Non-toxic home supplies

Simple Beginner’s Guide to Create a Non-toxic Home

Our homes should be sanctuaries of comfort, safety, and well-being. Yet, without realizing it, we may surround ourselves with harmful chemicals and toxins hidden in everyday products. Non-toxic living isn’t just a trend—it’s an essential shift toward healthier living. 

Often, we don’t realize how much the chemicals in our everyday household products affect us until we try something different. My own health problems lead me down this clean-living path, and I am so thankful we hold the power to make simple changes that have a profound effect on our homes and our health.

Don’t get all doom and gloom when it comes to a clean home. There are SO many great options to swat out your products. If you have a fabulous substitute, why wouldn’t you!

Modern Kitchen with Aqua Island
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I was amazed at how making the change to more natural ingredients made for both me and my family. The good news is simple swaps, and small steps will lead you to purposeful decisions ad peace of mind.

Let’s explore why detoxing your home matters plus practical tips and room-by-room strategies to create a cleaner, safer environment.


Why Non-Toxic Living Matters

1. Health Benefits – Exposure to toxic chemicals in our environment has been linked to a range of health issues, including respiratory problems, hormonal imbalances, skin irritation, and chronic diseases like cancer. Reducing these exposures minimizes health risks, especially for children, pregnant women, and pets, who are particularly vulnerable.

2. Environmental Impact- The products we use in our homes can pollute air and water. From cleaning agents to synthetic fragrances, many contain ingredients that harm ecosystems when washed down the drain or released into the air.

3. Peace of Mind- A non-toxic home not only supports physical health but also mental well-being. Knowing you’ve reduced your exposure to harmful substances can bring peace of mind and a sense of control over your environment.


Getting Started: The Basics of Home Detox

Detoxifying your home doesn’t mean throwing out everything at once. Begin by identifying key areas of concern and making gradual changes. Follow this room-by-room guide to transition to a safer living space.


1. Kitchen: A Clean Start for What You Consume

Why Detox?
The kitchen is a hotspot for potential toxins, from food storage containers to cookware and cleaning products. These can leach harmful chemicals like BPA, phthalates, and PFAS into your food and air.

Aesthetic Glass Food Storage Containers

Steps to Detox:

  • Replace Plastic: Swap plastic containers for glass or stainless-steel options to avoid chemicals like BPA and phthalates that can seep into food.
  • Non-Toxic Cookware: Ditch non-stick pans coated with PFAS and other chemicals and opt for stainless steel, cast iron, or ceramic alternatives.
  • Filter Your Water: Install a water filter or system to remove contaminants like chlorine, lead, and pesticides from tap water. For an easy option for your kitchen, the Berkey Stainless Steel Counter Top System is the best on the market.
  • Switch Cleaning Products: Use non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning products, or make your own using ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon.
  • Rethink Food Storage: Use beeswax wraps or silicone bags instead of plastic wrap to minimize exposure to microplastics.

2. Living Room: Refresh the Air You Breathe

Why Detox?
The living room is where you relax, but it can harbor pollutants like dust, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), and flame retardants from furniture and electronics.

Steps to Detox:

  • Air Quality: Invest in an air purifier and open windows regularly (when you can!) to reduce indoor air pollution.
  • Low-VOC Paints: If repainting, choose low-VOC or zero-VOC paints to limit off-gassing.
  • Furniture Choices: When possible, look for furniture made of solid wood or certified by organizations like Greenguard, which ensures low chemical emissions.
  • Minimize Dust: Dust with a damp cloth and vacuum with a HEPA filter to trap allergens and chemicals.
  • Houseplants: Add air-purifying plants like peace lilies, which can help reduce toxins in the air.

3. Bedroom: A Sanctuary for Restful Sleep

Why Detox?
Your bedroom should be a retreat for rest and recovery. However, mattresses, bedding, and cleaning products can release toxins that affect your health when you should be healing during sleep.

Cozy bedroom with brick wall behind bed

Steps to Detox:

  • Mattresses: Replace your mattress with one made of organic cotton, wool, or natural latex to avoid flame retardants and synthetic materials.
  • Bedding: Use organic cotton or bamboo sheets and blankets to minimize chemical exposure.
  • Avoid Synthetic Fragrances: Choose laundry detergents that are unscented or naturally scented with essential oils, and skip fabric softeners, which often contain harmful chemicals.
  • Control Humidity: Use a dehumidifier to prevent mold growth and maintain good air quality.
  • EMF Reduction: Reduce electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure by keeping electronics out of the bedroom. Yes, you can use the trusty old alarm clock, and not your phone!

Featured Products

Nontoxic hair products

Innersense Organic Beauty Products

Branch Basics Non Toxic Cleaning supplies

Branch Basics Cleaning Essentials Kit

Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Storage Containers

Glass Food Storage Containers

4. Bathroom: Simplify Personal Care and Cleaning

Why Detox?
The bathroom is often filled with personal care products and cleaners that contain parabens, phthalates, and other harmful chemicals absorbed through the skin.

