Tag Archives: toxins

Product Review and Giveaway: Mother’s Therapy Organics Hand Sanitizer

  By Donna DeForbes | December 17, 2013 - 5:00 am | , ,
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Mother's Therapy Organics | Eco-Mothering.com

Triclosan, that chemical found in many soaps, toothpaste and, mostly, hand sanitizers, has gotten a bad rap for years. Studies have linked it to thyroid malfunction, liver toxicity and muscle impairment (particularly around the heart). While the FDA is still researching the possible side effects of triclosan, why risk it? Especially when there are products out there without that superfluous, potentially harmful ingredient. One of those is Mother’s Therapy Organics, a women-owned company focused on non-toxic sanitizing products. Their items—currently a hand sanitizer, a germ-fighting lotion and a baby lotion—contain NO triclosan. Instead, they use natural ingredients such as aloe, alcohol, Echinacea, goldenseal and essential oils (lavender, lemon, clove, sweet orange, sweet almond). We’ve been using the hand sanitizer and germ-fightin’ lotion for a few weeks now, and I love the soothing cucumber scent. The lotion is non-greasy. The sanitizer dissolves into your skin without that goopiness some brands have. … Continue reading →

Top 5 Indoor Plants for Improving Air Quality

  By Donna DeForbes | November 8, 2013 - 5:00 am |
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Houseplants to Purify Your Air | Eco-Mothering.com

Now that a late autumn chill has set in, your house windows are likely shut. Unbeknownst to you, this traps you indoors alongside a host of invisible pollutants with scary-sounding names: benzene, trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, xylene, ethyl acetate, acetone and chloroform. These are just some of the chemicals present in household items from furniture and carpet to everyday cleaners and toilet paper. The first three, particularly, can trigger asthma, allergies and cancer. So what can you do to improve your indoor air quality? Easy—add plants. Many of them are natural air purifiers, including these common (and easy to care for) top five. Heart Leaf Philodendron (Philodendron oxycardium) This workhorse plant (pictured above) clears out a variety of VOCs, especially formaldehyde, which is lurking in particleboard and other furniture components. Warning: The plant leaves are toxic if eaten, so keep away from kids and pets. Tips on caring for Heart Leaf Philodendron. Aloe Vera … Continue reading →

Top 5 Eco Interior Paints

  By Donna DeForbes | October 18, 2013 - 5:30 am |
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Eco-Friendly Interior Paints | Eco-Mothering.com

When we moved into our house four years ago, I couldn’t wait to paint it. After years of apartment living, I finally had walls I could paint! And I knew I’d be seeking eco-friendly options that did not contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs include a variety of chemicals with short- and long-term adverse health effects. They can off-gas for years, which is why interior paint is a prime contributor to indoor pollution. According to the EPA, even old cans of paints, solvents, stains, etc. sitting in your basement can leak chemicals and wreak havoc on your health. Dump the VOCs. Below are five eco-friendly indoor paints. Benjamin Moore Aura and EcoSpec I began painting with Benjamin Moore Aura because my online research showed the brand had great coverage and lasted forever. PROS: (1) The coverage was good — the paint was rich and smooth, and I only needed one … Continue reading →

Top 5 Things You Should Know About Hazardous Waste in Your Home

  By Donna DeForbes | July 19, 2013 - 5:30 am | ,
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Household Hazardous Waste | Eco-Mothering.com

I made a drop-off at the Eco-Depot last week. That’s Rhode Island’s household hazardous waste (HHW) collection agency. I’ve known about them for years but pure laziness has kept me from ridding our home of toxic products (some are even leftover from the previous residents). Scroll to the end of this post to see a partial list of what is considered household hazardous waste. It feels great to have finally made the trip. This isn’t to say that my home is completely toxin free. We have nail polish remover, antifreeze, craft glues, etc. that we still use. But getting rid of the old stuff has made a big dent, and it makes me breathe a little easier. Know the Dangers So there’s a can of old paint thinner sitting in your basement. Big deal. A few items don’t seem like much, but when you add up all the toxic products in … Continue reading →

How to Make Your Lawn Greener and Safer

  By Donna DeForbes | May 7, 2013 - 5:30 am |
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Tips for a Safe and Eco-Friendly Lawn | Eco-Mothering.com

I blame 1950s suburbia for getting America excited about plush green lawns. Sure, they accent the white picket fence nicely, but plush green lawns require a lot of work, money and, most of all, harmful chemicals that end up seeping into our water. According to Sierra Club, lawns cover about 40,000 square miles of the U.S. and are maintained with nearly 100 million pounds of pesticides annually. And where do all those lawn fertilizers and pesticides end up? They leach into our groundwater. They get washed into local rivers, streams and lakes when its rains. Why? Because in your local watershed, everything flows downhill. Even if you don’t live right by the water, pollutants on land eventually end up there where they can kill fish and lead to polluted waters unsafe for human contact. (Want the technical details on human exposure to pesticides? Read this.) This doesn’t mean you have to … Continue reading →

LIVE GOOD Sustainable, Luxury Bedding: Product Review and Giveaway

  By Donna DeForbes | February 26, 2013 - 7:00 am | , ,
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Organic Bedding | Eco-Mothering.com

Daylight Savings Time is two weeks away (March 10), which inspires hope that spring is just around the corner. After a snowbound winter, I yearn to fling windows open so that fresh air filters into my home. I want to de-clutter every corner and trade in the flannel sheets for lighter, whiter, cooler fabrics. In my dream home, I’ve always envisioned a complete bedding overhaul down to the organic cotton and wool mattress with natural rubber core. With one-third of our lives spent sleeping, quality bed linens seems a no-brainer. While I haven’t made the investment yet, (I did purchase organic cotton sheets for Sofie, but she inevitably prefers the gifted polyester-blend Disney fairy ones) it’s still my long-term vision. So when Live Good approached me to review one of their eco-friendly home goods, I jumped at the chance. Launched in 2012, Live Good’s mission is to create quality, luxury … Continue reading →