5 Simple Ways to Start Detoxing Your Home

Are you starting your journey to a less toxic life?

Are you already on your way and looking to add more changes?

This article is a great resource for newbies and seasoned home makers alike! 

Let's start off by changing the wording from “Toxin Free” to “Less Toxic”.

It is virtually impossible to live a completely toxin free life.

Toxin Free is an unattainable myth.

Talk about too much pressure having that as our standard of achievement. 

Doing it imperfectly is better than not doing anything at all!

My favorite saying is:

Harm Reduction Over a Lifetime

The most sustainable way to implement any change in your life is to start small and stack the changes as you go.

The worst enemy of good is perfect - no one is doing anything perfectly

This guide will serve as a great starting point for making small changes in your home that will have a BIG impact.

Our homes are our safe places. Our retreats from the rest of the world where we nourish ourselves, rest and recharge. Our sanctuaries. 

Reducing the amount of toxins we are exposed to helps optimize our health. 

Our homes are the best place to start detoxing to help us live a more healthful life.

Try not to get too overwhelmed! 

In reading this I don't want you to feel overwhelmed – been there!! 

If you begin feeling overwhelmed, take a break.

Save the article and you can come back to it later as you feel ready to implement more changes. 

I can intimately understand the feeling like you need to implement all these changes immediately.

This is just not realistic.

Give yourself some grace, start where you are at.

You are here reading this and that is a start!

A super simple way to get the ball rolling is to swap your dryer sheets for wool dryer balls.

Ditch the commercial candles (bye bye Bath and Body Works) and set the mood with natural beeswax candles, they offer beautiful ambiance and give off a light sweet honey like scent. 

One step at a time

Progress NOT perfection.

5 Simple & Effective Ways to Start Detoxing Your Home 

You can start anywhere on this list, and add at your own pace.

1. Ditch the Plastic and Go for Glass

Plastic is EVERYWHERE and on EVERYTHING.

Something I was shocked to learn is that there is no regulatory body who oversees or upholds any standards for the  plastics that are used to package foods.

We certainly see BPA free plastered all over plastic products, but is BPA the only chemical of concern found in plastics?

The short answer - No. 

There are loads of other chemicals in plastics that are of concern.

Alkylphenols, Perfluorinated Compounds (PFAS - Forever Chemicals), Phthalates, and Dioxins are all present in plastics.

The plastics that are in contact with our food leach these chemicals into food and then we ingest them.

These chemicals are all disruptive to our endocrine (hormones) and metabolic systems

They are all considered carcinogenic, which means they can contribute to cancer in the body

The best way to reduce exposure to these chemicals is to buy as much food as possible in its whole, raw form and not packaged in plastic. 

Swap out the containers you use for lunches and leftovers for glass containers or jars.

I use similar Glass containers to these for packing food, mine are branded Pyrex. Of course remove the lid when reheating.

I also recycle glass jars that food products come in - think pickles, olives, etc. These work great as well and are a more economical option.

Swap out your pantry storage items for glass as these items tend to be stored for longer periods of time.

I like to use large mason jars for pantry goods.

I use these sealer jars (They also come in square) for granola and cereals, and  airtight glass storage canisters, especially for dry goods like lentils, beans, grains, nuts, seeds, etc.

A money saving option is to head to the local thrift store and check for jars and other glass storage options! 

They likely wont match but it can save a lot of money

Any reduction in plastic use and exposure has beneficial impacts to health, no matter how small!

For Moms packing lunches, I know glass is not an option in most schools and daycares.

There is fantastic bento style boxes for kids lunches made from stainless steel

There is also stainless steel "tupperware" style containers

These boxes and containers will last you a lifetime, save you a ton of money over time and reduce a great amount of plastic exposure for your kids

Check out these options:

1. Stainless Steel Bento Lunch Box

2. Stainless Steel Snack Container

3. Stainless Steel Lunch/ Food Storage Containers

2. Switch to a non-toxic laundry soap and ditch those dryer sheets

Laundry soap is a major source of chemical toxins. When clothes are washed, there is residue of these chemicals left in the fabrics and when the clothes are worn the chemicals can be absorbed through your skin into your body.

