Tag Archives: organic

8 Ways to a healthier and toxic-free home

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As we spend plenty of time indoors, there has been a significant shift in how we live. Therefore, it is essential to transform our homes into healthy, toxin-free, and safe havens. Unfortunately, different types of toxins present in the indoor air tend to harm and have adverse effects on the health and well-being of its occupants in the long run. Here are some tips to combat pollutants and reduce our exposure to them. Although it is impossible to create a chemical-free home overnight, with little effort, we can have a more sustainable lifestyle, eliminate chemicals from our day-to-day life and strive towards creating a healthier lifestyle.

1. Avoid Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs

Volatile organic compounds are gases that can escape from certain materials and finish into the surrounding air and may adversely affect our health.

  • VOCs are commonly found in products that we use on a day-to-day basis. They are present in paint, air fresheners, floor cleaners, wood preservatives, carpets, adhesives, wall coverings, and so on.
  • It is highly recommended to read the label before purchasing new things and opt for products with low VOCs.
  • Go for zero VOC wall paints, as most paints, stains, thinners, and pressed wood furniture emit dangerous toxins benzene, toluene, xylene, and methylene chloride. These toxins form a major class of indoor air pollutants, as they tend to emit toxic gasses for months or years, causing irritation and health problems.
  • Invest in wooden furniture or glass and metal pieces that emit low VOCs. Plywood, pressed wood, particle board, and medium-density fiberboard used in most furniture today are generally treated with formaldehyde. It is a suspected carcinogen that emits toxic fumes for as long as five years.
  • Avoid using non-stick Teflon cookware as it comprises Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs). When those pans get scratched, the chipping of the coating can get released into our food. In addition, Teflon tends to off-gas at a high cooking temperature and releases dangerous fumes when overheated. Use safe options like stainless steel, iron, glass, and ceramic baking dishes.
  • Say no to plastic shower curtains, as they release a lot of VOCs. We can replace this with a PVC-free or vinyl-free shower curtain. It is better to install a glass shower panel and use silicone mats instead of vinyl bath mats.

Click Here to Buy Now: Iron Frying Plate ($69)

2. Reduce Plastic

Plastic is dangerous as it is non-biodegradable, does not break down, and harms the planet. In addition, plastic packaging is unstable, and plastic can easily migrate into food or drink.

  • Replace plastic containers with glass jar containers as they are easy to clean, and it is easy to see the contents inside. Glass can be used for heating food inside the microwave. Keep in mind that even BPA-free plastic can leach harmful chemicals into the food and contaminate it when heated.
  • Another practical kitchen alternative is to replace plastic wrap with beeswax wrap.

  • Consider bulk buying in refillable containers and reusable bags for grocery shopping.
  • Swap single-use plastic utensils with steel cutlery and replace plastic spatulas with wooden options.

Click Here to Buy Now: Sustainable Cutlery Set ($49)

3. Bring in Maximum Light and Ventilation

Good airflow and ventilation are one of the simplest ways to create a healthy home.

  • Regularly open the doors and windows daily to eliminate indoor air pollutants and bring in the natural freshness of the outdoors.
  • It is a great way to eliminate odors, water vapor, and pollution and replace it with fresh air.
  • Install exhaust fans in the bathroom, kitchen, and storerooms, as they help eliminate trapped smoke and moldy air.

Designer: Ignacio Rojas Hirigoyen Architects and The Andes House

4. Invest in HEPA Filters

Ensure that all the home appliances like vacuum cleaners and air purifiers have HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air).

  • A vacuum cleaner is efficient in trapping air pollutants, allergens, and dust particles and purifying the air from harmful particles. Note that dust comprises dust mites, and chemicals tend to latch on the dust.

Tip: Have a shoe-free home and place a doormat at the home’s entrance so it can form the first line of defense. The dirt from shoes is full of dust and bacteria, so one must always take off shoes at the door and use different footwear indoors.

  • Air purifiers effectively eliminate dust, mold, formaldehyde, pet dander, and pollen.

Click Here to Buy Now: BRIIV Air Filter ($339.66)

5. Go for Environmentally Friendly Products

Reduce the use of chemicals in your home by going for eco-friendly products that are good for our health and the environment.

