Your home is your sanctuary. But many household items and habits can compromise indoor air quality and clean living and set you up to need a home detox. Make sure you’re cultivating a safe space so you can truly relax and breathe easily.
Ready for spring cleaning? Here are 5 easy tips for home detox to help you create a healthier environment.
Detox #1: Ditch Candles & Plug-Ins with Synthetic Smells
Everyone loves a clean-smelling home, but relying on synthetic fragrances can be bad for your health – especially if you keep the windows closed and limit ventilation. Plug-ins and candles with artificial scents can trigger headaches and leave chemical toxins concentrated in the air. Studies suggest that prolonged exposure can even lead to long-term respiratory conditions.
- Solution: Take a deep breath – there are better ways to keep your house fresh! Look for candles with natural scents, spritz essential oils onto linens, or set up a simmer pot on the stove (cinnamon sticks and orange slices smell wonderful).
Detox #2: Clean Up Cutting Boards
If you’ve still got plastic cutting boards in your cabinets, throw them out now! There is so much research to suggest that slicing and dicing on these cutting boards can leave tiny fragments of microplastics in the food. Natural cutting boards – those made from wood or stone –are better for chopping fresh foods cleanly. Be sure to keep these boards sanitized by using a baking soda and lemon scrub to remove bacteria from the surface.
- Solution: Swap plastic for wood cutting boards, or opt for a stainless steel food processor.
Detox #3: Think Twice before Using Plastic Tupperware
Likewise, plastic containers can leach microplastics like BPA, phthalates and styrene into hot food and drinks. The problem with PFAs (which are found in some cookware utensils and released in high temperatures) is that they are difficult to break down or flush once they enter the bloodstream. Some research suggests that these compounds can build up over time, leading to respiratory and digestive issues.
- Solution: Never heat leftovers in a plastic container, even if it is advertised as microwave safe. Instead, place food onto a glass or ceramic dish before reheating. If possible, replace all plastic food and drink containers with glass, stainless steel or ceramic kitchenware.
Detox #4: Clear out Synthetic Fibers in Clothing and Bedding
Here we go again with the microplastics! But it’s true – plastic is one of the main sources of pollutants found at home. When it comes to laundry day, materials with synthetic fibers can break down in the wash/dry cycle, leading to petrochemicals and microplastics shed into the air and surrounding surfaces.
- Solution: Hang dry laundry when possible, instead of using the dryer. Opt for clothing and bedding made from natural fibers (wool, cotton, bamboo, etc.) instead of synthetic fibers (polyester, nylon, acrylic, etc.).
Detox #5: Throw Out Toxic Materials & Plan DIY Upgrades Carefully
Many furniture finishes, upholstery materials, and everyday cleaning products contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Indoor spaces without airflow can lead to concentrated VOCs in the air, which can be dangerous for respiratory health.
- Solution: Always shop for low-VOC paint, carpet, flooring, and furniture stain when planning home improvement projects.
Detox your space and keep your home healthy!
