From strong-smelling plug-ins, to laundry detergent; chemicals in cleaning supplies to the plastics we store our food in, we are being bombarded with chemicals that our bodies were never designed to accumulate. This is another area where you truly can do simple switches that aren’t expensive or difficult. A clean house should smell like… nothing! You read that right- we have been taught that clean should smell like pine and fresh should smell like (fake) flowers in a field! Ditch the plug-ins or strong candles and throw open a window to let in some fresh outside air. If you really prefer a scent, you can run a diffuser with essential oils, or purchase soy candles that are scented without synthetic chemicals.
For food storage, please ditch the plastic- it’s not expensive to replace with glass storage containers, and you’ll be avoiding a host of chemicals leaching into your food. Be mindful of what you use to prep and cook your food as well. Stainless steel is the best option, but it gets a bit more hairy with non-stick cookware. Enamel coated cast iron is healthy but also quite the arm workout! Aside from being heavy, they also still aren’t perfect with not sticking. At the very least, use the new “green” pans that don’t contain polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and try cooking on medium heat instead of high heat.
Some toxins that can be found in cleaning supplies include phthalates (found in air fresheners, dish soap, and toilet paper), perchloroethylene (found in spot removers, dry cleaning solutions, and carpet cleaners), ammonia (found in bathroom and glass cleaners), and sodium hydroxide (found in stovetop and drain cleaners). This might seem slightly distressing as it is essential to sustain a clean home to ensure a healthy lifestyle. Luckily, there are more natural ingredients to clean with such as white vinegar, baking soda and lemon.
