We are all well-versed in the prevention of plastic pollution in the home. But are you aware of the often ‘hidden’ impact of manufactured goods in our houses taking their toll on our home environment and our health?
Here are some quick fixes for each room in your house that will help you get that much closer to a sustainable home environment.
Bathroom
Go fragrance-free
Every sweet smelling component of your bathroom cabinet is a mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are chemicals that evaporate easily at room temperature. To keep it simple and eliminate as many of these as you can, choose fragrance free alternatives where possible.
Stave off single-use plastic
Not only are they bad for the environment in their own right, single use plastic food packaging like the sort that makes up takeaway boxes isn’t made for heating. When exposed to higher temperatures, plastic leaches chemicals into food. Use glass or ceramic dishes instead and try to get into the habit of taking your own refillable container for food shopping and use it for over-the-counter food purchases to save on plastic wrapping.
Opt for organic food
When it comes to fruit, vegetables and even meat opting for organic means you consume less pesticide residues. Choosing organic options for your most frequently eaten produce is the best place to start
Clean consciously
Spraying various cleaning products in the kitchen can leave you with a room filled with fumes. With more naturally derived cleaning product hacks appearing on Instagram and even on supermarket shelves, it’s now easier than ever to use kinder, and more conscious cleaning products to make your kitchen sparkle.
Living Room
Breathe life into second hand
Sofas, tables, chairs and cupboards are all held together by chemical adhesives. ‘Off gassing’ is the term given to the release of chemicals from products. Whilst it lessens over time, opting for second hand furniture where possible is a great way to keep off-gassing to a minimum.
Wool does wonders
Did you know that wool carpets can help purify the air inside your house as wool fibres naturally absorb common VOCs for up to 30 years? Opting for wool over synthetic carpets will provide you with a naturally flame resistant floor covering, lessening the chemicals you would otherwise have in your home.
Digital detox
Any redundant mobiles, tablets, video players, or general ‘e-waste’ contain carcinogenic heavy metals or brominated flame retardants. If you don’t use a device any longer, in fact, recycle anything with a plug or a battery to keep household levels at a minimum.
Bedroom
Sleep naturally
You only have to inhale some of the plasticky fumes when you unwrap a new mattress to be reminded of how synthetic our beds can be. In fact, some mattresses can take a whole decade to stop emitting fumes. Instead of buying a new one, buy a 100% natural topper and unbleached natural bedding.
Outside
Switch to chemical-free fertiliser
Using organic and natural fertilisers like manure or seaweed-based products, peat-free compost and bone meal are healthier for the environment than nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus-based ones and will result in healthier fruit and vegetables.
Stay native
Plant species native to the UK will thrive in gardens with less intervention and need for chemical treatments than non-native ones. They also don’t carry invasive diseases with them that can kill other plant and tree species.
You can start building a greener home from the inside, but did you know that you can opt for green mortgage products too when it comes to financing your home?
If you’d like to learn more about how Skyline can help you source a green mortgage, then book an online, face-to-face mortgage appointment with Tony.
Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other debt secured on it.