Our homes are meant to be a place where we can rejuvenate. Our safe space, happy place, and private sanctuaries. But I have some scary news to share with you… it’s been said that our homes are becoming MORE toxic than the outdoors! And some of the most popular cleaning products are to blame. CLEANING PRODUCTS, of all things! What’s meant- and advertised- to purify and cleanse your house is actually compromising your health. As a mother, I feel morally obligated to share this with as many people as possible!
And speaking of moms, my mom is here in Vegas with us right now and is helping us massively detox (and organize) our house. It feels so good to be clear & clean. (Also we’ve basically bought the entire Container Store this past month ).
Let’s get back to using CLEAN DETOX products and why the hell this isn’t the norm. Here’s why it’s happening; the multi-billion dollar household cleaning product industry is fairly unregulated. So they get away with putting “organic” and “green” labels on their products even if they contain hidden, potentially harmful ingredients.
If you’re ready to take back the reins, here are 7 easy ways to detox your home and make it your oasis again!
(@bluelily52 via Twenty20)
1. Open your windows
Regular ventilation is vital! Opening your windows will allow fresh air to circulate throughout your house, while giving accumulated indoor pollution room to escape.
2. Sage
Open up your windows / doors and burn sage. This sounds like a woo-woo trend, but there’s hard science behind sage smoke. Sage is a super potent plant that, when burned, can clear up to 94% of airborne bacteria! Making it an INCREDIBLY powerful natural disinfectant.
3. Plants
Since we’re talking plants… buy some for your house! I have kind of become the crazy plant lady – like I love my plants like they’re pets. AND they’re been staying alive for years! (Tip: play jazz music for your plant friends; they love the vibes) Ok so, There are so many indoor plants that purify the air. Many are low-maintenance and non-poisonous to children or pets if ingested. One of my personal faves is the snake plant! I love having one in my bedroom especially, because they produce oxygen at night (while most plants produce oxygen during the day). You only have to water snake plants once a month and they are just stunning to look at! And don’t worry… you don’t have to become a crazy plant lady! Even just a few will bring about benefits and improve the quality of your home’s atmosphere.
4. Buh Bye Crappy Chemicals
Avoid bad household cleaning products. Sounds like a no brainer, but this requires some conscious shopping and really paying attention to the ingredients list! When you purchase a cleaning product, make sure it does NOT contain any of the following: chlorine, bleach, phosphates, petroleum, added fragrances. As an alternative, you can use vinegar (reg. Or apple cider?) or Young Living thieves oil to clean! Both of which have antifungal, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties.
5. Stay NO to synthetic fragrance
Eliminate synthetic fragrances. Synthetic fragrances emit tons of chemicals into the air… and we are absolutely bombarded with them in day to day life! From laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and dryer sheets to air “fresheners,” candles, and perfumes. But don’t worry, there are a handful of swaps you can make NOW that will make a huge difference! When it comes to laundry, you can switch to homemade detergent, and instead of softeners + sheets, you can use essential oils in a wool dryer ball. Next step is swapping your store bought candles for an aromatherapy diffuser. THIS ONE is great because it’s a humidifier and diffuser in one! It lives next to my bed. My other favorite is this ceramic diffuser by Vitruvi – isn’t it just gorgeous?
6. Change Bedding
Use chemical free bedding! Think about it! You lay in your bed for 7-8 hours. If you’re like me, sometimes more! Hey, sleeping is important, k?! Using chemical free bedding is another great way to ensure that your exposure to toxins is as minimal as possible. These are my fave chemical free sheets.
7. Diffuse essential oils
We’ve already talked about the power of plants, and essential oils are plants in their most condensed form. The oils’ properties are determined by the specific compounds extracted from the plant, and each one has their own host of benefits. But here are some good ones to get started! Young Living Citrus Fresh (for the kitchen), Geranium (for the bathroom), and Lavender (for the bedroom). We are obsessed with all things YL; check out this video and DM on IG if you want to be a part of our oily AF fam. 😝
Comment below & tell me some fave ways you DETOX your life & home! I need to know.