After watching Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth all those years ago, and watching episode after episode of Oprah where she talked about climate change and pollution, eating organically, and genetically modified foods, my life changed drastically. I was so much more aware of what I was putting in my body and on my body. Even now, 13 years after An Inconvenient Truth aired, I continue to strive for a more nontoxic life. So, I wanted to share some of my safer swaps for nontoxic living with y’all!
P.S. there are LOTS of awesome links throughout. Just remember, in order to support my blog, I may receive a small monetary compensation from affiliate links and ads on each post.
Safer Swaps for Nontoxic Living
In the Kitchen
- Cast iron, stainless steel, ceramic, or glass cookware instead of Teflon
- Stainless steel utensils instead of plastic
- Reusable grocery totes instead of plastic bags
- Reusable baggies and beeswax wrap instead of plastic sandwich bags and/or plastic wrap
- Stainless steel, copper, bamboo, or glass straws instead of plastic
- Eat organic, non-gmo foods as much as possible
- Grow your own food, if possible
- Eat whole foods, not processed or prepackaged foods
- Eat grass-fed beef, free range chicken, etc.
- Compost
- Recycle and reuse as many things as possible
- Eat your leftovers
- Store leftovers or prepared meals in glass or stainless steel, not plastic
- Use a reusable glass or stainless steel thermos, mug, etc.Â
- Buy your essentials in bulk to limit trips to the store
- Cook and bake from scratch so you know exactly what is in your food
- Breastfeed for as long as possible
- Make homemade baby food and snacks
- Say no to the receipt at the grocery store (it’s covered in BPA)
Laundry, Dishes, & Cleaning
- Use cloth napkins, family cloth, & reusable tissues
- Cloth diaper your baby and use reusable wipes
- Hang clothes to dry instead of using a dryer
- Clean the lint trap every time you use the dryer.
- Use organic wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets
- Use cold water to wash clothes instead of warm or hot
- Try making your own laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, and even your own castile soap for washing hands (or check out Seventh Generation if making it just isn’t your thing. No shame either way).
- Clean with baking soda, vinegar, lemons, and Norwex products
- Opt to use a cloth shower curtain (no PVC)
Clothing & Body Products
- Wear organic clothing when possible
- Choose only natural fibers, nothing synthetic (no rayon, polyester, nylon, acrylic)
- Donate gently used, unwanted clothing to the needy.
- Be mindful of what nail products you are using (opt for natural nails or use a safe nail polish. Here’s my favorite)
- Say no to artificial fragrances in perfumes, body sprays, lotions, hair products, etc.
- Embrace your natural hair color instead of coloring it every 4-6 weeks
- For skincare, hair care, make-up, kid and/or baby bath products shop with Beautycounter instead of other leading companies
- Use organic tampons or pads (my favorite brand is here), or try a menstrual cup (I like this brand)
- Switch to flouride-free toothpaste (I like this brand) or make your own
- Opt for aluminum-free deodorant (I like this brand) or you can make your own
Medicine, Healing, & Air Quality
- Use home remedies as much as possible (think elderberry syrup, honey + tumeric, or honey + cinnamon, ginger, mint, rosemary, lavender, or honey + garlic, or well, just plain honey LOL)
- Make your own healing salves
- Dry brush your skin (it’s your biggest organ, after all. Dry brushing gets your lymph moving.)
- Take detox baths (add 2 cups epsom salt to bath water- as hot as you can stand) 3-4 times per week
- Go outside and WALK, be present in nature as often as possible
- Get sufficient sleep, every night
- Keep lots of houseplants (snake plants and peace lilies are easy to grow)
- Open your windows, let the fresh air in
- Say no to anything with flame retardants
Take detox baths 3-4 times per week!
Relationships
- Say no to toxic people!!! You know what I’m talking about. No excuses. Bye, Felicia!
I’m going to get super real with y’all.
I worry sometimes. It catches me totally off guard, and it makes me nauseous. My dad died almost 25 years ago. He was almost 32 (the age I am right now). I had just turned 8. He had renal cell (kidney) cancer that spread quickly, resulting in a brain tumor (or at least that’s what I remember being told). I frequently wonder, is it genetic? Environmental? Bad odds? His lifestyle? But more often, I wonder if it will happen to me- I am 32 with an almost 8 year old, after all. And I hate it.
Did you know, statistically, that 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will end up with cancer in their lifetime?
That’s another reason, perhaps the bigger reason, why I have aimed to become nontoxic in all aspects of my life, and I hope you aim to become nontoxic in all aspects of your life, too. That means detoxifying your make-up, skin care, hair care, foods, clothes, cleaning products, cooking products and utensils, fragrances for body and home, decorations, bedding, mattresses, relationships, and so on.
Please share with me what other swaps you’ve made! Remember, this “homesteading” life of mine is always evolving. I learn so much day to day about the person that I am, and the person I want to become. I’d love to hear any advice you’d like to share!
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Happy Homesteading! (:
P.S. have any thoughts or questions? Tell me all the things in the comments! Also, you can contact us if you’d love to collab!
