How lovely to step into a fresh home: a home wherein the air feels light and there’s the scent of water or green or… something beautiful…without sharp odours or clinging perfumes.
You want to breathe deeply. Your body and mind awaken just a little bit more.
Creating a home eco-system which expresses clean and organic interior air can be difficult.
Off-gassing from fresh paint and synthetic fibres (furniture, flooring, shoes), toxic preservatives such as formaldehyde (mattresses, carpet), phthalates (cleaners, body products), and many other volatile organic compounds and chemicals are swirling down the hall and into our lungs with each breath.
Depending on lifestyle, décor, and ventilation, it’s possible that your interior air is even more toxic than the smoggy city you’re living in!
While some markets suggest a quick fix such as a ‘Febreeze’, these products simply mask offensive smells. (Note: The original recipe actually used zinc chloride to block scent receptors in the nose! The smell was still there, but everyone’s nasal passages were coated in toxic chemicals and telling their brains that everything was fine! Yikes!). Others use scented candles and further contribute to the issue with even more perfumes and parabens. It’s a vicious cycle.
Through years of trial and error (and a houseful of stinky boys!) I have found a rhythm towards cleansing the air of my home.
Essentially, there are two components:
If you want truly fresh air, you need to support fresh air movement and filtration.
Sometimes, this is as easy as opening the windows (a good daily practice). Other times, depending on exterior air pollutants, temperature, noise, or other factors, it’s not the best option.
To help you out purify air naturally, bring in some reverse respirators—plants! They inhale our waste (Carbon Dioxide) while exhaling what we need (Oxygen). Win win! Some of the best cleansing plants include the ficus, spider plants, and various palms.
Next, now that the air is moving and being filtered, contribute something lovely. Skip the plug-in synthetic scents and stay away from those toxic candles.
Instead, choose a few essential oils which bring a smile. Wanting a room to feel a bit brighter? How about some pink grapefruit! Wanting the office to be a bit more inspiring? Try sweet mandarin with a touch of spearmint! Need a cozier touch in the baby’s room? Lavender with a hint of bergamot! And what about the bedroom? Sandlewood with a note of ylang!
Mix and match or just use single notes (sweet citrus oils with lavender suit every room!). Blend with water for a room mister, use with reeds in a bottle, or diffuse in a burner. The oils contribute to the air quality rather than compromising.
{Note: start small and go from there. You can always add more. Remember to dilute and avoid direct contact with pure oils on eyes, skin, and fabric}
Need one more push towards inspiration? Try starting something at home that is both purifying to your interior air and lovely AND fun! Start your own houseplants! Google ‘sprouting avocado pits’ or ‘growing a yam vine’ for some ideas, grab the kids, and go from there. It’s amazing to see the beautiful, helpful, and essentially free air-purifiers you can start from kitchen materials. Helpful and lovely!
Original article and pictures take redandhoney.com site
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