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How to Detox Your Home

Ready to detox your home? In this guide Non-Toxic Living Expert, Aida Garcia-Toledo, explains which chemicals to avoid and where they might be lurking, six simple steps to get you started as well as her favorite health (and Earth) friendly brands.

Aida Garcia-Toledo Non-toxic Living Expert

We all make New Year Resolutions; some we keep and others, quite frankly, we don’t.

The good news is that if this year you vow to live a healthier life, you will be pleasantly surprised by how easy non-toxic living can be.

The key is to start small, be consistent and add incremental changes as the year progresses. This will make a huge difference when it comes to the short and long-term effects of chemical exposure while also helping you not get overwhelmed.

Remember, this is not a fad diet, the idea is to make it a lifestyle change.

Ready to get started? In this non-toxic living guide I’ll go over:

Chemicals to avoid in everyday products
Six small steps you can do to detox your home
My top non-toxic brands and products for your family home

Scroll down to learn more!

Chemicals to avoid in everyday products

When it comes to keeping your home toxin-free, you need to be aware the chemicals can be lurking in unexpected places. For example: pesticides in diapers, flame-retardants on pajamas, formaldehyde in carpet, PFAS chemicals in cookware and lead in painted furniture.

To help you shop smarter (and read ingredients lists a little bit more closely), I’ve listed the key chemicals I avoid as well as places they’re commonly found below.

HEAVY METALS: LEAD, MERCURY AND CADMIUM

Heavy metals can be found in anything and everything and the tricky part is: you won’t see them listed on an ingredients list. This is because they’re a contaminate and even the FDA doesn’t mind if they’re there. Always ask the brand! Or choose a brand that is transparent about their third-party testing!

Products that may contain heavy metals:

Diapers
Cribs
Creams
Toys (plastic, painted wood, ceramic and metal!)
Clothing
Shoes
Strollers
Car Seats
Jewelry (particularly kids jewelry)
Paint
Furniture
Dyes
Makeup
Skincare
Household cleaners

BISPHENOLS (BPA + BPS)

More likely than not, you’ve probably seen ‘BPA Free’ stickers plastered on baby bottles and other food storage containers at the grocery store. But did you know that it’s still allowed to be used in the manufacturing of toys? The extra depressing part: items that claim to be ‘BPA free’ should still be treated with caution because BPA is often replaced with other bisphenols like BPS, which is proving to be similarly harmful to our health.

Products that may contain bisphenols:

Baby bottles
Food storage containers
Lunch boxes
Water bottles
Canned food and beverages (the inside can be coated with BPA)
Plastic toys
Socks
Synthetic clothing
Plastic furniture
Receipt paper

PVC AND PHTHALATES

PVC, also know as vinyl, is a soft flexible plastic that is widely used in the production of toys, clothing, furniture, gear and packaging. Phthalates often leach out of PVC, which is where that artificial plastic smell comes from. Even if a product is made of PVC and labelled ‘phthalate free,’ the PVC may still contain other additives like lead or organotins, which are also toxic and can affect the central nervous system, skin, liver, immune system and reproductive system.

Products that may contain PVC and phthalates:

Toys like plastic dolls and pretend makeup kits
Jelly shoes
Stroller accessories (like rain covers)
Skincare
Makeup
Hair products
Synthetic clothing
Furniture
Air fresheners

FORMALDEHYDE

Often used as a preservative, formaldehyde seems to lurk in a lot of places. Toys and furniture made of composite wood could contain adhesives that release formaldehyde, which is why you want to make sure any wood products you buy are Title TSCA VI compliant. Formaldehyde is also sometimes used to bind pigments to fabric (in dolls and stuffed animals) in order to achieve wrinkle resistance and water repellence.

Products that may contain formaldehyde:

Wooden toys
Wooden furniture
Dolls and stuffed animals
Clothing (to prevent wrinkles)
Makeup
Skincare
Hair products
Nail polish
Carpet
Paper towels

PFAS

PFAS chemicals are used to provide water and stain proofing finishes for fabrics. They’re also used to achieve non-stick surfaces.

