11 Tips To Help You Detox Your Home

Tips To Detox

Your Home

1) Open the windows. Try opening up the windows in your home for 20-30 minutes a day. I understand that sometimes that isn’t possible, but if you can, do it. Not only does opening up the windows allow for fresh air to enter into your home, it also allows removes pollutants that off gas within your home from things like your carpet, furniture, kids toys, paints, and toxic cleaners (hopefully you’ve ditched those by now).

2) Get some indoor plants. I am a plant lover. I am obsessed with plants, but my husband has informed me he does not want to live in a jungle. So in order to keep my marriage going, I have not gone overboard…although who actually gets to make the decision on what is considered overboard. Haha! Two plants you should consider having are the Mother-In-Laws Tongue (Snake plant) & a cactus. The snake plant helps absorb toxic gasses like sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide, while the cactus helps absorb a large amount of radiation being emitted by the computers and router.

3) Ditch the synthetic fragrance for a diffuser and essential oils. If you haven’t heard yet, fragrance is very toxic! In fact, over 95% of the chemicals used in synthetic fragrances are derived from petroleum, and some chemicals found in petroleum are linked to cancer. Additionally, when the chemicals are inhaled or comes in direct contact with the skin, they can damage the endocrine system, as well as, the liver and kidneys. Therefore, ditching your synthetic air fresheners and candles with essential oil diffusers is a great inexpensive way to not only purify the air but to also support your health!

4) Consider buying wooden toys over plastic toys. Let me preface this with I absolutely have plastic toys in my house and my kids play with them. It’s unavoidable. Some toys like Legos only come in plastic, but some toys you can find less toxic options out there. I love finding small Etsy shops that create little kids wooden toys.

5) What do your body care products rate on the EWG Skin Deep database? Similar to the cleaning products, many of the ingredients used in body products contain harmful chemicals and synthetic fragrances that are not disclosed on the labels. So, these toxins and hormone disrupting agents, which can lead to cancer, are applied directly on to the skin and are immediately absorbed into the blood stream. Find products with clean ingredients, that rate low on the EWG, or DIY some simple body products.

6) Replace all toxic cleaning products with distilled white vinegar, baking soda, & essential oils. According to Environmental Working Group, 53% of cleaning products contain carcinogens such as, formaldehyde and chloroform. You can’t heal in the same environment in which made you sick. Here is an eBook with recipes to help get you started with non-toxic cleaning.

7) Use wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets. Dryer sheets are caked with toxic chemicals to create synthetic fragrances. These then adhere to clothing and are directly absorbed into the skin when worn. Therefore, use wool dryer balls! It is not only a more effective and safer way to dry clothes, but by adding a few drops of your favorite pure essential oil, you will still be able to enjoy an aroma that is non-toxic!

8) Use a water filter for drinking and bathing. One day I would love to have a full home reverse osmosis system, but until then I’m using a drinking water filter and water filters in our bathtub and shower. Chemicals in the water can be absorbed through the skin, so filtering your water is important.

9) Check your house for mold on a regular basis. Certain molds can be very toxic to your health and the cause of numerous health issues. For example, black mold has been linked to lung disease, dementia and cancer. Mold is also more common than people think, especially for those who live near a body of water or in a very damp climate. Floating particles of mold are not visible to the naked eye, and this makes it easy for these particles to accumulate without being found.

10) Switch your poisonous and toxic fertilizers for an organic pest control. A few of the most popular fertilizers have known carcinogens in them, and people are still choosing to use them. It’s W I L D! Instead, do your own research and find a local organic pest control company or pest control products.

11) Try using glass or ceramic food storage containers over plastic. Did you know that plastic can leach into your food, especially when heated? One specific chemical, BPA, is a toxin that can lead to hormone imbalance, diabetes, allergies and even cancer. Even more frightening, the CDC also reported that over 92% of the people they tested had detectable levels of BPA and other plastic chemicals in their body! Therefore, switch to glass or porcelain storage and serve ware.