This post is a beginner-friendly guide to making simple swaps in common household and beauty products to help reduce the amount of harmful toxins we consume on a daily basis.
“Toxic-free”, “no parabens”, and “sulphate-free” have all become buzzwords that have grown immensely in popularity over the past decade.
Consumers are waking up, realising that the manufacturing process of products we use daily, involves adding nasty chemicals to the list of ingredients.
Many everyday products contain toxins that can pose health risks with prolonged exposure. Here are just some of the most prominent toxins commonly found in everyday products:
- Bisphenol A (BPA): Plastic containers, water bottles, food cans.
- Phthalates: Plastics, personal care products (shampoos, lotions), vinyl flooring, medical devices.
- Parabens: Cosmetics, shampoos, moisturizers, shaving products.
- Formaldehyde: Household cleaners, pressed-wood products (plywood, particleboard), textiles, personal care products.
- Triclosan: Antibacterial soaps, toothpaste, deodorants, cleaning products.
- Lead: Old paint, contaminated water pipes, certain cosmetics, pottery.
- Mercury: Certain fish (tuna, swordfish), dental amalgam fillings, some cosmetics.
- Asbestos: Insulation materials, old building materials, some automotive parts.
- Perfluorinated Compounds (PFCs): Non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, some food packaging.
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Paints, varnishes, cleaning products, air fresheners.
- Pesticides: Non-organic fruits and vegetables, lawn and garden products, household pest control.
- Flame Retardants (PBDEs): Furniture, electronics, building materials.
- Artificial Colors and Flavors: Processed foods, beverages, candies, some pharmaceuticals.
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): Soaps, shampoos, toothpaste.
- Toluene: Paint thinners, nail polish, adhesives.
- Benzene: Industrial solvents, tobacco smoke, gasoline.
Not only are these chemicals bad for our health but they also have devastating effects on the environment. The toxins pollute the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink- highlighting how important it is for us to make a change.
This is where the “toxic-free” phenomenon comes in.
Toxic-free living (or chemical-free living) involves adopting a lifestyle that reduces the amount of harmful toxins you consume.
While it’s impossible to live completely toxic-free, swapping certain household products and making mindful choices about what we eat, are all great ways to minimise excessive toxin exposure.
But WHY go to the effort of living toxic-free?
Heavy consumption of toxins can disrupt normal bodily functions and lead to a range of acute and chronic health issues. For example:
- Endocrine-disrupting chemicals can mimic or block hormones, affecting growth, development, and metabolism. EDCs are linked with cancer, heart problems, and reproductive concerns.
- Some toxins are known carcinogens, meaning they can cause cancer. Prolonged exposure to these substances increases the risk of developing cancers in various organs.
- Chronic exposure to pesticides can be associated with neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease and cognitive impairments.
This isn’t to incite fear, I am nowhere near as close to limiting toxins in my home as I would like either!
This is simply to inform consumers about what they are buying and how using products might affect their health.
If you’re interested in trying out toxic-free living but don’t know where to start, then don’t worry, I’ve got you!
This post will give you some ideas of simple swaps that you can make to reduce the amount of toxins there are around your home!
However, I wouldn’t recommend making these changes all at once since this can become quite expensive! Instead, gradually implement safer products into your daily life by replacing your old products once they’ve run out. It’s all about creating a sustainable healthy change for your future!
Besides, a small positive change is always better than nothing!
Let’s now take a look at simple swaps and useful tips you can use to live toxic-free!
1. Detoxifying the air in your home
Air Fragrances
Not all candles are created equally, mass-produced in particular are likely to be made from paraffin (a petroleum by-product). This means that when they’re burned, harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde and benzene are released into the air. This is particularly concerning since these toxins are linked to asthma and lung cancer.
In the same light, the once revolutionary plug-in air freshener has become one of the main suspects responsible for toxicity in our homes. These have been shown to also contain formaldehyde, the same well-known carcinogen found in paraffin-based candles.
