It’s so wonderful that more people are recognizing the need to eliminate toxins in order to live healthier lives, but it can certainly be daunting when it seems toxins are everywhere.
Here are some small changes you can make in your own home to help make a positive difference for your family’s health:
1. Stop using “cleaning products”
I love a clean home as much as, if not more than, the average person. But it’s only marketing of corporations that has led us to the false conclusion that we need certain products for certain cleaning jobs or that we need toxic chemicals to get things clean. You can clean everything in your home, from windows to countertops to toilets, with natural, “no-name” products like vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda! The cleanliness achieved with this products is actually superior to the scent-filled chemical solutions because they take care of grime and germs WITHOUT leaving behind toxic residue. Double win!
2. Stop using antibacterial
Antibacterial products (antibacterial soaps, hand sanitizer, Lysol wipes, febreeze) do what they claim, yes, but… thats not actually a good thing! In killing 99% of germs, they create resistant types of bacteria and weaken our body’s microbiomes- our most powerful weapon against germs. (Inside joke for Office fans- when Dwight suggests they create “hand de-sanitizing stations”- he may have been on to something haha!)
Of course keeping harmful germs away is important, but this can be done simply by washing things with plain soap or vinegar.
3. Get rid of perfumes
This one may be a big change initially, but after that it’s a very small thing to buy unscented dish soap or beeswax candles or fragrance-free laundry detergent instead of the chemical-filled ones.
4. Dryer balls instead of dryer sheets
Dryer sheets are actually one of the very worst things ever for your health. Get rid of them! They are so unnecessary and so toxic. If you need to replace them, wool dryer balls are excellent for reducing static and softening fabrics!
5. Open your windows
“Airing out the house” used to be widely practiced and known to be beneficial. Indoor air quality is shown to be typically at least twice as bad as outdoor and sometimes even up to 100 times worse! With as much time as people spend indoors, opening windows and letting the fresh air in is a must!
6. Buy used instead of new
Besides being great for the environment (because of reducing production and manufacturing), buying used furniture and clothing is a great way to reduce toxins in the home since new products tend to off-gas very high levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
7. Unplug your WiFi at night
EMFs (electromagnetic frequencies) may not technically classify as toxins, but they should still be avoided as much as possible for improved health. Unplugging WiFi (the biggest contributor to EMFs in the home) at night, when it’s not being used anyway, is a simple way to reduce exposure.
8. Be happy!
Ok, so this one isn’t as measurable or technical (or easy), but our moods definitely affect the health of our home- mostly emotional and mental, but physical too!
Speak positively (inwardly and outwardly).
Assume good about those in your household instead of harboring negative suspicions.
Laugh.
Consume media and screens wisely.
Pray.
Offer your help.
Take deep breaths.
Forgive people.
Our health and that of our families is so important! I hope this list was encouraging, let me know what tiny changes you would add in the comments!
Jennifer Blacklock 
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