Healthy Home: How To Start Your Journey To A Non-Toxic Home

Written By Andrew Chu / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

In case you are unaware, the cleaning products we use at home are full of toxic chemicals. Thus, you are compromising your and your family's health. Add to that the fact they also harm the environment.

Luckily, having a toxic-free home is not rocket science. Keep on reading to know how you eliminate toxins in different parts of your home and ensure that they are clean and germ-free.

In the Kitchen

This is where you prepare, handle, and even serve food. Thus, it is more important to pay attention to the cleaning solutions you bring into the kitchen. If you want to rely on less toxic products for your kitchen, here are things that you should keep in mind:

Cookware

When choosing the type of cookware you want in your kitchen, you should avoid cookware that claims non-stick. Most of the time, non-stick pots and pans have chemicals in them that are attributed to be contributing to serious health problems in people. Instead of Teflon-coated cookware, consider getting stainless steel, titanium, or ceramic cookware instead.

Dinnerware

Dinnerware or your plates and dishes can contain lead or cadmium that can cause health concerns, especially in children. To avoid that, you want to buy dinnerware from trusted brands and make sure that they explicitly state that they are lead-free.

Also, a trusted dinnerware manufacturer should indicate whether a plate is meant to be decorative. Most of the time, if the dish or plate has a design on it or is antique, it may not be safe to use, so double-check.

Water Filters

Before relying on tap water, make sure that it's safe to drink from there. However, you might want to invest in a water filter instead to reduce the contaminants in your water. Doing so allows you to drink water without worrying about ingesting herbicides or pesticides, and even heavy metals in the water.

Storage and Containers

When choosing storage solutions for your pantry, you most likely rely on plastic wraps, grocery bags, and containers. However, these can be bad for the environment and can even affect the food items they're supposed to contain. Instead of relying so much on plastic, use silicone storage bags, mason jars, and reusable grocery bags as much as possible.

Household Cleaners

Another thing to take note of would be the household cleaners that you use. To be effective, most people think that you can only use harsh commercial cleaners. What you don't know is that these are toxic not only for you but also for releasing out into the environment.

Instead, you can start creating effective household cleaners using readily available household items. There are plenty of recipes online, but you can also purchase cleaners that are sustainable as well. There are now more options for that out there, but make sure that you double-check them.

Dishwasher Detergent

You can also find natural alternatives for your dishwashing detergents. After all, dishwashing cleaners have ingredients that can make your hands dry.

Again, you can make homemade ones, but there are also readily available products out there. Consumer databases provide reliable information for which ones are genuinely non-toxic so check those out.

In the Bathroom

The bathroom is the part of your house where you keep yourself clean. No wonder this is the part of the home where you most likely use toxic cleaning products. If you want to stop doing this altogether, here are some of the things that you can do:

Towels

Once your current towels start to look like they're better as rags, consider switching to organic towels. Organic towels are much gentler on the skin and are better for the environment.

Shower Curtains and Liners

When purchasing a shower curtain and liner, make sure that you aren't using one made from polyvinyl chloride or PVC. PVC contains hazardous air pollutants. When you purchase a new shower curtain with that unidentifiable strong smell, it's most likely off-gassing.

Cleaning Products

Cleaning products in the bathroom often are pretty harsh and very toxic. Good thing there are non-toxic alternatives that can make your bathroom sparkling clean all the same.

Toiletries

Your toiletries can also contain unregulated ingredients that affect your health. When buying toiletries, go to rating databases for reliable information on these products.

Just because they market themselves as green products doesn't guarantee that they are. That's why you should read the labels and cross-check first to ensure that you don't fall victim to greenwashed toiletries.

Low-Flow Toilet

Toilets use a lot more water than they should be. Not only is it a waste of resources, but it also costs you money. Therefore, to avoid these issues, purchase a low-flow toilet and a dual-flusher to ensure that you don't use more water than you need.

In the Bedroom

Your bedroom serves as the heart and soul of your home. That's why we always tell our clients at Cleaning Exec Cleaning Services NYC to ensure a toxic-free bedroom. With that in mind, you should pay attention to some of these if you want to create a more non-toxic bedroom.

Mattress

When choosing a mattress that doesn't contain toxic chemicals, go for plant-based, organic, and natural ones. You can also identify non-toxic mattresses by looking at their certifications. Check if the mattress has a GreenGuard or Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification.

Pillows

Organic pillows are a noteworthy addition to your home because they're hypoallergenic and eco-friendly. If you need a new pillow, consider getting an organic one.

Blankets and Sheets

Other than organic pillows, you should also invest in organic bedding. Doing so can lead to better sleep. If you have sensitive skin, having organic bedding is an even more substantial investment.

Final Thoughts

The toxic-free cleaning tips listed above show that you can have a clean home without compromising your health. As mentioned earlier, getting rid of toxins at home is not rocket science. However, it may require some research on your end. However, hours of research can be worth it if that means breathing in less polluted indoor air.

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Written By:
Andrew Chu is a writer living in New York City with his two rescue dogs, Jet and Rocket. He usually writes about DIY home projects, cleaning, and organization.

Reviewed By:    

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

Photo by Jimmy Dean on Unsplash