Instead of using these harmful methods of making your home smell nice, try:
- soy/ coconut/ rapeseed/ beeswax candles
- burning natural incense
- using soy wax melts
- using a diffuser with a couple of drops of essential oils
Plants
You can use specific plants, such as snake plants, spider plants, or peace lilies to purify the air in your home. These work as natural air filters that remove harmful toxins from the air you breathe!
Air Purifiers
Air purifiers are a great option to remove dust, allergens, and pollutants from your home. I’d recommend this HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter that also doubles up as an essential oil diffuser!
2. Making your kitchen toxic-free
Tupperware
Food packaging and containers have been shown to contain the harmful Bisphenol A, more familiarly referred to as ‘BPA’.
BPA has been shown to disrupt estrogen and can cause cancer, infertility, and nervous system abnormalities.
To reduce exposure to BPA, try:
- using BPA-free plastics
- using glass or stainless steel food storage containers
- Don’t microwave food in plastic containers
- Throw away old and cracked plastic containers
Cooking Pans
You’ve probably heard this one before, but in case you haven’t, it is recommended to switch out non-stick pans for non-toxic options like ceramic, stainless steel, or cast iron.
The reason for this is the concerns surrounding the chemicals used to make cookware ‘non-stick’. There are three chemicals in question- PTFE, PFOA and PFOS– each associated with an increased risk of certain diseases or other negative health consequences.
Best non-toxic cookware options I’ve found on Amazon:
- CAROTE Non-Stick Frying Pan – £13.00
- Morphy Richards Stainless Steel Pan Set, 5 Piece Set – £54.99
- CAROTE Nonstick Granite Cookware Sets 10Pcs Stone – £89.99
- Tala Performance 5 Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set – £189.95
- Caraway Nonstick Ceramic Cookware Set (12 Piece) – £779.47
3. Drink safer water!
Shockingly, the tap water we have known to be ‘safe to drink’ may not actually be as harmless as we once thought.
Late last year, we saw growing concern across the world about the levels of ‘forever chemicals’ in drinkable tap water.
‘Forever chemicals’ are a group of 9,000+ chemicals that are found in every day products, such as teflon non-stick pans, cosmetics, and laundry detergents.
Also referred to as polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), ‘forever chemicals’ can cause serious harm to the environment and wildlife, and are linked to serious health conditions like cancer and fertility issues in high doses.
To filter out as many of these forever chemicals from your drinking water, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) recommends the following water filters (ordered from lowest to highest price):
- Epic Pure Countertop Water Filter Dispenser
- Clearly Filtered No. 1 Filtered Water Pitcher
- Big Berkey Gravity-Fed Stainless Steel Countertop
These are quite pricey options so after some digging I found the Klar Water Pitcher which looks like a good and more affordable alternative!
4. Introducing a chemical-free diet
You’re probably aware about the use of pesticides in agriculture and its harmful effects for women and children, as well as its link to Parkinson’s disease.
But how can we stay safe from these effects?
One recommended path you could take is to eat a completely organic diet. However, this can be extremely expensive and not always 100% possible to do.
Therefore, large organisations around the world have compiled a list of ‘the dirty dozen’ to give consumers an idea of which produce has a greater amount of pesticide residue.
The Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN) formed their dirty dozen list based upon the harmful ‘pesticide cocktails‘ that are created. This considers the increasing evidence of the harmful effects of the combination of pesticides which is ‘overlooked’ by the government who have only placed limits upon the use of individual pesticides.
Overall, we can use this ‘the dirty dozen’ list to make better choices about what we eat. We can either try avoid these foods as much as possible or opt to purchase organic versions of the produce.
5. Be mindful about your toiletries
Hair Care
Many shampoos and conditioners use sulphates and parabens in their formula.
This is concerning since sulphates can cause irritation of the scalp and parabens can disrupt hormone functioning, leading to infertility issues and harming reproductive organs later down the line.
Sulphate (SLS) and paraben-free hair products are relatively easy to come by nowadays, Faith In Nature’s shampoo and conditionner being among my favourites!
I have also recently tried out powder shampoo which is the latest eco-friendly innovation in hair care. This is a water-activated shampoo which doesn’t use any water in the manufacturing process, making it an extremely sustainable product that contains only natural ingredients.
