Another big step for me!
But you know what, I’ve really learned how to say YES to things… before overthinking, and saying no. I’m staying open to (even scary) opportunities.
So when I was approached by Kendall County Woman Magazine, to talk about making changes to the toxins in our homes, here’s what I whipped up:
IF YOU CAN’T PRONOUNCE IT, YOU PROBABLY SHOULDN’T BE EATING IT OR USING IT
Well, with ingredients lists, that is.
How often do you check yours? The ingredients in your counter cleaner, in your favorite crackers, in the boxed meal (that’s supposed to make dinner time so much easier on you), in the perfume you’ve used for years?
What you’re not paying attention to could be bringing dangerous toxins and chemicals into your diet and into your home.
—————————————————
AND IF YOU’RE JUST THROWING IT OUT, YOU COULD BE DOING BETTER BY OUR PRECIOUS PLANET
Of course you can reduse, reuse, and recycle. But what if there was a way to avoid bringing some of the waste into your home?
Sustainable products are everywhere. You really don’t have to look hard to find them.
So let’s take a look at some warning signs, toxic culprits, and dangerous waste…. and what you can do about them!
————————————————–
Some of the products in your home that are notorious for containing dangerous chemicals are most cleaners, detergents, air fresheners, bath products, cosmetics, perfumes/colognes, and food/beverage plastic packaging. Yes, what you’re using to freshen and clean your home contains toxins. Your pampering and beautifying products contain toxins. Many of those convenient bottled waters are packed in chemicals.
Want to easily rid your home of these products?
Do a little research on common household toxins. Ask friends and family for safer product recommendations. Look for ethical, natural, greener, safer businesses to purchase from. Read ingredients lists! Get your family in the new habit of drinking water from a cup they’ll use around the house all day. When heating food in your microwave, make sure to use a microwave-safe dish (not the plastic container it came in). Help your family change out your old products, for safer ones, a little at a time.
Some of the foods in your home that are known for containing dangerous substances, ingredients, syrups, and dyes are mostly your highly processed foods.
Want to rid your home of these?
Since many grocery stores are set up the same way, the easiest step is to avoid the middle aisles during your shopping trips. If you do, you’ll skip the sodas, processed snacks and desserts, the soups, canned products, cereals, and the breads.
Instead, stick to the outer aisles, which will have the foods that have been around for generations. Food without high processing, gimicks, harsh preservatives, and artificial dyes/sweeteners. Discover new fruits and veggies. Stop by the meat counter and the bakery. Buy a water filter, to have healthy water in reach all the time. Get your family in the new habit of reaching for healthy snacks. Get everyone in the kitchen, to cook real meals, with real ingredients. Gather them around the dinner table!
Some of the products in your home that are causing waste (and can easily be replaced with other items) are bottled waters, plastic shopping bags, plastic straws, dryer sheets, and paper towels.
Want to easily rid your home of these items?
Let’s start with those bottled waters. Many companies are now making washable/reusable/travel mugs and thermoses. Some are sturdy plastic, some are steel. They’re all easy to wash and refill.
The plastic shopping bags you’re given to tote your groceries at every shopping trip can easily be replaced by washable and resusable canvas shopper bags.
We’ve all heard about the plastic straw controversy lately. Not only are they a big problem with our landfills, but they’re also hurting our sealife. One great way to eliminate this problem is to purchase some glass or metal straws. And if you can take it a step further, by purchasing a straw carrying case/bag, you can even refuse the plastic straws at restaurants.
Dryer sheets aren’t just filled with harmful chemicals. They’re wasteful too. Try eliminating both problems, by replacing them with dryer balls. A set of dryer balls (that stay in your dryer for their lifetime) can help clothes dry faster, and they help with softening and static cling.
And paper towels. That was the toughest one for me. But we’ve now replaced this huge waste with antibacterial, environment-friendly microfiber towels that I use for every mess!
And while I can think of dozens of other ways to clean the air, ditch the toxins, and reduce waste from our homes and planet (like composting, planting trees, having houseplants, investing in pink himalayan salt lamps, using purifiers, carpooling, etc), that’s a whole other article!
Kendall County Woman Magazine