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Reducing Environmental Toxins: What to Switch out to Clean up your Home
Reducing environmental toxins can be a daunting task once you realize how many horrible chemicals are in the typical things we use daily around the house. Baby steps is always best for this though: either pick one room a month to “detox” or do one item at a time. This list is just going to give you an idea on the things that you might want to change as time goes on.
When I first learned about the toxins in our household items, I went a bit overboard and threw EVERYTHING out at once. Makeup, cleaners, shampoo, etc- I got rid of it all in a day. I realize that not everyone can do that, and it’s made me a big proponent of slowly making changes. I am SO picky with what I use and promote personally so what you choose is really up to you. Currently, I use Earthley for many things. Tooth powder, face care, tinctures, muscle pain creams, etc- they really have a LOT to choose from. They are so much more affordable than most other clean/organic brands and they are constantly having sales too!
I hope this list helps! I think it helps to have it all in one place so you can figure out if you are missing anything (especially if you are someone sensitive to rashes or reactions from chemicals and can’t figure out where toxins might be lurking).
If you want to read more about the WHY behind switching these out, check out my article here on some of the most toxic chemicals that we come into contact with on a daily basis. We cannot eliminate or avoid everything bad out there- but there is a lot that we *can* control.
Kitchen
- Dish Soap
- Dishwasher Liquid
- All-Purpose Cleaner
- Candles or air fresheners
- **I use a mix of half white vinegar/half water in a spray bottle for my all-purpose cleaner. To make it smell nice and add some more cleaning properties I soak lemon and lime peels in a jar of white vinegar for a few days, strain the vinegar out, and then mix that with the half bottle of water (measurements depend on your bottle size!). I use this for counters, tables, the kitchen sink, and other miscellaneous cleaning.
Bathroom
- Toilet Cleaner
- Shower/tub cleaner
- Toothpaste
- Shampoo and Conditioner
- Shaving cream
- Soap/Body wash
- Makeup
- Lotion
- Pain relief creams (like lotions for rashes or burns)
- Mouthwash
- Cold/flu remedies (like vapor rub)
- Deodorant
- Perfumes/colognes
- Hair dye (henna is a great alternative)
- Diaper cream
- Acne Creams/Face washes
- Nail Polish
Bedroom
- Mattress
- Bedding
- Pillows
- Kids’ pajamas- some companies still use flame retardant on them, so be on the lookout for that. Most of the time you will see a warning now that says “make sure PJs are tight fitting as these don’t contain flame retardant.
Other household items:
- Floor cleaner (whether hard wood or carpet)
- Laundry detergent
- Dryer sheets
- Fabric Softener
- Sunscreen
- EMFs from computers, cell phones, TVs, etc.
- Other furniture: couches especially are a huge source of bromides- many companies are no longer using thing, but it is always worth looking into when you are ready to buy new furniture.