Detox Your Bedroom

6 Parts:

Choose the right Mattress

Use Non-Toxic Cleaners

Put Plants in Your Bedroom

Use Candles

Bedroom Detox Tips

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Did you know that we spend a third of our time in our bedrooms every day? We usually stay in our bedrooms eight hours per night (assuming you have a fairly good sleeping pattern). You might think that your bedroom is the part of your home that contains the least bacteria and viruses, so then you might be surprised to learn that there are some things in your bedroom that may contain potentially chemicals harmful to you and your family's health. Here are some basic methods you can use to detoxify your bedroom.

Let's start with the most important part of your bedroom, the bed! Most mattresses sold in the U.S. since July 2007 are required to meet stringent fire safety tests. Most already contain fire retardants used to help reduce risks of fire although it has a chance to be carcinogenic.

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   Normal mattresses can contain polyurethane, pesticides and even petroleum-based polyester

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   It is good, however, that there are mattress makers which uses materials like wool, natural latex and melamine, while avoiding stain and water repellent finishes. This reduces exposure to toxins. Our body, instead of resting throughout the night detoxifies these chemicals when the body should be resting and repairing itself.

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   Buy products like Savvy Rest, Pure Echo, Bean Products, New Hope, Essentia, Naturepedic and Lifekind

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   Simply select an organic cotton mattress. Pick beds that do not use synthetic chemical flame retardants, vinyl and other heavy metals.

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   If you're unable to buy a new mattress, you can still use a mattress topper made from organic wool and cotton

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   Otherwise use a mattress cover made with tightly woven barrier cloth, containing a high thread count to help protect from chemicals in an unhealthy mattress.

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Use Organic Cotton Sheets

Most conventional cotton is grown by using harmful chemicals. Some of these are fertilizers and pesticides containing poisonous materials. These materials can contain properties that are known as carcinogens and are acutely toxic. Generally, cottons are subjected to chlorine bleach, formaldehyde resins, and heavy metals. Be wary of wrinkle-free sheets because they can contain saturated formaldehyde, one substance that contains carcinogen.

• To combat this. Simply make the bed with toxin-free, and healthy organic cotton sheets. It will make a difference to choose natural fiber sheets without softeners, de-wrinkling chemicals and synthetic dyes.

Be wary of most synthetic and chemical cleaners because they contain chemicals such as acetate, 2-butanone, alpha-Pinene and more. These chemicals are widely known to cause kidney, reproductive, skin, respiratory, blood toxicant and neurotoxicant illnesses. Based on the EPA, some type of laundry dyes can cause cancer or other dangerous health effects in humans.

• Simply choose all-natural cleaning products, or better yet, make your own using common kitchen materials (vinegar spray, baking soda, etc.). Stock up with fresh citrus peels, fresh herbs and soap. This is not only healthy, but also allows you to save more money.

You may not know this, but plants are very effective at improving indoor air quality. NASA study proves that plants have an ability to create oxygen while at the same time filtering common toxins like formaldehyde from wood/furniture products, fire retardants, and cleaning agents and trichloroethylene found in paints, adhesives and varnishes, and lastly benzene found in synthetic fibers, plastics and detergents.

• Just add palm and leafy varieties to your bedroom and experience. This will give your room much needed oxygen and toxin-filtering plant properties. A lot of plants can naturally clean air, filter out harmful toxins, and add fresh oxygen, so they're an excellent option for your bedroom. Try the rubber plants, lady palms, Celtics fern, spider seeds, and others.

Cigarette smoke clogs up clean air in the room, but most people don't find the smoke that regular paraffin candles emit. If you adore the mood of any dimly lit room, but dislike the thought of compromising your wellness, soy or beeswax candle lights, both of which are virtually exempt from soot and toxins, offer an excellent alternative. Look for candle types which are scented with essential oils and have wicks that have no metals.

• Candles can also emit toxins like benzene and astoluene. Choose the variety made from natural waxes like soybean, vegetable and beeswax, and choose 100 percent essential oils rather than synthetic fragrances.

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   Electronic Devices

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   Some studies have concluded that radiation exposure can cause people to take longer to reach deeper stages of sleep and to spend less time being in that state. This interferes with the body's ability to repair damage it suffered during the day.  

   1. It will do you good to stop using and charging cell devices in your bedroom and make your bedroom off-limits for radiation emitting cellphones. Cordless phones and cellphones both are able to emit low levels of radiation.
   2. Like cellular phones, computer monitors is able to emit low levels of radiation. It is not recommended for you to be working on one right before bedtime. Watching television before bed also can mean fewer proper sleep, and studies also show that having a TV in the bedroom cuts the sex life by about 50 percent. Make your bedroom a peaceful location free from electronic devices instead.

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   Keep Shoes Out

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   Pesticides derived from walking in treated grass and plants can find its way into your bedroom through your shoes - makes sense right? So for this step, simply put your shoes outside your bedroom and tell everybody in the house never to set their shoes and slippers inside your room.

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   Lights and Paint

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   Energy saving lamps can actually emit unsafe chemicals when fired up, including naphthalene, phenol, and also styrene. These can also include mercury. It is a grave concern if the bulb is broken because this has been linked to constant migraines. Simply choose regular, soft lamps instead. For paints, use low-VOC and natural paints instead of standard paints which emit toxic VOC compounds like formaldehyde and benzene.

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   Keep Dry Cleaned Clothes Out

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   The majority of dry-cleaning shops make use of a chemical called "perchloroethylene" as the primary cleaning solvent. Short-term exposure might cause vertigo, fatigue, headache problems, and sweating. Use other options for cleaning, or simply hang the clothes out in the garage for a few days before bringing them into the bedroom.

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If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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