  • Replace chemical products with organic ones as they allow us to breathe easier. Some household remedies include using white vinegar to remove mold, applying toothpaste for cleaning silverware, and making your cleaner with vinegar and baking soda.
  • Baking Soda is an excellent natural deodorizer that can eliminate clinging odors from carpets. To neutralize and deodorize your carpet or upholstered furniture, sprinkle some baking soda, let it sit for some time, and then vacuum it up.

Click Here to Buy Now: Miniature Bonfire Wood Diffuser Set ($99)

6. Choose Organic Products

Switch from synthetic products to natural materials and fibers.

  • Materials like bamboo and natural linoleum made from linseed oil are a perfect alternative for flooring. Natural fiber carpeting such as wool, sisal, cotton, or jute that are made with solvent-free adhesives provides a healthier flooring alternative.
  • Invest in an organic mattress and pillow so one does not inhale or absorb harmful chemicals, as our head and body are in direct contact with this material. One can also go for an organic mattress topper as a barrier between conventional and bedsheets. Conventional mattresses are primarily made of polyurethane foam, dyes, flame retardants, and adhesives that may contribute to releasing VOC chemicals into the air. So opt for natural latex- or coir-based mattresses that are manufactured using a chemical-free process. Avoid a synthetic pillow and opt for an organic raw infill material like natural latex, organic cotton, or kapok.
  • Processed food can contain chemicals and pesticides, so replace them with whole organic foods. Most of the contents of canned food are full of chemical additives used to increase the shelf life.
  • Go for safe personal skincare and beauty products manufactured with safe ingredients that are not harmful to the body. Only use deodorants free of chemicals like parabens, phthalates, triclosan, and aluminum.
  • Conventional wax candles are made with synthetic fragrance and paraffin wax, a by-product of petroleum jelly with the natural smell of beeswax with essential oils. Alternatively, go for an essential oil diffuser for your home.

Click Here to Buy Now: Shrooly ($299)

7. Control Dampness

Check the growth of mold and mildew by controlling dampness, as it is a health hazard that can cause various respiratory infections or allergies.

  • Good ventilation can control and decrease the moisture levels within the home.
  • Fix leaky pipes or cracks that may allow water penetration from outdoors to indoors.

Designer: Jiaming Liu

8. Introduce Indoor Plants

Create a beautiful connection with plants to enliven the space; it is a natural way of bringing in more oxygen indoors.

  • Houseplants have excellent air purifying properties and can purify indoor air from pollutants and other toxins like mold spores, bacteria and other microorganisms, and VOCs.
  • Some of the air purifying plants by NASA include Boston fern and spider plants, which can also boost the well-being of your home.
  • Choose low-maintenance indoor plants that require less watering.

Click Here to Buy Now: LetPot LPH-Max ($229)

Go ahead and enjoy a chemical-free home sans toxins and harmful elements that may harm your loved ones.

The post 8 Ways to a healthier and toxic-free home first appeared on Yanko Design.

“Decaying” shoes are made from organic materials

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If you’re the kind of person whose shoes last for years and years, you sometimes don’t know if they’re still wearable especially if you haven’t worn them for a long time (like say, during the pandemic). But as long as it’s still wearable, especially if it’s your favorite, then you probably wouldn’t mind wearing it as long as it’s still okay. But if it looks like it’s decaying or falling apart, would you still keep it and wear it? That’s an interesting question to ask when faced with a pair of “living” footwear that looks like it has seen better days.

Designer: Yussef Agbo-Ola of Olainyi Studio

The Kajola shoe collection is made to look like decaying footwear as the materials used are natural. Because of the way it’s designed, it’s really more of a piece of artwork than functional footwear. They want to call it “living artefacts” made from various biomaterials like volcanic dust, clay, and even cacao powder and so as the years pass by, it will naturally curl into itself, just like leaves and other organic materials do when they decay. They are named after an area in Nigeria and a trip to local forests. The idea is to push what other things plants can be used to create.

The collection is made up of nine experimental shoe designs, all shaped similar to slipper-like footwear. The soles are made from a mixture of plant fibers, clays, plant starch, and other materials that can be used as a base. The upper portion is made from other natural fibers and mixed with natural additives like herbs, sand, flowers, and algae. They are actually hand cut and sewn and they even used a Japanese shoe patcher sewing machine to create this. Normally this machine is used to repair leather goods so you know it can withstand tough materials.

