6 Steps to Kickstart Your Home Detox
/This is something I’ve become more and more cognizant about over the past year! I think many of us have. It seems wherever we look there are new earth-friendly “suggestions” we should put into practice to do a better job decreasing our footprint AND in the never-ending quest to keep our family and loved ones as safe as possible. One thing I find along this journey is the more I learn, the more I feel I still have to learn! I believe that a completely non-toxic home is almost out of the question in today’s society. However, as is the case with SO many other things related to our healthy decisions, EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS. How about taking a few small steps each month in this general direction and celebrating the difference you’re making for your family and the Earth?!?
What’s the point, really? Let’s get super clear about what we have to gain by making conscious buying decisions and forming certain habits around this mission. I think there’s two main reasons all efforts made to detox your home are important:
1. You CAN decrease your toxic load. The reality is that, in our today’s world, we come in contact with hundreds of chemicals every day. The way that impacts us is illuminated by a measurement some people call your Body Burden. It’s the sum of all negative impact that harmful chemicals have on our health. Basically, the higher your body burden, the stronger your link to potential future (or present) disease and disorder. When only adding up danger ratings from personal care products, it’s actually pretty cut and dried. I can help you with this if you’re interested. When you add in the food you eat, it gets a little more complex. BUT when you add in factors related to the air you breathe and absorption from things like chemicals on fabrics, it becomes impossible. Don’t lose faith. Again – every step you take in the right direction is significant. Keep reading for specific ideas!
2. When we buy safe products, whether that be mattresses, curtains, flooring, shower curtains, household cleaners or home fragrance, we are voting with our wallets. There is little regulation in the US regarding chemical safety so consumers truly hold the power. Companies are starting to notice a real trend: consumers are demanding safer products. Big manufacturers will make products they think will sell, so, tell them with your purchases that WE WANT SAFE STUFF. This will ALSO help drive down the cost of these safer products. Safe products should be the norm, not just elite items for the few who can afford them. If the government won’t regulate, we must curb demand towards safer products through our purchasing habits.
There are MANY more things you can do along the lines of HOME DETOX, but I’ve decided to start with the top 6 steps I truly believe will make a significant difference in decreasing your Body Burden, even if you just pick a few.
1. Do a Plastic Purge – literally go around your home and select products you can get rid of. In my home this was mostly food storage containers and other kitchen items. I’m not saying I dumped them all, but I made conscious decisions about what things I NEEDED to keep. Opt for glass for food storage (in the pantry and the fridge). Use beeswax wraps instead of plastic. Use silicone rather than ziplock baggies. Buy in bulk and bring your own cloth bags to the store. Look for foods packaged in cardboard or glass. Use metal straws and metal or glass re-usable water bottles. Ditch your PVC shower curtain liner. There are a TON of other great ideas to make big strides here! Leave me some of your other ideas in the comments!
2. Remove shoes in the house – We can’t help it if the lawn in front of the library was treated with harmful pesticides before we walked all over it, but we CAN, at the very least, leave those at the door of OUR home. There are so many chemicals out in the world and a disturbing number of them wind up on our soles… not exactly what I want to be depositing all over our living room carpet before my son plays marbles there.
3. Green up your Clean – Cleaning supplies can be some of the most dangerous. Many mama’s in our generation and those before us have been taught that in order to truly kill germs in our home, we need to use toxic chemicals. That’s simply not true. Just think: if those chemicals are killing germs, what are they doing to us and our kids and our pets? If you have to open the windows and wear gloves when you clean, consider using more natural products. Nature really has provided us with all we need to stay clean and safe using purely natural ingredients. I use and FULLY believe in Pure Haven products.
4. Forgo the Fragrance – I know for some this is a heartbreaker! Yep, I’m talking about those synthetically scented candles, plug-ins, and air freshener sprays. There’s fragrance in products you wouldn’t even think about… tissues, toilet paper, feminine products, laundry products… scent sells. There are safer options!! Diffuse essential oils which have the added benefit of some therapeutic effects. I must say here, there’s a little bit to know before being sure you are using essential oils safely. Make sure that you don’t diffuse longer than 20 minutes at a time (especially if in a small room) and that the oils your choosing are safe for kids and pets if they are in your home. Oils are potent and should be taken much more seriously than many would have you believe. Select oils that are pure, not blended with weird fillers or tainted with contaminants. Organic is best. This is typically NOT an item to purchase at the bog box stores.
5. Filter your water – I’m dying to get a whole home water filtration system but until then, the best options seem to be filters at the faucet. Don’t forget the shower – it’s a great idea to use filtered water here, where you’re soaking your entire body, pores wide open, with whatever is in your morning shower.
6. Breathe a little easier – In many cases the worst air we breathe all day is in our own homes! There’s a lot you can do to improve the air quality in your home. Open windows at least a few minutes a day. It’s best to open at least two, across the room from each other, so you get a cross-breeze that clears out your space. Change filters in air conditioners and the furnace at LEAST as often as recommended and use an allergy reduction filter in your vacuum. Grab a few new house plants that will filter the air as they green up your house. Some types are better than others. Here’s a great list. If new furniture has any smell at all, let it air out in your garage or outside a day or two if feasible. Use low VOC paint for projects or remodels. Use untreated fabrics whenever possible and choose organic bedding if you can.
I’d absolutely love to hear what other ideas or tips you have for taking some small steps toward home detox. Again, I want to stress that every informed effort you make in this direction is a good one. Here’s to clean, happy and healthy homes for you all!
Krissie