Last Updated on November 26, 2023 by Cathy
Every day you are exposed to thousands of toxins. From the products you put on your skin, household cleaners, food, air, and water. Learn how to detox your environment and put less burden on your body.
It’s impossible to avoid all environmental toxins but there are things you can do starting today. You don’t have to do everything all at once but the more toxins you remove the less your body has to deal with.
There are many things you can do to detox your environment. If you feel overwhelmed start with the easiest. Every little bit you do is a huge benefit to your health.
Start With Your Skin
Start by looking at what you put on your skin. Your skin is your largest organ and for most people, they put on many toxins first thing in the morning, including soap, shampoo, lotions, fragrances, cologne, body spray, cosmetics, chapstick, and sunscreen.
Many personal care products contain ingredients linked to cancer and endocrine distributors. The endocrine system is a system of glands that releases hormones. They include adrenal glands, ovaries, pancreas, pineal gland, and thyroid.
Sometimes it is hard to read labels because it is hard to understand what to look for. You should learn as much as you can about the product before buying it.
Ingredients to look out for:
- Formaldehyde Releasers
- Fragrance
- Isothiazolinones
- Parabens
- Retinyl Palmitate
- Talc
- Topical Retinoids
I once bought some socks online without paying attention to the fabric. Without washing them first, by the end of the day my legs were bright red with water blisters. After my legs cleared up and cleaning the socks first I gave it another try. Unfortunately, my legs reacted the same way. I ended up throwing them away.
Organic clothing brands:
Many companies place specific claims on their products that are misleading. Such as gentle, green, hypoallergenic, natural, or safe. However, the Food and Drug Administration does not approve labels on these products.
Fortunately, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) does the guesswork for you. They have a handy app called “Healthy Living” where you can scan or search for many products. It grades each product and lets you know whether it is safe or not.
This is what I use each time I’m looking for a new personal care product. It comes in very handy. You can download their Healthy Living app here.
Green Cleaning
Next, start using healthy cleaning supplies. Fortunately, most of the products you need are already in your house. Plus, they only cost pennies compared to store-bought household cleaners.
- Baking soda – great to use as scrubbing power, disinfectants, and air fresheners
- Borax – good for cutting dirt, grease, and oil
- Castle soap – available as a bar or in liquid form to wash away dirt
- Distilled white vinegar – cuts soap scum, kills germs and mold, it even kills weeds
- Essential oils – lemon, lemongrass, and tea tree are natural antibacterials
- Hydrogen peroxide – a great alternative to bleach
Make sure you buy quality essential oils that come from plants. The brands I recommend are Healing Solution and my favorite Plant Therapy. When putting essential oils on your skin always use a carrier oil to prevent burns.
Don’t overuse essential oils or they can cause allergies or sensitivities. Don’t put essential oils on children or pets. Some people ingest essential oils but they are not always safe, it’s best to not ingest them.
There are many safe cleaning products you can purchase if you don’t feel like making them. However, they cost a lot more for the convenience. I make most of my cleaning products. But, I like to purchase my laundry detergent and automatic dishwasher soap.
The EWG has a list of cleaning products that are friendly to you and the environment. They grade each product so you can see which ones are safer than others. You can see EWG’s Cleaning Products here.
Beware of Fabric Softeners and Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets are another environmental toxin. It not only releases toxic smells into the air but then you are wearing it in your clothes and bedding. They not only pollute the inside of your home but the outside due to the dryer vent.
The dryer sheets leave an invisible film of toxins on your clothes. Have you ever run water over your dryer vent? The water can’t get through thanks to the chemical film left from the dryer sheets.
To detox your environment avoid store-bought fabric softeners and dryer sheets. Instead, add a half cup of vinegar to your rinse cycle in your washing machine. Don’t worry the smell doesn’t stay in your clothes.
Plus, use 100 percent wool dryer balls for your dyer. The balls help soften laundry, reduce static, and reduce the drying time saving you money.
Drink Clean Water
Water is vital to our health and well-being. We can go longer without food than we can without water. Unfortunately, public drinking water is full of chemicals. EWG found that tap water often includes industrial or agricultural contaminants.
The ‘Clean Water Rule’ would have protected more than millions of drinking water sources. But in 2019 the U.S. government repealed it so certain bodies of water will no longer have pollution limits. This increases exposure to contaminants in public drinking water.
You can take steps to make sure your drinking water is as safe as possible. There are many different types of water filters depending on your needs. The safest is an entire home filtration system so every facet, including your shower, is safe.
Check out EWG’s Water Filter Guide here.
Non-stick cookware contains chemicals (PFAS) linked to serious health effects. These chemicals are not only in the environment but inside the human body. PFAS chemicals are widely used in Teflon, fast-food wrappers, and microwave popcorn bags. Even stain-repellent clothing.
Avoid Non-Stick Cookware
Instead, use cookware and utensils that are safe from PFAS:
- Cast iron
- Ceramic
- Glass
- Stainless steel
- Limit Air Pollutants
Air fresheners and candles are often used to freshen the air and kill orders. But, those scented smells don’t remove odors, they only mask them. These “air fresheners” contain dozens of harmful chemicals linked to hormone disruption.
Avoid store-bought:
- Aerosol sprays
- Air fresheners
- Candles
- Car air fresheners
- Plugin air fresheners
Unfortunately, there aren’t very many “green air fresheners” that are safe. It is easier and cheaper to completely avoid these products for your health. Because we spend most of our time indoors it’s important to have clean air.
The best options for air freshness and odors:
- Baking soda to remove smells
- HEPA air filters
- Household plants help clean the air
- Open a window
- Use essential oils in a defuser
Products I like to use:
- Bamboo charcoal air-purifying bags
- EC3 air purification candles to reduce mold spores
- EC3 concentrate to use as a spray for mold spores
- Pureayre pet spray to remove odors
- Zeolite – absorbs orders
Indoor air pollution also comes from carpets, furniture, mattresses, paint, and wood stains. For safer paints look for water-based and low or no VOC paints (lower than 50g VOCs per liter).
Quick Links To Information In This Post:
The Best Non-Toxic Cookware
Easy Green Cleaning Products That Work!
Natural Ways To Detox Your Body
Detox Your Environment
Manufacturers aren’t required to list their ingredients on their labels. Because of this, you won’t fully know what you’re cleaning product includes. It is best to avoid them and use safe products instead. Be sure to check the EWGs website for the best options or make your own.
Trying to detox your environment from all toxins is impossible. Work inside your home, around your home, and in your vehicle. You can’t control what other people do but you can control what you do.
You don’t need to remodel your entire home or spend lots of money. Even small changes can make a big difference. Start with whatever is easiest for you. Such as buying a better air filter for your furnace or buying some household plants. As you move throughout your home the little changes turn into a big change.
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Simple Ways to Detox Your Environment
Resources:
https://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/
https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/water-filter-guide.php
https://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2016/05/skip-fabric-softeners
