If you are like me, you want to make non-toxic swaps for your family, but you need it to be simple. I get it. Life is busy and that chaos can make it hard to change our routine. We dream of a less toxic life, but how do we make the time for it? Well, you are in the right place. This blog is going to discuss 10 Non-Toxic Swaps you can start making for your family today. These are all swaps that I have been doing for years, as they were my early and easy go-To’s.
#1- Hand and Laundry Soap
I personally believe this is one of the easiest swaps that you can make! Laundry and hand soap are full of toxins, fragrances and endocrine disruptors. Making the switch to Castile soap is both easy and cost effective. For our family of four, a 64 oz jug of castile soap lasts several months. It tells you right on the jug how to make various household items with it. All of them are a combination of castile soap with purified water. For the laundry soap, I will add essential oils and keep it in a beverage dispenser, using a mason jar to put it in the machine. For the hand soap, I triple the recipe, and it fills all three of my hand soap containers. Note: I have tried using it for dish soap, body wash and shampoo (all instructions are on the bottle!). I personally don’t like it for these because castile soap does not lather well, and I just haven’t been able to get past that.
#2- Willow Bark for Pain
I want to start this out by reminding you to always consult with a physician before starting any new remedy; herbal or otherwise. We replaced Tylenol and Ibuprofen with White Willow Bark for as a pain reliever. It naturally has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects without the nasty internal damage.
#3- Paper Towel Alternative
About two years ago we made the switch from paper towels, and we never looked back. Paper towels contain numerous chemicals including formaldehyde, BPA and dioxins; all of which pose health concerns. We now use cloth towels; you simply wash and reuse! They come in many different designs and sizes, so there is something for everyone. Make sure you get ones that are 100% cotton to ensure they are toxic free.
#4- Ditch the Tupperware
Plastic containers are full of chemicals that can leach into your food, especially if you place hot food in them or put them in the microwave. Ditch the cheap plastic Tupperware for glass containers or mason jars. Not only will your food (especially fruits and veggies) last longer, but you won’t be eating plastic with every bite. It has recently been discovered that up to 7 grams of plastics are now in our brains. That is mind-blowing. Removing plastic food containers from your home is a great first step in protecting yourself. Look for sales around holidays, especially Black Friday. They usually have glassware sets on sale!
#5- Replace Plastic Water Bottles with Stainless Steel
For all of the same reasons why you should replace your plastic Tupperware- you should most definitely stop drinking from plastic water bottles, of any kind. If you, or your kiddo, carries a water bottle daily, it must be stainless steel. Not only does the water taste better when it isn’t sitting in plastic all day, it stays colder longer, and you aren’t ingesting plastic and chemicals. Stainless steel water bottles aren’t much more expensive than plastic, so do yourself a favor and spend that extra couple of dollars.
#6- Fragrances are a No-Go
Anything scented such as Glade Plug-In’s, air fresheners, scented trash bags, cologne, perfume, heavily scented soaps; they are all major endocrine disrupters. They are one of the worst things you can expose yourself to, especially on a regular basis. Frequent exposure to fragrances is known to cause skin and respiratory problems, as well as headaches. They are not worth it. Always opt for fragrance free dryer sheets, trash bags and laundry soap (if you’re not making your own!). When it comes to air fresheners, swap to nontoxic candles or a diffuser with essential oils.
#7- Menstrual Products
Pads and tampons are chalk full of harmful chemicals that can cause various health problems like heavy bleeding, PCOS, reproductive issues, hormone imbalance and more. Recent studies have found toxic metals in these products. I switched to, and highly recommend, toxic free period underwear. Not only are they cost saving because they are a onetime purchase, but they are dramatically safer for our bodies! This is one switch you won’t regret!
#8- School Lunch Storage
If your kiddo takes their lunch to school, skip the plastic containers for stainless steel thermoses. Yes, they are larger, but they work. I have been doing it for years! Also send them with silverware from home so that they are not having to use the plastic silverware at school. Lastly, as mentioned above, ensure their water bottle is stainless steel. Just from their lunch alone, you can eliminate a massive amount of plastic exposure!
#9- Reduce Screen Time (And Stick to it)
I know this one is hard in modern times, but I promise you, it is worth it. When our little one was having problems winding down for bed, we realized his screen time probably played a part in that. We now stick to a screen time limit every day as well as eliminate it completely after 7pm. Screen time, especially late, has been shown to disrupt sleep and even brain patterns. It will most likely be hard at first but keep reminding yourself that your kiddo is going to be so much happier in the long run. You may even notice disruptive behavior disappear.
#10- Non-Toxic Clothing
I understand this one can be a little harder but hear me out. Most of the clothing on the market today is made with toxic materials. Spandex, Polyester, Nylon, Rayon and Acrylic are all toxic. The synthetic materials are made with a chemical process that can cause skin issues, headaches, even nausea. Switching to 100% cotton, linen, cashmere, silk, wool or bamboo are great alternatives. Generally, these can be more expensive, with the exception of cotton, so start there. Not so fun fact: the toxic clothing materials release millions of microplastics into the environment and even the water source when they are washed. (Remember: there are 7 grams of plastic in our brains due to exposure like this).
There you have it! 10 easy non-toxic swaps your family can make today! Toxins are all around us, even in things we would never think of as toxic (like our clothing). Eliminating as many plastics and chemicals as you can is a quick and easy way to step into the world of non-toxic living.
Did you make a swap that wasn’t on the list? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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