With the New Year up and running, you’re probably ready to organize and get the year started off right. Now is a great time to make some swaps around your house to cut down on toxins in your everyday products. We have spoken before about healthier skincare options and how important it is to consider what you’re putting on your skin each day, but toxic exposure doesn’t stop there.

So many of our daily products are filled with endocrine disrupters. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, endocrine disruptors are “chemicals, both natural and man-made, that may mimic or interfere with the body’s hormones… these chemicals are linked with developmental, reproductive, brain, immune, and other problems.” These chemicals are found in “many everyday products including some plastic bottles and containers, liners of metal food cans, detergents, flame retardants, food, toys, cosmetics, and pesticides.”

While it’s nearly impossible to eliminate all items that contain these chemicals, making some household swaps can cut back on your daily exposure. It can be costly to change everything right away, so start small and switch out products as you can.

Cleaning Products

We use cleaning products every single day. Whether it’s cleaning dishes, kitchen counters, the bathroom, or any other place in the house, you probably grab something to clean with daily. There are several great products out there that are nontoxic and work really well. This switch can be seamless but make a huge difference.

Branch Basics is a great overall swap. One concentrated bottle of cleaning solution can create cleaners for your bathroom, glass, counters, and more. You can also order laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent and hand soap. It’s a family owned business whose mission is to create toxic-free homes to promote health and wellness.

Grove is a good place to start if you’re looking for all-around access to non-toxic items. It has everything from cleaning to beauty products. There is even a pet section! Grove also has its own cleaning supplies that smell wonderful and clean exceptionally well.

Air Fresheners and Home Fragrances

Do you love lighting candles as soon as you get home? How about using Febreeze to cover up stale smells before guests come over? Maybe it’s easier to just plug in one of the Glade plug-ins and let it do the work for you. All of those things can make a house smell nice, but may also cause health problems. Candles made with parrafin wax emit more emissions and tend to burn more quickly (which means more particles in the air at a time) than those mad with other wax. If you’re looking for a slower-burning, less emission-producing candle opt for one made with soy, coconut, or beeswax.

Artificial fragrances can also cause irritation and allergies. When looking for scented products, try choosing ones that are scented with essential oils.

What Should You Use Instead?

We all love our houses to smell nice and some scents can actually benefit the air. Essential oils have great benefits for your health and can help purify the air. You can use a diffuser and change up the scents for needs and moods.

Candles are great. True beeswax candles can even help filter the air. So, although some can emit negative emissions, not all are bad. Just check the ingredients before buying. This list contains several recommendations for nontoxic candle options to help get you started.

For a quick refresher, room sprays are great. You can make your own with essential oils using this recipe for a baseline or you can use one from a reputable company like Grow. We do love the versatility of making our own though!

Food Storage and Cookware

This may take time, but switching your food storage containers, water bottles, and cookware is huge. BPA is found in many plastics and it is proven to be an endocrine disruptor. When we drink from plastic bottles and store our leftovers in plastic containers, it can leach into our food and we end up consuming it. By switching to metal or glass containers for water and food storage, the exposure is much less.

Cookware is another big contributor to endocrine disruption. While nonstick pans are very convenient, they also release toxins into our foods. If possible, try cooking with stainless steal or cast iron. Just use olive, coconut or avocado oil to keep your food from sticking to the pan!

Start Small

Don’t be overwhelmed and feel like you have to change everything at once. Start small by opting for new home fragrances or using a reusable stainless steal or glass water bottle. As you run out of cleaning supplies, move toward a new brand. Small steps will equal big results in the long run!