2012 is here and Do Your Part is kicking off a year of green challenges! January is ‘Detox Your Life’ month. We’re focusing on finding and eliminating the hidden chemicals that could be polluting your home and your family. To get you started, here are my ‘Top 7 Ways to Detox Your Life.’

1) Clean Green
Many popular household cleaners can hide toxic chemicals in their list of ingredients. Those ingredients stay behind when you clean and contribute to indoor air pollution. Better choices include using homemade cleaners made from natural products like vinegar, baking soda, and borax. Click here for green cleaning recipes. You can also opt for store bought cleaners which are plant based and biodegradable.

2) Free Yourself of Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is linked to a number of health issues, including asthma and cancer. It’s often emitted over many years from certain pressed wood furniture pieces, carpet adhesives, and paint. It is also found in hair straightening treatments, kids’ dishware made of melamine resin, air fresheners, wrinkle-free bedding, dry cleaned clothes, and nail polishes. It’s important to seek out formaldehyde-free products and to ask your beautician about the products your using. Here’s our video on other surprising sources of formaldehyde.

3) Ban VOCs From Your Home
Formaldehyde is one of the most notorious volatile organic compounds – or VOCs – out there but there are others to worry about, too. They include benzene, toluene, methylene, and chloride. Many times, the VOCs are found in paint, personal care products, furniture, carpets, and adhesives. You can specifically seek out low VOC paints and you’ll want to do a little research to see what’s really in the products you use at home.

4) Choose Better Personal Care Products
There may be more VOCs in your personal care products. There is a good chance that other toxic chemicals are hiding under the term ‘fragrance.’ Watch this Do Your Part video about safer personal care products. An easy way to find out exactly what’s in the products check out the Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetic Safety Database.

5) Know What You’re Eating
When possible, opt for organic foods. They are grown and processed without using synthetic chemicals, sewage sludge, or radiation. Familiarize yourself with the so called “Dirty Dozen” list to find out which pieces of produce typically contain the highest amount of pesticide residue. This Do Your Part video shows you all about the “Clean 15.”

6) Give BPA the Boot
Several studies have linked bisphenol-A or BPA to developmental problems, cancers, heart disease, diabetes, and infertility. BPA is used in polycarbonate (PC) containers that are often marked #7. Plastics with the recycling numbers #1, #2, and #4 are safer choices. BPA is also found in the lining of canned food and juices. Look for cans labeled “BPA-free” and choose food items packaged in glass or other safer containers.

7) Choose Natural Pest Control Products
Chemical pesticides can block the absorption of nutrients and can even cause permanent biological changes. Natural alternatives include vinegar, borax, or diatomaceous earth. Spraying vinegar will keep ants away. Borax will kill roaches. And diatomaceous earth can kill all sorts of bugs, including bed bugs. Be careful around children and pets with borax and diatomaceous earth because it can be poisonous if ingested.

Next month, take part in our trash challenge. We want you to commit to cutting your trash amount in half! Don’t worry, we help you along the way! Do Your Part in 2012 to reduce, reuse, and recycle your way into a greener, healthier lifestyle.