Most people will go to great lengths to take care of their Healthy Home. If you’re concerned about your own health and that of your family, you probably stay on top of the basics. You try to eat a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise. You get regular checkups and have your teeth cleaned twice a year.
But there’s another area of health you may not have considered. We’re talking about the cleaning and hygiene products you use day in and day out.
Want to get rid of toxic products and change to non-toxic alternatives? Here’s a quick guide.
What’s in My Household Products?
It’s impossible to give an exhaustive list of everything that’s in your household products. Cleaning chemicals, detergents, cosmetics, and hygiene products can contain literally thousands of ingredients. Thankfully, you don’t have to know everything about all of them.
Instead, keep an eye out for the biggest offenders. These include:
- Aluminum
- Butylene Glycol
- Formaldehyde
- Mineral oil
- Parabens
- Phthalates
- Propylene Glycol
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
- Triclosan
- Triclocarban
These are the ingredients that everyone should avoid. But depending on your specific needs, there may be more. For example, you should obviously avoid using any products with ingredients that you’re allergic to.
Red Flags to Avoid
People are more mindful of their Healthy Home these days than ever before. As a result, many brands are engaging in a practice called “cleanwashing” to make their products more palatable.
You’re probably familiar with a similar term called “greenwashing,” where companies exaggerate how eco-friendly their products are. Cleanwashing is similar. But instead of companies pretending to help the environment, they use different marketing tactics to make their products appear more natural.
Here are a few common red flags:
- Saying a product is “organic” without any USDA certificate. With no certificate, you’re just taking the manufacturer’s word for it.
- A long list of ingredients that aren’t in the product. We’ve seen everything from “zero-calorie” bottled water to “gluten-free” bacon. These claims are (usually) meaningless.
- Nature-themed imagery on the packages. There’s nothing wrong with floral pictures on your laundry detergent or a picture of a pine tree on your pine-scented cleaner. But don’t let the packaging distract you from what’s inside.
Companies use these tactics because people fall for them every day. But once you’re aware of them, they’re easy to see through.
Tips For a Healthier Home
There are a number of ways to make your home more healthy. Here are five quick, simple tips to get you started.
1. Use Essential Oils
Scented candles seem like a great way to relax. Back when malls were still a thing, there were entire stores dedicated to them. If you were walking past and caught a whiff, it could be tough to avoid walking inside and smelling a few. You can light a candle when you get home, and the aroma makes the stress melt away.
Unfortunately, most scented (and unscented) candles are made with a wax called paraffin. While paraffin itself is perfectly safe, it releases carcinogens when you burn it. Not only that, but the fragrance itself can often be toxic. In most cases, you won’t even know what it is; the label will just say “fragrance.”
If you want a healthier way to de-stress at the end of a long day, try using an essential oil diffuser instead. Essential oils are plant-derived, and come in all kinds of scents, from a bold lavender to a delicate hint of rose. And since a diffuser doesn’t burn the oil, you’re not creating any toxic byproducts.
2. Eat Fewer Processed Foods
Switching to non-toxic products isn’t just about your environment. After all, what you put into your body is even more important than what you put onto your body. And these days, there are plenty of diets to choose from. You can go Paleogenic, ketogenic, vegan, or gluten-free. There’s the Mediterranean diet and about a million others.
Look, we’re not here to tell you what diet to eat. There are plenty of smart people advocating for each of them. But regardless of your diet, there’s one thing every nutritionist will tell you; avoid processed foods.
Processed foods are loaded with sugars, preservatives, artificial flavors, and dyes. Any plants involved in the process are almost certainly not organic. If there’s meat, you can bet it was factory-farmed and chock full of hormones and antibiotics.
Buying organic, non-GMO foods and preparing your own meals can be a little pricey. But at the end of the day, your health is worth every penny of the investment.
3. Use Natural Cleaning Products
Your laundry detergent ends up on your skin and can enter your body. Synthetic detergents contain all kinds of chemicals, none of which you want on your skin or in the environment. So when you choose your detergent, look for one that’s made with all-natural ingredients.
The same goes for any products you use for cleaning around the house. Even when you wear gloves, you’re not going to prevent 100% of the soap from touching your body 100% of the time. Stick with plant-based cleaners, and you’ll be much better off.
Small Changes Lead to Big Results
Making small changes in your household can have a big impact on your overall health and wellness. Creating a healthier home environment helps reduce exposure to toxins and chemicals, which can lead to improved physical and mental health. Eating more whole foods and preparing meals at home can also help improve your nutrition and support a healthy weight. Taking the time to use natural cleaning products will help reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals.
If you’re ready to make a change but aren’t sure where to start, check out Melaleuca products which are all developed in-house and are thoroughly evaluated not just for health, but also for performance. Plus, they offer a complete range of products from cleaning supplies and cosmetics to dietary supplements and food.