Our skin is our largest organ.

Anything we put on our skin is absorbed into the body.

Many laundry detergents contain harsh surfactants, sulfates, dioxane, phosphates, parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrance and dyes. 

When you go to buy laundry soap next, give one of these non toxic alternatives a try:

Clean People Laundry Detergent Sheets

Country Save Laundry Detergent Powder

I currently use Country Save Detergent and LOVE it

We wash everything from cloth diapers to delicates and I find it is a highly effective detergent.

EPA CERTIFIED - 100% Phosphate-free, fragrance free, dye free and environment- friendly ingredients

It is ultra concentrated so it lasts a REALLY long time - we do multiple loads of laundry per day.

It seems expensive but you use so little (1/2 scoop), it costs roughly $ 0.57 per load!

DITCH THOSE DRYER SHEETS

Dryer sheets are loaded with synthetic fragrances which are endocrine disruptors.

They contain VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) which are known to be carcinogenic.

They also create so much unnecessary waste - single use and then they are thrown in the garbage. 

Think about all the households that use one or more a day… all over the globe… :o Yikes!

A simple, economical swap with BIG impact is to swap the dryer sheets for natural wool dryer balls

Wool dryer balls help your clothes dry faster and they eliminate static.

I used to relate scent to a sense of cleanness, anyone else?

Now I only feel like my laundry is clean when it doesn't smell like anything.

Dryer balls do everything those dryer sheets do but with no risk to your health!

3. Dish Soap and Dishwasher Detergent

What are you washing your dishes with currently ? Dawn? Sunlight? Palmolive? 

Did you know that there are surfactants, foaming agents, and other harmful ingredients in these soaps?

Not to mention that dye tho – nothing natural comes colored like that! And really it's not necessary.

I don't know about you, but as a mom I spend A LOT of time with my hands in the dish sink.

These chemicals can be absorbed through your skin while washing. 

They also can remain on your dishes once they are rinsed and then it is ingested when you eat off those dishes, or cook with them. 

Switching out your dish soap is another easy, economical way to reduce toxin exposure in your home.

The dish soap I am currently using is -- Attitude Unscented Dishwashing Liquid

I find it works really well, and is economically priced!

Next thing to go should be those dishwasher tabs

These little pods contain a laundry list of chemicals that can remain on your dishes and can be harmful to your health.

Once your done this box replace those puppies with a non-toxic alternative such as Nature Clean Dishwasher Tabs or Clean People All Natural Dishwasher Pods 

4. Household Cleaners

We want to keep our homes sparkly clean but don't want to be leaving behind chemical residue on surfaces or emitting toxic fumes into the air. 

Common household cleaners that contain bleach or “grime-fighting” degreaser can wreak havoc on your skin and airways

Inhaling chemicals can cause irritation in the respiratory system, lungs and eyes

These fumes are considered carcinogenic and have been linked to hormonal disruption

This swap has got to be one of the easiest and most budget friendly. 

White Vinegar and Water

1 Cup White Vinegar

1 Cup Water

A Couple Drops Essential Oils - Pick your favorite! [Lemon, Lavender, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Orange] 

Combine ingredients in an Amber Glass spray bottle and BAM, a powerful, effective cleaner you can use throughout the house.

Kitchen surfaces, appliances, tubs, toilets, tile, walls, you name it! 

I also use white vinegar to mop my floors

I add 1 cup white vinegar to my Spin Mop bucket (LOVE my Spin Mop) and fill to fill line with hot hot water.

I add a few drops of lemon essential oil and a few drops of lavender essential oil

My floors sparkle, they feel smooth and clean under my feet and the house smells so fresh!

5. Beauty and Personal Care Products

What a worthy investment into ourselves to replace the mass quantity of beauty and personal care products with a few, natural, high quality “daily drivers” that work.

Nourish our skin, hair, nails, and contribute to our overall wellness.

Isn't that what they're supposed to do? 

The beauty and personal care markets BOMBARD us with advertising and products for everything and it is overwhelming and confusing. 

I won't use this article to get into how toxic the beauty industry is in itself,

but...

it was created to poison our self worth and degrade our self esteem to profit off our depreciated mental state.

