Part 1: Swapping Household Products for a Non-Toxic Life
Helping others reduce toxins in their life, home (& mind) is something that I love so much, and I’ve been really excited to share this series with you all. I feel like Spring is the perfect time for a fresh start—not just for decluttering your space but also for rethinking the products you use in your home every day. So here we go!
Many household products, from cleaners to laundry detergents, contain harmful chemicals that can negatively impact your health and well-being. The good news? Making the switch to non-toxic alternatives doesn’t have to be overwhelming. I began the journey of removing potentially harmful chemicals from my home and lifestyle about 15 years ago, so hopefully I can help take some of the guess work out for you!
This three-part series is designed to help you transition to a cleaner, healthier home—one step at a time. My goal is to bring you peace of mind and take the stress out of choosing better options for yourself and your family.
Why Does This Matter?
Research shows that long-term exposure to certain household toxins (ie. Fragrances, formaldehyde, parabens) can contribute to chronic health issues, including hormone imbalances, skin irritation (think eczema and dermatitis!), immune dysfunction, and even now there is a lot of research linked to various cancers. Many of these chemicals are carcinogens (cancer causing chemicals). I’d love to analyze with you all why in the world there are cancer-causing chemicals in them to begin with!! But let’s stay on track lol.
These toxins don’t just disappear after use; they linger in the air, settle on surfaces, and are absorbed into our bodies over time. Yikes!
By making small and consistent swaps, you can significantly reduce your toxin exposure and create a home that supports you and your family’s well-being. & I’m here to help!
My #1 tip is to Start small – You don’t have to replace everything at once. That can be daunting (& expensive!). Begin with the products you use most often, like cleaners or laundry detergent and simply purchase them as you run out of what you have!
Let’s Start with Household Products
These are some of the most commonly used items in any home, and luckily, there are plenty of safer alternatives available.
Here are a some of my favorites:
- All-Purpose Cleaners → Swap harsh chemical sprays for a DIY mix of white vinegar, purified water, and essential oils, or choose plant-based brands free from synthetic fragrances and dyes like Aunt Fannie’s and Branch Basics or Attitude.
- Laundry Detergent → Molly’s Suds is my favorite – love the lavender. Blueland is my current favorite oxygen/white booster for laundry.
- Air Fresheners or Candles→ For the love of Yankee Candles, throw your Glyde Plug-Ins in the trash (like right now!). Instead use essential oil diffusers, simmer pots with citrus and herbs, open windows to improve air quality or find safer candles! There are so many options now – my absolute favorite candles are HOMEBODY which is local to Pensacola (She also has amazing teas & is at Palafox Market on Saturdays).
- Dishwashing Soap → I typically use Dr. Bronner’s castille soap and it it super multi purpose (we also bathe the dog with it!), I also like Rebel Green and Molly’s Suds. For dishwasher Molly’s Suds pods are awesome, too.
- Cookware → sorry to break it to you, but the Non-stick skillet has to go. It contains PFAS (aka forever chemicals) – opt for Cast Iron or Stainless Steel. Some great brands are Caraway, AllClad and Le Creuset. This is a good article from Food & Wine with their top non-toxic cookware picks for the year.
- Filtered Water → My favorite water filter and filtration system is Clearly Filtered. Water quality is SO important – city water systems are full of PFAS, Chlorine, Arsenic, the list goes on and on… For bottled water, I love Mountain Valley.
Small Steps, Big Impact
Transitioning to a non-toxic home is not about perfection—it’s about progress. Every small change you make contributes to a healthier environment for you and your loved ones. And to make this process even easier, each month I’ll be sharing my top favorite non-toxic swaps in each category, highlighting trusted brands, and sources for making this journey easier.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll explore clean swaps for beauty and body products!
Love & Light,
Lauren Holler
