In the spirit of doing the best that I can with the resources I have, I present you with this list of ten cheap and easy ways to reduce your family’s exposure to toxic flame retardant chemicals (if you’re not sure what I’m referring to, click over to my post from last week about PBDEs).

#1. Damp-dust all surfaces at least once a week. Chemically treated furniture and consumer goods off-gas — and those particles are found in alarming rates in your household dust. Help rid your home of this dusty danger by using a slightly damp cloth on all surfaces.  While you’re at it, mop any tiled or wood floors, too.  Especially if you’ve got little kids at home who spend a lot of time hanging out down there.

#2. Use a HEPA-filter vacuum to sweep your carpeted floors at least twice a week. I can just hear the groans now (or maybe that’s just my own voice ringing in my ears), but remember this: PBDE-laden dust isn’t just hanging out on your curio and your coffee table, it’s also getting trapped in your carpets. As an added bonus, HEPA-filter vacuums go a long way toward reducing allergens, too.

#3. Eat low-fat meat and dairy products. That’s because all those PBDEs being found in animals are accumulating in their fat.  By eating low-fat cuts of meat, you’ll be ingesting far fewer toxic chemicals. You should also try drinking skim milk. I know a lot of people turn up their noses at skim milk, but besides being heart-healthy, it’s also PBDE-free.

#4. Avoid catfish and farmed salmon. In a 2004 study of PBDE build-up in animals, catfish and salmon were two of the biggest offenders. Choose wild-caught salmon or try tilapia (yum!), which has one of the lowest levels of PBDEs.

#5. Avoid polyester like a bad 1970 movie. Seriously, aside from the fact that polyester is just an icky fabric that doesn’t let your skin breath, it’s also a petroleum-based product.  Which means, in the event of a fire, your polyester leisure suits — or your kids’ pajamas — are gonna light up in an instance.  Which means, manufacturers coat those suckers in PBDEs. Pick natural fibers when you can, and definitely insist on cotton PJs for your little ones.

#6. Buy used. As I’ve said before, new products off-gas their coating of flame retardants.  Now my understanding is that this stuff never fully goes away, and that eventually it starts to chemically decompose, which can’t be good.  Nevertheless, buying second-hand household goods and clothing does save you from that initial off-gassing. Plus, garage sale/thrift store shopping is fun and frugal. (Look for a post soon on why I prefer to buy second-hand clothes for my family.)

#7. If you are in the market for a new computer, buy an Apple. I love my MacBook.  Love, love, love.  So when I started learning about PBDEs being used on computers, I held my breath and Googled “PBDEs + Apple Computers”.  I was relieved ecstatic to read that Apple, along with other computing manufacturers like Sony, IBM and Intel, have phased out PBDEs flame retardants.  To make sure that your new computer is PBDE-free, check the packaging or refer to your manufacturer’s website.  The same goes for any new electronic purchase.

#8. Launder new clothes and sheets in hot water with ½ cup of vinegar added to the wash cycle. Repeat this two or three times before wearing them in order to strip (or at least significantly reduce) the PBDE coating. Better yet, buy natural or even organic fabrics when possible.

#9. Avoid contact with crumbling foam in upholstered furniture, carpet padding, children’s toys, etc. Don’t attempt to reupholster old foam furniture, especially if you are pregnant.  (Did I mention that PBDEs cross the placental barrier?)

#10. Wash your hands frequently. Which, incidentally, is also good advice for avoiding all kinds of other ickies, too. Make sure your kids’ hands are well washed before they eat (especially if they prefer to eat with their hands rather than silly modern inventions like forks… can you tell I write from personal experience?)

So that’s it: 10 easy way to reduce your exposure to PBDEs. Think of these tips as putting on your seatbelt before getting behind the flame retardant wheel. Do you have any other suggestions? Please leave them in the comments section!