End Rant… (for now) 

These are some of the common chemicals to try and avoid in beauty and personal care products:

Parabens - Parabens are used in a lot of beauty and personal care products as a preservative.

Parabens have been linked to skin irritation, allergies and cancers due to accumulation in the body.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate - This is most commonly found in soaps and shampoos, it is used as a lathering agent to make these products sudsy.

SLS is a harsh irritant that can cause skin reactions.

It has also been linked to hair thinning and hair loss as it damages and even kills the hair follicle over time! 

Synthetic Fragrance - Synthetic fragrances used in beauty and self care products are largely untested for safety.

From the limited amount of testing that has been done, fragrances are linked to respiratory damage, skin irritation and hormone disruption. 

Aluminum - Heavy metal found in some cosmetics and most commonly antiperspirants to slow or stop sweating.

First of all we NEED to sweat, it's one of the ways our bodies detox and regulate body temperature.

Second, aluminum builds up overtime in the body and has been linked to breast cancer and the development of Alzheimer's disease. 

Fluoride - Another heavy metal found most commonly in Toothpaste and mouthwash

This additive is also added to some city and municipal water supplies for the purpose of preventing tooth decay

Fluoride accumulates in the body overtime. It has been linked to thyroid and hormonal disruption and is a known carcinogen. 

There are 2 Fluoride Free toothpastes that I go between:

1 - Himalaya Botanique - I like Mint, Mint with Xylitol, Peppermint and Turmeric + Coconut Oil -- or they have a 4 pack (Mint, Peppermint, Spearmint and Cinnamon) it is cheaper per tube in a pack and this way you can try them all out and pick your favorite!

2 - Dr. Bronner's - My favorite is the Spearmint, Peppermint and Cinnamon. They also sell a 3 pack to try the different flavors

Triclosan - Triclosan is used as an antifungal and antibacterial agent in cosmetics, hand sanitizer, shampoo, and soaps.

Triclosan has been linked to liver damage and hormone disruption. 

Talc - Talc is most commonly recognized as Baby Powder.

Talc is used to absorb moisture and is also found in many cosmetics, dry shampoo and shine control powders.

Talc has been linked to cancer, and is problematic when inhaled or absorbed through our skin.

*** Can we just talk about dry shampoo for a second **

The aerosol dry shampoo products contain butane, propane, isobutane, surfactants and synthetic fragrance

These chemicals are absorbed through your scalp for one, and the dry shampoo builds up on the scalp over time

If I were you I would ditch that dry shampoo!

I often need a refresh between washes, and there are many alternatives to the traditional dry shampoos on the shelf

Look for one that is a powder form you can apply with your fingers or a brush.

I currently have one from LUSH cosmetics, it appears they no longer carry it or I would link for you.

When I'm onto my next bottle I will update this article with my selection and a link

Annnyy who...

I strongly urge you to detox your personal care routine and it will have such a big impact on your health

You deserve to have a beauty routine that really works and feels good from start to finish

When buying products research the ingredients, look into the company, support companies that CARE about their products, ingredients and also their message and what their brand represents

This is an investment of time at first but once you're informed you can better select products and this information will serve you for a lifetime

Good return on investment if you ask me!

A less overwhelming, more economic way to detox your beauty routine is to change out products as you run out of them vs. purging them all and replacing all at once.

I cannot stress enough the importance of choosing where we spend our dollar and the impact that it has

It feels good to support companies that have good ethics, create clean, sustainable products and promote healthy body image

It feels good to know what is in the products we are using

It feels good to wholesomely and holistically care for ourselves

Feeling Informed? Empowered? Overwhelmed?

I know that was a lot of information.

If you have made it this far, I hope you are not feeling completely overwhelmed. 

My hope is that you actually feel empowered. 

Information is empowering.

We can't do differently until we know differently.

Making informed choices puts us in control of our life and our health! 

This guide was written as a jump off point to enter the world of less-toxic living. 

Remember –

Harm Reduction Over a Lifetime. 

You can save this guide and come back to it at any time. 

Please share your favorite products, swaps you have made and impacts you have noticed in the comments below.

I would love to hear from you!

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Thank you for being here,

With Love,

Katie

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