The Powder Shampoo have an entire range of vegan, cruelty-free, and plastic-free shampoos and foaming body washes which I highly recommend you check out!
If you’re looking for a safe hair oil, I’d also recommend checking out John Frieda’s Frizz Ease Original Serum. I was shocked that this was one of the few ‘well-known’ brands that don’t use SLS or parabens in their formula!
Deodorant
Some antiperspirants contain aluminium compounds which can be associated with irritation, and some even believe these can cause cancer (however there is no strong evidence to support this at the time of writing).
I personally switched to this Kutis natural deodorant (which smells INCREDIBLE can I add) to reduce the amount of chemicals I was putting on my body and to try something a little better for the environment.
Other popular natural deodorants include Dr Organic Lavender Deodorant and Salt Of The Earth.
Perfume/Fragrance
Seeing ‘perfume’ or ‘fragrance’ on a list of ingredients for cosmetics doesn’t initially make the alarm bells ring (well it didn’t for me anyway).
However, it has been revealed that these words are simply umbrella terms for literally any chemical– including those that are toxic to the human body.
Harmful chemicals that this may refer to are phthalates, styrene and other allergens.
Natural perfume suggestions include:
- Kuumba Made Black Coconut Fragrance Oil Roll-On
- Ellis Brooklyn fragrances
- Sara Jardin Paris fragrances
- Vyrao fragrances
I also think these would make a great thoughtful gift for a loved one!
6. Cleaning up your cleaning products!
Laundry
Check the laundry detergent you use since nasty chemicals like SLS/ SLES, Phosphates, Formaldehyde, and Dioxane (just to name a few) can sneak into your washing!
Next time you need more laundry detergent, try swapping out your regular brand for an eco-friendly and hypoallergenic detergent as a safer alternative.
Good recommendations for safer laundry detergent include Ecover Zero Non-Bio Laundry Detergent and Faith In Nature Natural Laundry Liquid.
Cleaning Products
The EWG found that many cleaning products we use in our homes can release hundreds of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
VOCs are particularly concerning since research has shown that high exposure to these chemical compounds can increase the likelihood of developing asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and even lung cancer.
The EWG recommends choosing cleaning products that are ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘fragrance-free’ to avoid these hostile chemicals.
My favourite and safe cleaning product recommendation has to be Purdy & Figg’s range. They use completely natural ingredients, use packaging that reduces landfill and they work and smell great too!
Final Thoughts
This is by no means an exhaustive list of where toxins may be found in your home, however, this post provides a good starter list for beginners looking to implement a toxic-free lifestyle.
As I said at the beginning of this guide, it can be extremely impractical and overwhelming to apply all these new measures to your life.
Therefore, I’d recommend choosing just a few changes you’ll make and gradually build up from there.
Now to start your toxic-free living journey!
This post contains ideas and product recommendations to help you start your toxic-free life. Save this post to come back to later!
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There’s a lot to take on board. But as you say, it’s not necessary to do everything all at once. But I didn’t realize that containers could be an issue!
I know, I’m constantly learning new things too! It’s all about making those small improvements over time!
I like this article because it emphasizes the growing awareness of harmful chemicals in everyday products. It highlights the importance of choosing toxic-free options and provides a useful list of common toxins, helping consumers make safer choices for their health. Thanks for the info!
Thank you Ann, I’m glad you found this helpful! It is so shocking how many harmful chemicals were exposed to daily without even realising! Time to make better (and more informed) choices for our bodies! :)
Awesome points. We use terracotta pots to cook. They add an earthy flavour to the food as well. Thanks for sharing!
Wow I love that idea! Thanks for sharing Pradnya, I definitely need to give that a go! It’ll be interesting to see how many people will switch to these safer cookware alternatives in the future.
It’s so important to read labels carefully! The tips for candles and incense were especially helpfu.
I agree! Only now are we all realising to not just trust the branding, they can sneak all sorts into our everyday products! Thanks for reading Michael☺️