Here at the Conscious Cleanse, we are passionate about detoxing our bodies through food. But we also know that it isn’t just our bodies that need detoxing – we also need to detox our homes. Everything from the air we breathe to the products we use on our skin exposes us to toxins.
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably worked toward cleaning up your diet. Perhaps you’ve even cleaned up your skin care routine (check out some of our favorite clean skincare brands here).
But there’s more to healthy living than clean skin products and a clean diet. Today we want to talk about the toxic chemicals that might be lurking in your home, undetected.
So let’s pull back another layer of the onion and dig into what you might be exposed to.
Indoor air pollution isn’t talked about as much as general environmental pollution, but it’s just as important. Based on statistics from the Global Burden of Disease, poor air quality is the 4th highest ranked health risk globally. And, according to the EPA, indoor air quality is even worse than outdoors, with chemicals and toxic substances present at concentrations up to 10 times higher than outside.
Even if there’s good outdoor air quality where you live, the air inside your house could be far worse. Yikes!
Most poor indoor air quality can be linked to volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. VOCs are gases that are emitted from certain solids or liquids, and can include a wide variety of chemicals that cause either short or long-term health issues. Thousands of common household products (cleaners, paints, varnishes, etc.) emit VOCs, whether they’re currently in use or even just in storage.
Plastic storage containers, cookware, and laundry detergents all contain chemicals that can be leached into your food or absorbed through your skin. Any product with “fragrance” likely contains phthalates, a category of petroleum-based chemicals that studies link to endocrine disruption, which can cause hormone imbalances, infertility, birth defects, and even type 2 diabetes.
What can you do to decrease your home’s toxic load? This is a big topic, but we’re here to help you start small. Here are our top 10 Tips to Detox Your Home; things you can do right now to create positive change.
10 Tips to Detox Your Home
- Replace household cleaning products. Many conventional cleaners contain nasty chemicals that enter the air as VOCs. Get rid of all conventional products (even in storage). Switch to non-toxic cleaners; Branch Basics is our favorite brand.
- Switch laundry supplies. Conventional laundry detergents, dryer sheets, and fabric softeners often contain harmful chemical additives and fragrances. We recommend Molly’s Suds or Branch Basics for non-toxic detergents and Tumbler Sheets by Echo Beach Products or Molly’s Wool Balls in place of conventional dryer sheets.
- Stop storing paints, thinners, or pesticides in your home. Even when sealed and not in use, these products can give off VOCs. If your garage is attached, storing them there will still affect your home’s air quality. We recommend safely disposing of any products you’re not using. If you need to store these products, make sure it’s somewhere detached from your house, like in a shed.
- Swap all plastic food storage to glass. Many plastic food storage containers, water bottles, and some food packaging contain bisphenol A, or BPA. BPA is a known endocrine disruptor, and is also linked to neurological problems and birth defects. Make sure to store food in glass whenever possible and check the products you buy (including canned food) to make sure they’re BPA-free.
- Ditch the non-stick cookware. Most non-stick cookware is coated with PFAS (Teflon and other chemicals). PFAS is linked to liver disease, fertility issues, birth defects, thyroid disruption, and a variety of cancers. Use cast iron, carbon steel, or stainless steel cookware when possible.
- Always take off your shoes indoors. When you wear shoes indoors, you track in outdoor toxins, like pesticides and herbicides, and spread them all over your house. Make sure to always remove shoes when you come inside.
- Upgrade to a non-toxic mattress. Mattresses can contain synthetic materials and chemicals that off-gas into your home. Mattress companies aren’t required by law to even disclose these harmful flame-retardant chemicals. Look for a mattress made from natural and organic materials (we love Naturepedic and Avocado). You can also air your mattress outdoors before bringing it into your house.
- Get a HEPA Vacuum. A High-Efficiency Particulate Arrestance, or HEPA, vacuum removes even small particles (pollen, dust, chemical particulates, etc.) that would normally be recirculated into the air by a regular vacuum cleaner. In short: this suped-up vacuum cleaner helps remove toxic particles from your home. We like Miele HEPA Vacuums.
- Check your air fresheners. Air freshener sprays, plugins, scented candles, and even some essential oils contain formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. We recommend simmering a pot of water with herbs, spices, and/or fruit to create a natural scent. Essential oil diffusers are also a great alternative, just make sure you’re using essential oils that do not contain any added synthetic fragrances. We like Plant Therapy and Eden Botanicals.
- Invest in an air purifier. It’s quite an investment, but high-tech air purifiers can greatly improve the air quality of your home. We recommend IQ’s standard Air Purifier or more affordable Atem Desk Air Purifier, or a purifier from Austin air. Another tip: fill your home with plants! Check out this list of houseplants that remove formaldehyde from Branch Basics’ blog. How cool is that?
This list may feel like a lot, but remember to start simple. Choose the most accessible tip first (we recommend starting by swapping your containers!) and slowly build from there. Even the smallest change makes a difference!
With toxin-free love,
The Conscious Cleanse Team
If you liked these tips, we invite you to join our online community! When you join, you’ll receive regular new recipes and healthy lifestyle tips. As a welcome gift, we’ll send you our FREE Family Clean Eating Guide with 5-Day Meal Planner!
Welcome! We’re so glad you’re here.
