5 common toxins in the home & how to create a toxin-free environment

Did you know that the air we breathe affects our health at least as much as the food we eat?

That’s why it’s so important to review the quality of the environment in our home.

Studies have shown that indoor air can have up to 3 times more contamination than outdoor air, even if we live in the middle of a big city. How can that be?

It’s simply because we trap the air in a small space, while filling that space with unwanted substances from all kinds of sources.

5 common toxins in the home

1. Flame retardants from home textiles, rugs, clothes & furniture.
2. Surface treatment agents from all kinds of electronics (including appliances).
3. Artificial fragrances from conventional detergents, fabric softeners, air fresheners, and cleaning products.
4. Hormone-disrupting substances from paint & wallpaper glue.
5. Unnatural chemicals from conventional skin and hair care products.

If you add all the chemicals we absorb through skin contact with clothes, furniture, cleaning products, conventional beauty products, non-organic bedding, etc., you can understand the need to “detox” your home.

4 things you can do to detox your home from toxins

Fortunately, there are several simple things we can do to improve our home environment so that everyone living there feels as good as possible.

1. Air out daily

The fastest and easiest way to improve indoor air is, of course, to air out. Do it often and thoroughly – i.e., it’s better to air out with cross-ventilation for a short time than to keep a small window slightly open all day.

One habit that is very good, however, is to leave the bedroom window slightly open overnight to improve both temperature and air quality.

2. Plant lots of plants

Plants purify the air, so fill your home with as many as possible.

Plants especially known for their purifying ability include Peace Lily, Snake Plant, Spider Plant, Areca Palm, Ficus, Flamingo Lily, Parlor Palm, and Golden Palm.

3. Replace your skin and cleaning products

The two points above have limited effect if we don’t also address the source of the problem.

You also need to stop bringing toxic chemicals into your home as much as possible.

Here is a list of the most important and easiest products you can replace:

• You can either make your own cleaning products or buy natural ones like those you find with us.
• There are now plenty of natural alternatives for skin and hair care products; see, for example, our wide range here.
• There are also toxin-free options for laundry and dish detergents; see our selection here.
• We recommend that you simply stop using fabric softeners; they are not necessary. Focus on a natural, good detergent.
• You can do a lot with baking soda.

6 ways to use baking soda in your cleaning

1. Clean the fridge and freezer with baking soda on a damp cloth. Rinse with clean water. The plastic parts of the fridge will look like new.
2. Bad smell in the fridge. Eliminate unpleasant odors in the fridge by placing a small bowl of baking soda (no lid) deep inside. Shake or stir the baking soda occasionally and replace it every two months.
3. You can reduce or completely eliminate odors from the kitchen trash bin by covering the bottom of the bin with baking soda before putting in a new trash bag.
4. Regularly freshen up the dishwasher by running a rinse cycle with a little baking soda at the bottom of the machine. It also removes stains and hard water marks.
5. Use baking soda to clean your wooden cutting boards. Scrub with a brush and rinse with warm water. Baking soda absorbs dirt but does not damage the wood.
6. Clear drains. Pour a few tablespoons of baking soda into the drain you want to clear, then pour about 1 dl of vinegar or white vinegar into the drain and let it work for about 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with hot water. Can be repeated if needed.

Here you can read our DIY: Guide to toxin-free cleaning.

This video shows 3 different cleaning mixtures you can easily make in a spray bottle.

Extra tip for cleaning: Castile soap

We warmly recommend that you get liquid Castile soap. The word Castile refers to La Castilla – a region in central Spain historically significant in the history of soap.

This is not only a biodegradable and organic soap for the body but can also be used for dishes, floor cleaning, and as laundry detergent. Safe and toxin-free for people, plants, and pets.

Read more in this blog post for recipes and what you can do with it.

4. Choose natural furniture, clothes & home textiles

A more long-term project to consider is new purchases of clothes, towels, sheets, and furniture.

Are there natural or organic alternatives? Is there second hand? If you can’t buy organic or second-hand clothes, we recommend always washing them before use.

Unfortunately, rugs and mattresses can contain a lot of flame retardants. We only recommend cotton rugs that can be washed or no rug at all.

When it comes to bedding, it’s very important to only buy organic, good-quality items that you can use for a long time.

Both organic cotton and wool duvets work excellently in bed. Wool doesn’t need frequent washing; it can be aired out.

We hope this has inspired you to create a healthier everyday life for you and your loved ones.

Good luck!