Nontoxic Cleaning

Living chemical-free seems like a luxury — after all, those organic products tend to be pricier. But is it worth the cost? Beth Greer, an environmental health consultant and the author of Super Natural Home, warns that the chemicals can "act as endocrine disruptors — substances that interfere with our natural hormones." This may lead to the worsening of conditions like allergies and asthma and other symptoms like fatigue, nausea, and headaches. Prolonged exposure may even lead to more devastating health problems.

For those who are resolving to start living a more chemical-free life this year, Greer has some budget-friendly tips on how to make the change:

• Switch it up. "Start with the foods and products you use most often and switch out just one in each category. For example, if you drink milk, switch to organic milk (without pesticides and growth hormones); switch just one lipstick to a natural one; choose a natural deodorant."
• Try the farmers market. "Because eating organic is so important, try shopping at farmers markets. You can find some great deals there, especially just before it closes. I've seen broccoli for $1 per lb, for example. Farmers don't want to have to bring unsold food back to their farm. Or try planting your own garden, which is very economical and fun."
• DIY it. "Make your own products you use in your home. Now, this isn't as hard as it sounds. For example, I use baking soda as a deodorant. I fill up a salt shaker, shake some in the palm of my hand, and apply on my armpits. It works really well, is inexpensive, and nontoxic."
• Make your own nontoxic natural cleaning products. "Try vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide. You can find recipes in my book Super Natural Home."
• Remove your shoes at the front door. "Shoes track in lead, pesticides, and other pollutants, which contaminate our carpets and floors. Stuff we track in from the outside can turn our home into a toxic place, especially for pets and young children who spend more time on the floor."

Read on for more tips.

If you have some stubborn weeds or grass peeking out between patio stones or the cracks in your sidewalk, don't resort to toxic methods quite yet. Instead, try boiling a kettle of water. Take your kettle out to the offending weeds, and holding it close to the top of the weeds, slowly pour the water out onto them. If stubborn plants with a long tap root are the source of the problem, you can cut off the top of the plant, dig a small hole to the side of it, and then direct the water towards its taproot. If the weeds reappear, simply boil another kettle of water and use the same technique. It doesn't get much cheaper, or nontoxic, than that!