Earth Week: Day 2 - Spring Clean Your Kitchen

It’s all about going green. But just how green is your kitchen? It actually goes deeper than just buying organic. To create a healthy haven for your family, you may want to rethink the medley of chemicals used in many cleaning agents around your home. But how do you know what’s good for you, and what won’t break the bank?

Alexandra “Lexy” Zissu, eco-lifestyle consultant, “greenproofer” and author of The Conscious Kitchen and The Complete Organic Pregnancy stops by to help us cut through the clutter and explain simple changes that can help them lead a non-toxic lifestyle.

Here are some of Lexy’s easy tips for maintaining a Healthy Kitchen:

• Home is Where the Clean Is: More than half of parents (58%) don’t always check the labels of cleaning products to determine if they contain ingredients that are harmful to their health. Use an EPA registered disinfectant, to kill germs naturally.

• Avoid the Plastic: Store foods in glass instead of plastic containers to prevent toxins, like the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), from leaching into you food.

• Phase out nonstick. When heated above 500 above degrees Fahrenheit, the coating in your nonstick cookware can break down and release toxic fumes. Phase out nonstick cookware and replace it with cast iron or stainless steel.

• Make the Old New Again: Use rags (like old t-shirts and washcloths) instead of paper towels. Not only does this save trees but also money.

• The Writing is on the … Sponge: Read the fine print and do not purchase antimicrobial sponges because they have pesticides. Store sponges in a dry place and clean them by zapping plastic sponges wet in a microwave for two minutes.

• Mom Was Right, Wash Your Hands: Wash your hands with soap and water before and after prepping food, and always before eating. So much of what can be potentially harmful in a kitchen can be reduced by this simple act that doesn’t require any harsh chemicals whatsoever.