TREATING CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY: HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS
Clear out all cleaning materials, white spirit, turps, meths, dry cleaning fluids, polish, bleach, aerosols, air-fresheners, moth balls and disinfectant. Rags and dusters with polish, window-cleaning liquid or white spirit on them should also be removed. Banish all these items to a garage, shed, garden or balcony for a while. If you live in a flat, and this is impossible, throw away all those that you do not really need, and store the remainder in large biscuit tins or other airtight containers. Stick to an unscented washing-up liquid for all cleaning purposes. A herbal alternative to mothballs is available, if moths are a problem.
Painting, gluing, varnishing, soldering and similar activities are banned for a while. If magazines or books smell strongly (usually the ‘glossy’ magazines and books with shiny paper), read something else. Do not use felt-tip pens, especially the strong-smelling ones. The rule here is – if it smells, avoid it.
Some furnishings, pot-holders and ornaments have a very strong-smelling varnish coating, particularly cheap bamboo products with a glossy surface. If you have any items of this sort, banish them or put them in an airtight container. Also evict any smelly plastic items – certain plastic bags, for example.
Open all windows whenever you can, to blow away residual smells. If you have gas or coal fires, and can avoid using them for a while, it would be a useful addition to this list. Make sure electric heaters are clean and free from dust before turning them on.
Avoid places such as dry cleaners and petrol stations while you are testing out these measures. Do not use any insecticide sprays in the house, or pesticide sprays in the garden.
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