Steps to Detox:

  • Check Labels: Opt for beauty products, soaps, and lotions with short, recognizable ingredient lists. Use helpful apps like Think Dirty, Yuka, or EWG’s Healthy Living to find low-tox products you will love! My go to brands for personal care are Innersense and Toups and Co. Their products are the highest quality organic ingredients and work amazingly!
  • Non-Toxic Cleaning: Replace chemical-laden bathroom cleaners with equally effective and non-toxic cleaning options or make your own with simple mixtures of vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils.
  • Avoid Synthetic Fragrances: Use unscented or naturally fragranced products (with essential oils) to reduce exposure to phthalates. Artificial fragrances can lead to so many health issues you may not even realize. They are linked to hormone disruption, reproductive and developmental issues, cancer, and more. Ditch the artificial fragrance, it’s not worth it!
  • Water Filters: Consider installing a shower filter to remove chlorine and other chemicals from water.
  • Natural Feminine Products: Switch to organic cotton tampons or menstrual cups to avoid exposure to pesticides and plastics.

5. Laundry Room: Wash Away the Toxins

Why Detox?
Laundry products like detergents, fabric softeners, and dryer sheets often contain fragrances, dyes, and surfactants that can irritate skin and pollute water.

Steps to Detox:

  • Natural Detergents: Choose biodegradable, fragrance-free detergents or essential oil-based detergents. There is no need for all of the chemicals in laundry detergents to get your clothes clean and smelling fresh. Remember your laundry detergent touches everything from your clothes, towels, sheets, wash clothes, and beyond…the effects of the chemicals come in contact with so many things in your household including your skin which is the largest organ of your body. Why use the yucky stuff when there are so many great laundry options available!
  • Ditch Dryer Sheets: Replace dryer sheets with wool dryer balls or reusable cloths with a few drops of essential oils. Customize your own scent with essential oils! My girls like different scents so we have fun mixing up which scents we use on our dryer balls.
  • Cold Water Washes: Washing clothes in cold water saves energy and reduces the release of microplastics.
  • Eco-Friendly Machines: If upgrading appliances, choose energy-efficient models to save water and electricity.

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6. Home Office: A Safe Space for Productivity

Why Detox?
Electronics and office supplies can emit VOCs and other toxins that affect air quality and your health.

Steps to Detox:

  • Choose Low-Emission Furniture: Opt for desks and chairs made from sustainable, non-toxic materials.
  • Monitor Air Quality: Keep the area ventilated and use an air purifier to reduce VOCs from electronics.
  • Eco-Friendly Supplies: Switch to non-toxic ink and adhesives, and avoid plastic office organizers. Opt for natural materials for your storage needs like wood desk organizers.

7. Outdoor Spaces: Extend Your Non-Toxic Living

Why Detox?
Your yard and outdoor spaces contribute to your home’s overall environment. Pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and treated materials can introduce toxins.

Dishes and tray on outdoor dining table

Steps to Detox:

  • Natural Lawn Care: Use organic fertilizers and pest control methods.
  • Furniture Choices: Choose outdoor furniture made from untreated wood, recycled materials, or metal.
  • Gardening: Grow your own organic fruits and vegetables to reduce pesticide exposure (and they taste way better too).

Additional Tips for a Non-Toxic Home

1. Educate Yourself: Learn to read labels and research the products you use. I cannot stress how important this is!! It is shocking when you begin to read labels just how much junk is in our food and products that you probably had no idea. 


2. Take it Slow: Detoxifying your home is a journey. Start with small changes in one room at a time. Don’t stress yourself out by feeling like you have to make all the changes at once. Take it slow and replace products as you run out. Remember, this is a healthy lifestyle change away from harmful ingredients. Slow and healthy changes lead to lasting changes for a healthy environment and a healthy you! Make it fun and educate your family as you go. Stressing isn’t healthy either!


3. Stay Consistent: Once you’ve made swaps, stick with them. Establish habits like regular decluttering and mindful shopping to maintain a toxin-free space. I have found so many of the natural cleaning products I have switched to work even better than the icky old stuff.

Yes, oftentimes natural products do come with a higher price tag, but keep in mind two things…1-simple and affordable things like vinegar and baking soda work well for household cleaners, and 2-we pay a little extra cost now for safer products or we pay an even higher price down the road with our health or the health of our family.


Once you experience the difference in this world of non-toxic living, you will never want to go back! Pay close attention to how you and your family’s bodies react to these simple little changes to your everyday life. If it helps, keeping a journal can be the best way to reassure your efforts of removing toxic ingredients is making a difference. 

We can be forgetful people. I love to keep a journal to remember the little things I may forget or not notice otherwise. A few years ago, I switched all of my skincare products to non-toxic products. After looking back at my journal, I realized two things…just how much the texture of my skin improved and how much less sinus irritation and stuffiness I have had. I didn’t put together the relief I have had since getting away from heavily scented skincare.

Creating a healthy home is a powerful step toward improving your health, protecting the environment, and fostering peace of mind. By making informed choices and gradually transitioning to safer alternatives, you can transform your living space into a sanctuary free from harmful substances. 

Start small, stay consistent, and embrace the benefits of a clean, non-toxic lifestyle. And have fun and enjoy the process of feeling better!

What small steps can you take today in transitioning your home to less toxins? 

Hey, Sweet Friend!

Welcome! I’m Ashley, a lover of beauty in all its facets. I am a hairstylist, writer, & girl mom passionate about helping women flourish by seeking beauty beyond the surface. I love to encourage women to create clean & healthy beauty habits & homes grounded in faith and live by my motto…clean, pretty, + simple. I would love for you to join me in your healthy beauty journey!

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