It all started with my hair. Seriously! Do you ever stop to think about what chemicals are actually in the products you use every day? We use a lot of products every day like shampoo, dry shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, toothpaste and the list goes on. Some are great, but many are very toxic, which is why I want to help you create a chemical-free home.
All of those products I just mentioned, like I said the list goes on! The crazy thing about harmful chemicals is that they aren’t just in your cleaning products. They can also be found in your beauty products, fabrics, food, etc.!
I want to make sure that we hit all the basics!
We are going to walk through the following information:
- Why you want a chemical-free home
- The benefits of a chemical-free home
- How to remove harmful chemicals from your home
- Helpful resources to ensure you avoid harmful chemicals
Why you want a chemical-free home
I’m not a medical expert nor will claim to be but on my journey toward a more intentional living lifestyle, I’ve found that transitioning to a non-toxic lifestyle has helped alleviate some medical issues. Toxic and harmful chemicals that are in everyday household items can create a series of health and mental effects including dizziness, nausea, cancer, hormone alterations, and some anxiety!
Depending on the product, your symptoms could be very mild or severe. There are a lot of factors to consider, but the best thing you can do is remove these things from the home.
The benefits of a chemical-free home
Once you remove all the harmful chemicals from your home, you can breathe easier! Having a chemical-free home automatically increases your health and may even improve it over time.
You also don’t have to worry so much about pets or children getting into certain things, because there aren’t any harmful chemicals for them to ingest! I have two dogs who chew everything, trust me! This is a decision that you will want to seriously consider!
For a list of harmful ingredients and their effects, I recommend starting here!
How to remove harmful chemicals to create a chemical-free home
I’m going to take this room-by-room so you also have an idea of some swaps along the way starting in the kitchen!
Kitchen
It starts with food. Processed foods should be the first to be considered removed from a home. A good rule of thumb is to stick to homegrown things – plants and animals.
Here are a few easy swaps I recommend:
- Single-use plastic utensils are swapped for your normal set of utensils.
- Plastic spatulas or baking utensils can be swapped for wood options.
A couple of easy suggestions are to finally make a swap to filter your tap water and change dish and hand soaps!
I’ve had a Brita Pitcher since college because the water that came out of our sink in our dorm kitchen never tasted right. I’ve had one ever since and I LOVE IT! With the inconsistency in water quality, I know that I can always have clean water by using my Brita filter. Chlorine and other chemicals used to “clean” our water are filtered out, which makes it safer to drink!
An easy swap for soap is to use Mrs. Meyer’s Dish Soap products derived from plant-based ingredients or Young Living Thieves Products. While you may see suggestions for other products, Young Living’s Thieves Products are honestly the most non-toxic and cleanest to use!
Bathroom
The bathroom is home to probably the most harmful chemicals compared to other places in your home. The easiest thing to recommend is if you cannot read the ingredient or know exactly what it is, don’t use it!
Another not so obvious swap that is beneficial for your health is your shower curtain! If you have a PVC shower curtain, your health could be at risk!
Bathroom product categories you need to audit:
- Shampoo, conditioner, and hair masks
- All makeup products
- Skin care
- Deodorant
- Toothpaste & mouthwash
- Body creams and lotions
Bedroom
That’s right! There are things in your bedroom that have harmful chemicals within them that you can remove from your home.
First, up is the mattress.
This is a change that I’m still working on myself because there are so many options! I recommend researching the best option for you and your partner. We have started researching Avocado as a first stepping stone but do your research!
Conventional mattresses are made with harmful ingredients like petroleum-based foam and synthetic latex, chemical flame retardants, and vinyl. Check your bedding too and that it doesn’t contain or was made from any toxic chemicals!
My Favorite and Up Next: General Household Items!
It’s time to remove those harmful chemical cleaners from your home!
The truth is that you only need one or two products to clean your entire home! I know! Everytime you walk down the cleaning aisle in Walmart or Target, there are cleaners for everything – windows, floors, disinfectant wipes, dusting, sweeping, carpet cleaners! It is ridiculous!
The truth is that when you use a natural cleaner, you only need one or two cleaners!
Personally, I only use the Young Living Thieves Household Cleaner for cleaning everything in my home! Baking soda is also good from time-time, but the Thieves Household Cleaner does a really good job! I also have 6 other DIY home cleaning products that I use and that is it to clean the whole house from top to bottom!
Laundry products are full of toxic chemicals and thankfully easy to replace with chemical-free options!
When you switch to plant-based laundry detergent, you’re not only improving things for your household, but also the natural environment.
Candles & Air Fresheners
I love candles but only if they are soy wax candles made with pure essential oils. Again, read labels! Or instead, opt for diffusing essential oils. They are much healthier for you and the environment!
VOC Paints
We’ve already discussed the dangers of VOCs, but I want to reiterate it with your paints. There are plenty of VOC-free paints for you to use, so make sure any paint you use is of that quality.
Nasty Air
If you live somewhere with poor air quality, it is time to do something about it!
This Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Air Purifier is on my bucket list. It is scientifically proven to enhance air quality. An air purifier is an investment, but one that is absolutely worth it! I absolutely cannot agree more!
New habits to create to maintain a chemical-free home
1 – Read the label!
2 – Leave shoes at the door!
3 – Wipe everything down!
4. Declutter often!
5. Deep clean once a week!
Final thoughts
Remember to give yourself grace in this process! It will take time to create a chemical-free home. I’m still on my journey but I’m so glad that you’ve also decided to join me! Also, don’t beat yourself up for the things you have that contain harmful chemicals! I’m having a heck of a time giving up disinfectant wipes! But by taking this first step, you are on your way to creating a chemical-free home!
Love,
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