Many of us learned from watching Heathers that drinking Drano is not a good idea, but did you know that many household products you probably have around the home could be just as bad?  Alternet has put together an important list of 10 dangerous products that you need to kick out of your house before they do yourself and your family any more harm.  I’ve run down the first three items on the list to get you started, and be sure to check out Alternet for the rest.  I first became suspicious of many of these hazardous items that we use every day when I was in high school, but I have to admit it’s hard to break old habits, especially when they promise a clean, hassle-free modern lifestyle.  But trust me, there is nothing hassle free about these products.  And as you will see, there are plenty of safe alternatives that will get the job done.

Photo: innercity51 (creative commons)

1.  Non-stick Pans

Sure, they make cooking an egg and cleaning up a breeze, but the coating of most non-stick pans contains polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a chemical that when heated to high-temperatures releases toxic gases linked to cancer, organ failure, reproductive damage and other harmful health effects.  For the time being you can keep the cooking temperature low to reduce the chance of emitting the gases, but ultimately you want to look for anodized aluminum, stainless steel, or, my favorite, cast iron pans, which last forever and retain add flavor and healthy iron to your cooking.

2.  Plastic Bottles

You’ve probably heard that disposable plastic bottles create massive amounts of waste, deplete local aquifiers, and contain water that undergoes less scrutiny than tap water.  And I probably don’t have to remind you that they leach chemicals and require billions of barrels of oil to produce and ship, right?  Great, so steer clear of those.  And as fellow TP blogger Sarah reminds us we also have to watch out for Bisphenol A (BPA), a toxic chemical found in lots of plastic household items.  So, as the summer heats up, grab yourself a reusable stainless steel or glass bottle, fill it up at the tap, and head out into the sunshine.

3.  Conventional Cleaning Supplies

I won’t even get into discussing the toxicity that can be found beneath the kitchen counter, as Alternet covers it pretty well.  But I will say you should check out the widening-variety of non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaning products out there, including Seventh Generation and Ecover.  And check out all these handy, low-budget and safe options that you can make from simple ingredients like baking soda and vinegar.

Head to Alternet for 7 more Dangerous Houshold Products and safe alternatives.