When I first started learning about toxins in our home, I felt overwhelmed. Everything seemed toxic, and replacing it all felt impossible – both mentally and financially. But here’s what I’ve learned: starting small and focusing on what you use most often makes this journey manageable. Let me share what I’m discovering about common household toxins and how we can tackle them one step at a time.
Start With What You Use Most
Think about what products touch your body or your family’s bodies most frequently. These are your priority items:
- Hand soap (used multiple times daily)
- Body wash/shampoo (direct skin contact)
- Laundry detergent (touches our clothes, then our skin 24/7)
- Dish soap (touches items we eat from)
- All-purpose cleaner (used on counters, tables, and surfaces we touch constantly)
The Plastic Problem
Here’s something that shocked me: plastic isn’t just about environmental concerns. Microplastics are everywhere, and they’re affecting our health:
- Water bottles leach chemicals into our drinks
- Food storage containers release particles when heated
- Plastic wrap and bags transfer chemicals to our food
- Even our clothes can contain plastic fibers
Simple swaps:
- Glass or stainless steel water bottles
- Glass food storage containers
- Beeswax wraps instead of plastic wrap
- Natural fiber clothing when possible”
The Fragrance Factor
Fragrance’ might smell nice, but this single word can hide hundreds of undisclosed chemicals. Found in:
- Air fresheners
- Cleaning products
- Personal care items
- Laundry products
- Candles
What to look for instead:
- Essential oil-based scents
- Naturally scented products
- Unscented options
- Pure essential oils for natural fragrance”
Simple Steps Forward
Here’s how I’m approaching these changes:
- Replace as Items Run Out
- Don’t throw everything away at once
- Keep a list of natural alternatives
- Research options before you need them
- Replace items one at a time
- Focus on Frequency
- Start with daily-use items
- Prioritize items that touch food
- Consider duration of exposure
- Think about impact on whole family
- Make Simple Swaps
- Glass instead of plastic
- Unscented instead of fragranced
- Natural fibers instead of synthetic
- Simple ingredients instead of complex chemicals
Start Today
Choose one item to focus on this week. Maybe it’s switching your hand soap when it runs out, or starting to replace plastic containers with glass ones as needed.
Remember, you don’t have to do everything at once. Small steps add up to big changes over time.
Until next time,
Briana