Choosing to switch to a natural way of living can be a long and difficult process. Understanding which ingredients are good or bad on labels is confusing, and sometimes it just takes a long time to read them! However, there are some areas that a simple swap can change your life. Today we’ll be swapping in three categories: scented products, soaps/cleaners, and laundry accessories!
If you want to learn more about toxins & the effects they may have on the body, check out this post first. There are some studies cited over there that will make this post make a lot of sense if you’re new to all this. 🙂 Onto the swaps! Everything is linked at the end of the post.
SWAP #1: FRAGRANCES & ARTIFICIAL SCENTS -> ESSENTIAL OIL SCENTS & SCENTED PRODUCTS
Avoiding fragrances is a great first step to detoxifying your home and environment. Let’s talk about why.
Companies are not required to define ‘fragrance’ when they put it on a label. The ingredient label can literally say ‘fragrance’ or even ‘natural fragrance’ and have tons of toxins in there, along with no knowledge of the ingredients to the consumer. Crazy, right? So what would they put in there anyway?
Undefined fragrances are a red flag because they could have thing such as sulfates, phthalates, phosphates, or other chemicals that don’t do good to the body’s systems. Many of those ingredients are linked to diseases, so it is good to rid your home of fragrances that you do not know the sources of.
Essential oils are an easy & effective replacement to fragrances. They smell naturally wonderful, and you know what source they are coming from. For most, you have access to how the essential oil is processed and what carrier oils it is mixed with.
Essential oils are not only a great swap because of their scents, but also their properties. They do more than just make things smell good. Various essential oils have anti-fungal, antiviral and antioxidant properties.
Some are also good for specific reasons. For example, you can diffuse lavender to relax, put some eucalyptus in your shower to clear your sinuses, or put some peppermint on your wrist to help focus. There are endless benefits to using essential oils, but they are mostly beneficial because they are non-toxic.
You can use an essential oil diffuser to replace a candle. There are also essential-oil scented candles you can get (I like the beeswax ones). You can add some into a spray bottle with water to replace air freshener. Or, you can add some into your cleaning & laundry products to up the scent naturally. Lots of way to use these little bottles, and your body will be thanking you for it! This is a really easy and effective swap.
SWAP 2: GENERIC BRAND SOAPS & CLEANERS -> OIL OR SUGAR BASED CLEANERS
The majority of the most well known brands for cleaning are using ingredients that aren’t the best for our health. Many have lots of harsh chemicals. While something may be effective at ridding dirt or grime, it may also be harmful for your health.
A great company that I trust is Branch Basics. They use sugar-based cleaners, which are great for getting up dirt and grease. This brand (which i have no affiliation with, by the way. Just love it) prides themselves in being fragrance free, non-GMO, harmful preservative free and has all plant and mineral based ingredients. The founders have incredible stories of how their lives changed for the better when they tossed out toxins from their cleaning cabinets and diets. Click here to learn their story.
Another product that is super versatile and has trustworthy ingredients is Castile soap, which is made out of oils. It is a much cleaner option when compared to other soaps and cleaners. It can also be diluted & mixed with water to make a dish soap, hand soap, or all purpose cleaner. A little Castile soap can go a very long way. It is usually naturally scented, too.
Before you’re off to buy some, please note, is good to avoid seed oils- such as palm kernel oil, especially if you are putting it directly onto your skin. It is not great for the environment and also not great for humans. This is because seed oils (such as palm kernel oil, canola oil or grape seed oil) usually have to go through a rigorous production process that includes bleaching, preserving, etc. You can easily find Castile soap without it, but some of them have it. The one linked at the end of the blog has no palm oil or harsh ingredients.
Lastly, opting for homemade DIY cleaners is never a bad idea. Check out this post where I talk about cleaning ingredients many of us have on hand at all times.
SWAP 3: SCENTED DRYER SHEETS -> SCENT YOUR OWN WOOL DRYER BALLS
There are lots of culprits hiding in the laundry room. Some are full of toxins, some are just plain bad for the environment… and dryer sheets are, most of the time, both.
Meanwhile, wool dryer balls are on the come up. You can find them everywhere! I actually saw some at the grocery store the other day. They are an effective way to soften your clothing as well as help the environment. Though many people may not be using them for this reason, they’re better for your health, too!
Here’s a simple hack to make wool dryer balls even better than they already are: add essential oils to them. Depending on the strength of your essential oil, start small. You can always add more as you use them. I just dab my essential oil of choice around the dryer ball a couple of rounds.
This is basically a long-term dryer sheet that you can add a strong scent to any time you need it. My favorite scent to add to my dryer balls is jasmine. It has a shower-fresh like scent and makes the laundry smell amazing. Another easy & effective swap!
Shop this post! My favorite non-toxic product swaps.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my disclosure to learn more about this!
- Essential oils & scent-filled product essentials:
- Clean cleaning product must haves:
- Literally anything Branch Basics (not affiliated, just love it)
- Castile soap
- Literally anything Branch Basics (not affiliated, just love it)
- Laundry room necessities:
Thanks for checking out the post! Hope I can assist in your journey to a toxin-free & natural life. Much love, and see ya next blog.