10 Simple Steps to DeTox Your Home

There is such a great interest in our recent Detox Your Home episode of Decorating Tips & Tricks, I thought I would dive into the subject here too.

You can listen to the podcast episode right here. Just click the ARROW BELOW.

Not to be an alarmist, but chemicals are running rampant in our homes! Ok, that is alarming ...  The average home has over 500 chemicals lurking in it.

The good news is we can stop the charge of toxins and detox your home by taking simple steps.

10 Simple Steps to DeTox Your Home

Step One:

Open Your Mind to Alternatives

The first step is to change the way you shop.  Re-think your usual choices, read labels and consult with on line sources, like the Environmental Working Group.  I'll talk more about them in a bit ...

Instead of reaching for the same old chemical ridden cleaning & personal maintenance products - STOP and think "do I really want to bring this into my home and expose myself & family to these chemicals"? 

If the answer is no, look for an alternative.  There will be one that works well, if not better. I will list healthy toxin free alternatives at the end of the post.

Step Two:

Learn About Labeling

Learn what to look for and what to avoid in the products you do choose to use.  This is where the Environmental Working Group comes in handy. 

Click to learn about labels, specific product categories & top rated non-toxic products from the independent EWG.  Click HERE.  I LOVE this site!

Step Three:

Clear out the Toxic Products Already in your Home

Clear out the toxic products from your home.  Don't wait to use up the bottle of cleanser or the 4 pack of deodorant you got at Costco.  The time is now - you made the decision to DeTox, so do it. 

This may seem like a waste of $, but with your health in the balance the choice seems clear.  You will likely find that in going non-toxic you purchase less variety of products, so in the end you could save money. 

Many natural products can handle multiple tasks.  Such as Thieves from Young Living.  Click HERE.

Check under the sinks, in the medicine cabinet, in the candle stash.  Yes, many candles burn toxic fumes - be wary of the $9.99 ginger jar candle that smells like pancakes or such.  

Candles made free of toxins and with essential oils will definitely cost more, but chemicals wafting into the air is no way to de-stress.  Try a hand poured natural candle or an essential oils diffuser.  

Step Four:

Examine Pots, Pans 

Dispose of any non-stick pots and pans.  Teflon is seriously bad for you.  The non-stick coating when heated lets off fumes that are very toxic.

Step Five:

Food Storage

Rid your kitchen of any plastic with BPAs or those you are unsure of containing BPAs. 

Trade up to glass food containers with tight seal lids.

Step Six:

Consider Your Bedding

Not sleeping on an organic mattress or linens.  Consider an organic mattress topper and switching to pure organic cotton or linen sheets.  Not a luxury, a healthy choice and you deserve it!

Step Seven

Stop feeding your lawn & garden with artificial fertilizers.

You will get better results by using organic compost.  

My secret weapon for fertilizing lawn & garden is worm castings.  Yup, worm poop.  Read all about it & why HERE.

Step Eight:

Open your Windows

Easy one ... Open your windows for at least 10 minutes a day.  The trapped air can be toxic.  Creating a cross breeze is ideal, but even opening one window for 10 minutes will go a long way.

Step Nine:

Institute a NO SHOE Policy

Another easy one, stop wearing shoes in your house and ask guests to take theirs off upon entering.

No longer the request of a fussy housekeeper ... solid health reasons why you want those shoes kept at the door.

Shoes just don't track in dirt, but all sorts of toxins that are on the ground.  Someone walks across the neighbors lawn that was just sprinkled with a toxic fertilizer.  Now they come in your house with shoes on ... those toxins are now in your carpet.  

Just ask - people will take their shoes off.  Many people do already in their own homes.  And you know what, if they are weirdly offended by the request don't have them back or meet them outside ;)

Step Ten:

Avoid Using Plastic

This is a tough one ... think about it almost everything contains some plastic.  I switched to buying milk in glass bottles, but the caps are still plastic!  In this category, be conscious of your use of plastics & limit it as much as you can.

Here are some simple ways to lower you use of/reliance on plastics:

• bring your own re-usable grocery bags
• skip the ziplock and choose re-usable sandwich & snack bags
• stop drinking water from toss-able plastic bottles
• switch to paper drinking straws
• do not put fruits & veggies in the filmy plastic bags at the grocery store

Doing just these 5 things will greatly reduce the amount of plastic in your life.  And that is a good thing for you & the planet!

Below are some resources that will help you reduce the toxins in your home. 

Incorporate what feels right for you.  Even if it is simply opening a window daily & taking off your shoes.  That is progress toward reducing the toxins that surround you.

No matter how beautiful your home is, if the environment is not healthy it is not a sanctuary. 

See what habits you can kick . This list will help...

Healthy Choices to DeTox Your Home

Cleansers:

Aunt Fannie's - Get 25% off your order at AUNT FANNIE'S using the code HEALTHYHOME.  Click HERE to get my favorite non-toxic cleaning products.

Personal Care:

Native Deodorant - Get 20% off your order at NATIVE DEODORANT using the code DTT.  Native is free from toxins & aluminum.  Made from natural ingredients & essential oils, Native gets the job done with the harsh chemicals. Click HERE to try the great scents like lavender rose or the unscented variety.

Kitchen:

All Clad stainless steel pans are the best.  Switch out your non-sticks for these.  Click HERE & HERE.

Food Storage:

Recycle all those plastic food containers & please do not microwave food in plastic.  Get a set of these attractive glass food storage & re-heating containers.  Top is plastic so it can seal, so remove when heating. Click HERE.

Re-usable sandwich & snack bags that are washable.  Click HERE

Cute re-usable grocery bags that are washable. You are going to LOVE these!  Click HERE.

Bedding:

Organic wool mattress topper.  Click HERE.

Pure linen sheets.  Click HERE.

Candles / Diffusers:

Further Candles are soy based and have a terrific story behind them.  Read HERE.

Honestly, so many diffusers are kinda ugly, this one is very pretty & got great reviews.  I have it in my cart.  Click HERE.

Want more info & suggestions for to detox your home?  Listen to the podcast episode HERE.  It has a lot of people talking & changing their ways already!

~~~~~

Going as non-toxic as possible in my home is a 2019 goal of mine.  You too?

Please share any thoughts, tips or products that you use that will help us all to get toxin free!

Hope this post inspires you to create a healthier home.  We are in this process together, some of you may remember I have a thing for Windex, but I kicked the habit!

** Kelly **