies to indoor air: less is often more. 

1. Choose Natural Fragrances 🌸 

Most of us love our fragrances. They bring comfort. They remind us fondly of people or places or special times of the year. But emerging research shows they can be amongst the most harmful things we bring into our homes. 

Take, for example, air fresheners. They don’t freshen the air. They mask odors with chemicals, some of which are volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs contribute mightily to indoor air pollution, potentially causing health issues over time. Some are even known hormone modulators or endocrine disruptors. There’s no place for them in a healthy home.

Avoid candles, too. (Sorry!) Especially the scented kind. These are toxic, regardless of the kind of wax. In fact, burning anything indoors is a bad idea. And don’t get me started on essential oils, of which emerging research is rather disturbing, no matter what the companies that sell them say. 

Instead, opt for natural ways to keep your home smelling fresh. Open some windows to let fresh air circulate and consider simmering pots of water with cinnamon, citrus peels, or herbs. These natural alternatives will do the trick without adding harmful chemicals to the mix.

2. Be Mindful of Cleaning Products 🧼 

Many cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that can linger in the air and on surfaces. Look for eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaners, or make your own using ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice. Not only are these options safer for your indoor environment, but they are just as effective at keeping your home clean.

We love love love Force of Nature, if you’re looking for a commercial product that’s safe, effective and over time a big reduction in plastic waste. It’s also fun to make. The kiddos love it. They call it “making science.”

3. Rethink Remodeling 🔨 

If you’re preparing a nursery, be mindful of the materials involved. Paint, flooring, and furniture can all emit VOCs, especially when new. When this happens it’s called “off-gassing,” which might sound like something that happens after Taco Tuesday, but the VOCs are far worse.

Choose low-VOC or VOC-free paints, and consider natural flooring options like hardwood or cork. Carpet is especially nasty, unless you choose natural fibers and no mat. It’s not just the chemicals. They also harbor dust and allergens. When selecting furniture, look for items made from solid wood rather than pressed wood, which often contain formaldehyde. No sane person has ever turned to their significant other and said, “Honey, we need more formaldehyde in our lives.”

4. Avoid Flame Retardants & Stain-Resistant Chemicals 

Many baby products, including mattresses and pajamas, are treated with flame retardants and stain-resistant chemicals. Though beneficial sounding, these toxic compounds can absorb through the skin and also accumulate in dust, posing a risk to your baby’s health. Many are “forever chemicals” that will obviously last far longer that any potential stain, and are only now starting to be truly understood. Here’s to hoping that legislation will soon catch up with the science. 

5. Beware of Mold in Bath Toys

Bath toys — especially ones that squirt — can be hidden reservoirs for mold and bacteria, which thrive in moist environments. There are many horror stories about kids getting serious eye infections from these seemingly benign playthings. Not to mention it seems to be a universal law of babyhood that anything that can go in the mouth will go in the mouth. When this happens, in a bathtub with moldy toys, it’s like mainlining toxins.  

But try telling your baby that they can’t have toys in the bath. Try it, we dare you.

So instead, choose toys that are easy to clean and dry — inside and out — and make it a routine to cleanse them regularly with a solution of vinegar and water. This will help prevent mold growth and keep bath time safe, fun and relatively meltdown-free.

By taking measures to eliminate harmful chemicals and toxins from your home, and you will provide a safer, cleaner space for your new arrival. They’ll feel better and sleep deeper, which will give you plenty of time to brush up on your Latin.

Mirus! (Wonderful!) 

Next up… Keep Things Dry: Balancing Moisture for a Healthy Home

Life, as they say, is complicated. Even for the most fortunate, it’s full of challenges and surprises and revelations. Never more than when it comes to our children. 

Here’s something that may surprise you: Babies, breathing the same air in the same room as adults, have 5x the exposure to airborne pollutants. Why? Because they breathe 5x more often.

The consequences of this extra intake, during what is a particularly crucial moment of development, often extend far beyond childhood.

As just one example of emerging research, a 2022 University of Colorado study on the effects of air pollution on children’s gut bacteria found that “air pollution exposure, even during infancy, may alter the gut microbiome, with important implications for growth and development.” These implications include elevated risks of allergies, obesity and diabetes, and impacts on brain development.

But don’t feel bad if you haven’t heard or thought about this before. You’re not alone. See, of the five basic human needs — sunlight, shelter, food, air and water — air is often an afterthought. Yet it’s our single largest source of environmental exposure and the one thing we most readily can’t live without. 

Sunlight: A long time
Shelter: Depends on the climate
Food: Weeks
Water: 3 days
Air: 3 minutes

In other words, we generally think least about the thing we need most. 

Here’s something else you may not know: We breathe almost 2000 gallons of air a day—enough to fill a swimming pool. That equates to over 30 pounds of air, which, unless you’re a competitive eater, is quite a bit more than the combined water and food we consume each day. 

That’s a lot of air getting very little respect.

So, Why the Blind Spot? 🙈

Why would something so critical to our health and survival, and something we do more than anything else, be so undervalued? Well, mostly because breathing is largely unconscious. In most cases, we do it without effort or thought, and only in rare instances is the difference between clean air and dirty air visible to the naked eye.

But not seeing or thinking about something doesn’t remove the threat. It only allows a problem to grow more insidious—5x more insidious when it comes to our newborns and poor air quality.

During pregnancy, great effort is usually taken to control what the fetus is exposed to. We change our diets and try to lessen or completely eliminate harmful habits like drinking and smoking. But then, after the baby is born, we generally think much less about their ambient environment, unconsciously relying on the hope that air is air.

One major contributing factor to indoor air pollution is that modern buildings, in the interest of saving energy and keeping things comfortable (a good thing), are tighter than ever (a bad thing), allowing pollutants like mold and chemicals to accumulate and thereby infiltrate our air, which we rebreathe over and over.

Given that, on average, we spend about 90% of our time indoors — even more when a newborn enters the picture — is it any wonder we’ve seen skyrocketing rates of asthma, allergies, autoimmune diseases and cancer in recent decades?

The Good News 🌞 

But here’s the good news: unlike the outdoor environment, and other facets of life where we as individuals carry little sway, we have enormous potential for control in our indoor environment.

It all begins with awareness.  Which is what our New Moms Series is all about.

Our mission is to empower people just like you with the tools and knowledge needed to make better decisions about the air you breathe. 

Sure, we sell mold test kits, but this is a lot more than business. It’s personal. We have kids, too. And we all live in buildings and breathe air. So this is a universal concern.

There’s a lot to know, true, but you don’t have to do it all at once. A little bit goes a long way. So take it one step at a time. Our next email will focus on what to avoid in every home, but especially one that has or is soon to have a tiny new addition. 

Up Next… Don’t Bring Bad Stuff Home