We’re all running a mile a minute, focused on big things like getting our kids to eat a veggie or finally sleep through the night. If you’ve never once thought about what’s in your cleaning spray or laundry detergent, that is totally okay! We were once there too.
But guess what? Making a few tiny changes can make a huge difference in your indoor air quality and reduce potential irritants in your home and the products you use. It’s easier and less expensive than you might think! You don’t have to overhaul your entire cleaning closet overnight. Starting small is the key to sustainable, stress-free change!
Here are low-toxin swaps for every home that you can start with:
The All-Purpose Cleaner
This is the product you grab every single day—to wipe down the counter after breakfast, clean up a sticky mess, or tackle a bathroom sink. Because we use it so often, it’s the highest priority for a switch! Traditional spray cleaners can release tiny particles (called Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs) into the air every time you spray, which can be harsh on sensitive lungs, especially our kids.
The Simple Swap: Look for a great, low-toxin all-purpose cleaner should handles kitchen grease and bathroom grime without relying on harsh chemicals like ammonia, bleach, or fragrance. Trust us, these new formulas work just as well as the old stuff—sometimes even better!
Recommendations:
- Force of Nature
- Branch Basics
- Make your own with vinegar + water or castile soap + water.
Laundry Detergent
Think about this: your laundry detergent is in constant contact with your family’s skin, 24/7. That residue can sit on pajamas, sheets, and your kids’ favorite stuffed animals. Many conventional brands use intense synthetic fragrances, dyes, and fillers that are huge culprits for dry, irritated, or sensitive skin (hello, eczema flare-ups!).
The Simple Swap: Switch to a fragrance-free (or naturally scented with pure essential oils) laundry detergent. This swap is non-negotiable if anyone in your family struggles with skin or breathing sensitivities. Always check the label for “phthalate-free” and “dye-free.” If you get daring, you can even make your own laundry detergent using this recipe. Swap laundry dryer sheets for 100% wool dryer balls.
Recommendations:
Scented Candles & Air Fresheners
We all love a home that smells cozy and clean, but this swap might be the most important one! Those strong, pleasant scents in candles and room sprays are often made up of undisclosed synthetic chemicals. When you light a paraffin candle or spray an aerosol freshener, you are actively releasing irritants right into the air your family breathes, which can sometimes trigger headaches or stuffy noses.
The Simple Swap: Ditch the room sprays and paraffin candles completely. Opt for natural, healthier ways to make your home smell inviting:
Recommendations:
- Use an ultrasonic diffuser with high-quality pure essential oils (lemon and orange scents are amazing for a clean, fresh smell!).
- If you love the ambiance of candles, choose only 100% beeswax or 100% soy wax candles scented with essential oils. These are so easy and fun to make, so grab a candle-making kit from Amazon to get started.
- A great local candle-maker: Piper & Harlow
Food & Kitchen Utensils
Some of us grew up on nonstick pans, and we thought they were safe to use, but many of these nonstick pans contain PFAS. These are forever chemicals that never leave your body. This is a bigger purchase, but if you cook and bake from home, it should be a priority to switch your cooking and baking gear.
The Simple Swap: Ditch the nonstick and lean into glass, stainless steel, wood, or bamboo. Try to steer clear of plastic, even if it says BPA-free.
Recommendations:
Personal Care Products
I am going to separate this into three categories: cosmetics, dental, and personal hygiene. Cosmetics include things like makeup and nail polish, which also contain PFAS as well as dyes to give the makeup its deep pigmentation. Dental hygiene is so important because if your mouth is filled with bacteria, it can affect your entire body. So looking for dental floss that doesn’t have PTFE in it and fluoride-free toothpaste should be your first swaps.
Personal hygiene has been a huge conversation in our house, having pre-teens. Looking for aluminum-free and paraben-free deodorant is so important for both boys and girls. For menstrual products, it is really, really important to look for products that don’t have PFAS in them.
Recommendations:
- Makeup: thrive, OGEE, ILIA, Typology
- Nail Polish: ella + mila, Olive & June, and Sally Hanson non-toxic line
- Dental: Risewell, Boka, and Just Ingredients.
- Deodoront: Humble, Toms of Maine, Dr. Squatch, Just Ingredients, and Primally Pure.
- Menstrual products: Look for cotton tampons and pads. Reusable cloth pads are a great option. Silicone or medical-grade menstrual cups or discs. When looking at period underwear, make sure you are avoiding synthetic materials and chlorine bleach.
Clothing
When people think of toxins in their household, often cleaning sprays and detergents are the first thing that comes to mind, but clothing can often contain microplastics and other synthetic materials that aren’t great to be against our skin all day long. When you sweat, the microplastics from synthetic materials can actually get into your pores. If you’re not ready to turn over your entire wardrobe, start with underwear and leggings.
Recommendations:
Making the switch to low-toxin living is a journey, not a race. Start with just one of these easy swaps this month, and you’ll instantly be taking a big, gentle step toward a cleaner, healthier home for your whole family! You’ve got this, Mom!
What’s the first low-toxin product you plan to try? Share your favorite brands in the comments!
