In Your Home – Reduce Toxicity
- Eliminate mercury from your home by purchasing items without mercury, and dispose of items containing mercury at an appropriate drop-off facility when necessary (e.g. old thermometers).
- Learn about alternatives to household cleaning items that do not use hazardous chemicals.
- Buy the right amount of paint for the job.
- Review labels of household cleaners you use. Consider alternatives like baking soda, scouring pads, water or a little more elbow grease.
- When no good alternatives exist to a toxic item, find th
e least amount required for an effective, sanitary result. - If you have an older home, have paint in your home tested for lead. If you have lead-based paint, cover it with wall paper or other material instead of sanding it or burning it off.
- Use traps instead of rat and mouse poisons and insect killers.
- Have your home tested for radon.
- Use cedar chips or aromatic herbs instead of mothballs.
e least amount required for an effective, sanitary result.
[source: (SEQL) Sustainable Environment for Quality of Life - seql.org/100ways.cfm ]