They are planning to develop a wearable version of this next year although I’m not sure if people would be interested to wear something that looks like it. Well, it’s pretty cool looking and can be a good conversation piece if anyone asks you “Why are you wearing an old pair of shoes?”.

The post “Decaying” shoes are made from organic materials first appeared on Yanko Design.

This handheld composting machine works just like a coffee-grinder, turning waste into nutrient-rich pulp!

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No, this doesn’t mean your coffee-bean grinder can help you make compost!

The ReGreen is a nifty little handheld device that’s designed to speed up the composting process by entire weeks. Working almost like a handheld version of your waste-disposal machine, the ReGreen lets you manually crush and pulverize your waste into smaller bits that are much easier to biodegrade.

The grinder-shaped device is made entirely out of aluminum, allowing it to easily cut through waste while resisting rot/corrosion, and being easy to clean. Waste goes into the ReGreen through the opening on the top, and a rotating arm lets you gently and effectively pulverize the waste into manageable pieces, while water drips out of the base, drying out your compost. A sachet of enzymes are then introduced into the ReGreen before shutting the lid. The enzymes accelerate the composting process by giving the microorganisms the food they need to break down the organic waste into nutrient-rich dry-compost in a matter of weeks – as opposed to the months it usually takes for waste to turn into compost. Once a composting cycle is complete, the ReGreen can easily be rinsed under running water and cleaned with soap!

The ReGreen Tiny Compost Machine is a winner of the A’ Design Award for the year 2020.

Designer: Shihcheng Chen

This futuristic custom e-bike comes with organic 3D-printed details and transparent wheel-rims!

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The 2029 e-bike brings art-deco and automotive design into the future, with its unusual combination of clean-cut geometric shapes brought about by sheet-metal fabrication, along with bone-inspired generative-design details 3D printed in metal. The bike is an amalgamation of styles that pays a hat-tip to the revolutionary design of the 1929 Majestic, built by George Roy.

Ninety years later, Bryan Fuller and his team at Fuller Moto decided to push boundaries with bike-design. Created as a commissioned piece for the Haas Moto Museum and Sculpture Gallery, the bike incorporates design-trends and technologies that are indicative of the future of automotive design. The stunning 2029 comes with an electric drivetrain, fully enclosed aluminum body, hub-centric steering, transparent PolyCarbonate wheels, and 3D printed bike parts, furnished out of Titanium. If the bike looks like nothing you’ve ever seen before, that’s purely out of intention. Designer Bryan Fuller says, “There are few times in my career that we have built something so gratifying. The 2029 combines both my drive to innovate and my love of metal.”

The 2029 features a modified electric drivetrain, with 27 horsepower, 78 ft-lbs of torque, and a range of around 90 miles. The chassis was flipped upside down to place the battery lower on the frame, and mount the motor closer to the bike’s 23-inch transparent wheels. The 2029 showcases a sheet-metal outer that pays homage to the 1929 majestic, albeit with 3D printed titanium details like the footrest, handlebar, and rims, all which showcase a novel approach to bike design with their bony generative-design aesthetic. The bike, commissioned by the Haas Moto Museum in Texas, will be on permanent display alongside two of Fuller Moto’s other bikes, the ShoGun and the Chief Ambassador.

Designer: Fuller Moto for Haas Moto Museum

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This hyper-ergonomic Xbox controller concept makes gaming far more comfortable

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Yeong Seok Go has a few ideas for the Xbox controller. While Xbox’s native controller remains one of the most ergonomically comfortable controllers out there, Yeong Seok believes it can be pushed a couple of steps further. Presenting what could be the most comfortable and subsequently enjoyable gaming experience ever, these conceptual Xbox controllers easily make me want to ask Microsoft why they never went in this particular direction.

Yeong Seok’s gaming controllers opt for a split dual-controller design, like the Nintendo Wii or the Switch (strangely enough Nintendo’s been much more receptive of this setup than any other gaming hardware company). With two halves of the controller in each hand, you’re more at liberty to sit comfortably and move your hands in a natural manner as you game, punching them at an invisible enemy as you churn out kill-combos, or aiming/recoiling with your hands as you fire triggers, or even turning them simultaneously as you steer a car. The split design’s organic form also makes it much more ergonomic to hold onto, letting it almost conform to the negative space of your palm, and therefore making gaming on the Xbox more comfortable, more natural, and as a result more immersive!

Designer: Yeong Seok Go