How to Detox Your Home
People may talk a lot about doing personal detoxes, but ridding your home of potentially harmful toxins and chemicals is just as important as cleansing your body. From common cleaning agents to how you store your food and even the air in your home, problem-causing toxins can live where you least expect them.
There are several things you can do, however, to rid toxins from your home and incorporate cleaner, greener materials. Detox your home with these tips and rest easier at night knowing you’re creating a safe, healthy space for you and your loved ones.
Purge your cleaning products
“Toxic cleaning” products may seem like an oxymoron, but the truth is that many home cleaning products, such as tile or floor cleaner, are highly toxic. Why would you use a product that says “poison”, “warning” or “caution” on it to try and make your house cleaner or safer?
It doesn’t make sense. Instead, many household ingredients can be used to clean up your cleaning products. A mixture of simply one part white vinegar and two parts water can be used to clean most surfaces then be dumped down the sink or toilet, while baking soda, lemon juice and castile soap also provide chemical-free cleaning power.
Limit plastic
Though impossible to remove all plastic from your house – it’s everywhere – you can make conscious changes to limit the amount of plastic you purchase or use in your home. One of the main ways to do this is by switching any plastic food containers, bottles or cups to glass, ceramic or stainless steel alternatives. Made out of refined crude oil and chemicals such as BPA (Bisphenol-A), plastic food containers can transmit chemicals and toxins into your food, especially when heated or microwaved. Cling wrap isn’t great either. Instead of wrapping your food or leftovers in plastic, try using reusable Wax Wraps made from 100% cotton, OTOP-certified pure beeswax, organic coconut oil and tree resin. They’re clean, green, reusable and contain zero harmful chemicals…but lots of love!
Create a toxin-free laundry room
Our laundry room can be the source of a massive amount of toxins and water pollution, and it’s a great place to make small swaps that have a large impact! Stop using large plastic bottles full of regular laundry detergent that contain toxic chemicals and fragrances. Start fresh with a non-toxic laundry soap alternative, the Hexawash. It’s a reusable pouch that cleans your clothes for up to 300 loads, and then goes into the garden. And laundry sheets? Forget the disposable, chemical fragrances and synthetic polyester trash. Throw a set of 3 wool dryer balls into your dryer. They help keep the clothes from bundling together so they dry faster! You’ll use 30% less electricity!
Get rid of nonstick pots and pans
Nonstick pans contain perfluorinated chemicals known as PFCs that can be released and leach into your food, even if the pan is brand-new, when used over high heat. Scratched or damaged pans are even more likely to emit the chemical, which has shown to be carcinogenic. Instead of nonstick pans, try ones made from stainless steel or cast iron.
Axe the anti-bacterial soap
Yes, it sounds like something anti-bacterial should be good for you, but the truth is that anti-bacterial soap includes a chemical called triclosan which is thought to disrupt thyroid functioning and hormone levels. Washing your hands with good old fashioned soap and water works just as well and lessens the amount of toxins you’re exposing yourself and the environment to.
Cleanse your air
Use an air filter in your home to help remove dust particles from the air and make sure to use a damp cloth to dust when cleaning to help trap dirt particles. Instead of artificial air fresheners, switch to burning natural beeswax candles or using essential oils to make your own mix for an oil diffuser.
Don’t wear shoes inside
Here in Asia we immediately take our shoes off before entering someone’s home. There’s no question about it, and it feels awkward and uncomfortable, not to mention rude, if you don’t. By removing your shoes while in your home you’re helping limit the dirt, bacteria and toxins entering and being tracked through your house – a win-win for your health and keeping your house visibly cleaner longer!
Of course, we can’t control everything we come into contact with but we can all make more of an effort to choose clean, natural products over toxic ones when possible. Are you ready to detox your home?
“Toxic cleaning” products may seem like an oxymoron, but the truth is that many home cleaning products, such as tile or floor cleaner, are highly toxic. Why would you use a product that says “poison”, “warning” or “caution” on it to try and make your house cleaner or safer?