Products that may contain PFAS:

Non-stick cookware
Furniture
Outdoor toys
Strollers
Outerware
Footwear
Lunchbox lining

FLAME RETARDANT

Preventing fire from spreading is incredibly important, but many brands are using chemicals that are far too dangerous. Luckily, companies like Nuna have opted for naturally flame-resistant materials like wool in their car seats, while HART + LAND opts for snug fitting pajamas.

Products that may contain flame retardants:

Play tents
Pajamas
Toy vehicles
Changing pads
Bath and pool water toys
Wigs
Stuffed animals
Mattresses
Furniture
Car Seats

Click here to read more about WHY these chemicals are so dangerous.

Six small steps you can do to detox your home

So, where should you start?

Here are six easy tips that you can incorporate into your everyday routine all year long. In doing so, you will be able to eliminate countless harmful chemicals from your daily routine and stick to that healthy living resolution for 2021 and beyond.

#1 Open your windows every single day

Even if just for a few minutes! Why? The air inside of our homes can be more toxic than the air outside, thanks to chemicals from cleaning products, flame retardants in furniture, lead in paint etc which migrate into the air and dust, making a tightly sealed home a pretty toxic one. So, open those windows and allow fresh air to circulate and those nasty chemicals to escape.

#2 Stop using synthetic home fragrances

This includes deodorizing sprays, plugins and even many candles, all of which contaminate the air inside our homes. Opt for candles made from 100% beeswax or a spray using water mixed with your favorite pure essential oil.

#3 Streamline your beauty routine

Why? Our skin is our largest organ and everything we put on it is absorbed by our bodies. If you are pregnant, everything you use on your body will, thus, make its way to your unborn baby. Using less products on a daily basis will expose you to less chemicals. You don’t need to stop using your favorites, but keep those for special occasions and stick to a more simplified daily routine.

#4 Switch to safer products

Start purchasing personal care products from companies that use non-toxic ingredients or make your own. When inspecting the ingredient lists, you should be able to recognise what each one is. A good place to start for both children and parents is by switching to a safer daily moisturizer. Many mainstream moisturizers contain chemicals that have been linked to hormonal disruption, cancer and skin allergies. Instead, try organic unrefined oils. These are excellent moisturizers and completely safe for infants and pregnant mothers. My favorite is organic coconut oil. Prefer traditional moisturizers? Plenty of safe options exist for your entire family.

#5 Seek alternatives to plastic for food storage

Do you have a lot of plastic in your kitchen? Baby bottles, cups, plates, food storage containers? The problem with plastic is that it can leach chemicals linked to hormone disruption, developmental issues and cancer into your food, especially when exposed to heat (ie: hot food on a plate, plastics in the dishwasher, microwaving plastics and serving warm milk in a baby bottle). The good news is that there are many safer alternatives to plastic like glass, stainless steel, food-grade silicone, bamboo and wood.

#6 Keep plastic away from kid’s food

Infants and children are most vulnerable to hormone disrupting chemicals in plastics…. this year, serve their milk and/or food in safer materials like silicone, glass, bamboo or stainless steel.

My top non-toxic brands & products for your family home

All Tot Tested and approved, here are my favorite non-toxic products from the brands I know and trust.

Erbaviva Organic Stretch Mark Trilogy

While you always need to be vigilant about what you put on your body, it’s especially crucial when you’re pregnant! Made with USDA certified organic ingredients, the Erbaviva Organic Stretch Mark Trilogy Set includes Stretch Mark Cream, Oil and Belly Butter.

Erbaviva Organic Stretch Mark Trilogy

$72

How to Detox Your Home

Chemicals to avoid in everyday products

Six small steps you can do to detox your home

#1 Open your windows every single day

#2 Stop using synthetic home fragrances

#3 Streamline your beauty routine

#4 Switch to safer products

#5 Seek alternatives to plastic for food storage

#6 Keep plastic away from kid’s food

My top non-toxic brands & products for your family home

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