Top Products To Swap For A Non-Toxic Home

We live in a toxic world. Humans today are exposed to more man-made chemicals than ever before in history.

The US produces or imports over 74 billion pounds of chemicals PER DAY. Since the 1970s, more than 87,000 chemicals have been approved for commercial use, very few of which are tested thoroughly for their effects on the human body.

The human body was simply not designed to filter out this sheer quantity of chemicals, and they take a toll on our health: inorganic compounds change cellular function, inhibit energy production, disrupt hormone balances, and confuse immune response.

Staying healthy in our world requires intentionality, but it is possible. So, where to start?

Top 5 Products To Swap For A Non-Toxic Home

We can’t change everything all at once, so a list of top priorities is below. They target the most common and highest sources of toxic exposure and the most effective ways within our control to clean up our environment.

Investing in or transitioning to a non-toxic version of these products will significantly reduce your toxic burden, with options for every budget.

At A Glance:

1. Water Filter
2. Air Purifier
3. Lawn Treatment & Pest Control
4. Laundry Detergent & Air Fresheners
5. Cosmetic Beauty Products

1. Use A Quality Water Filter

You are 60% water. Because water makes up so much of the human body and is vital for all cellular functions, you need to have enough water, but also for that water to be high quality.

And I’m not just talking filtering with a Brita.

Basic carbon filters reduce chlorine and some heavy metals. That barely scratches the surface of the amount of contaminants in water.

The top offenders to ensure your filter removes (not just reduces) are chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals, microplastics, pharmaceutical drugs, pesticides, and phthalates.

The list goes on – you can enter your zip code into this resource to see exceptionally high contaminants in your area.

Best Water Filter Options

The primary and most affordable options for water filtration are countertop filters and shower head filters.

Clearly Filtered

This is my favorite brand of countertop water filters. You can find in-depth information on their website about their 99%+ removal rate of an extensive list of contaminants.

Zero Water

This is another affordable brand that filters out nearly all contaminants, including microplastics, chromium, lead, and other harmful chemicals.

You can also buy water bottles that filter as you drink, such as LifeStraw, which cleans out 99.9% of microplastics, bacteria, parasites, heavy metals, and other contaminants.

LifeStraw

LifeStraw is another solid water filter brand that cleans out most bacteria, parasites, microplastics, lead, mercury, PFAs and a variety of chemicals. Their membrane micro-filter lasts 264 gallons (on average for 1 year), and their activated carbon + ion exchange filter lasts 40 gallons (2 months).

And if you are on the go, we really love their water bottles which contain a filter in the bottle!

Best Shower Water Filter Options

While many people know that drinking contaminated water can harm you, many don’t realize the impact of water touching your skin and hair, which can be harmful, too.

There are many options for filtering your shower/bathtub/sink water. Extensive filtering options are available at higher cost thresholds. For example, you can purchase an under-the-sink filter or a whole-house filter.

Clean Water Revival

This is a showerhead attachment that filters your shower water instantly. I recommend this brand as it filters up to 25,000 gallons of water, up to 1 year of usage.

Aquabliss Water Filter

This is another shower filter option that has an excellent reputation. Aquabliss filters out things like chlorine, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, dirt, and odors, helps control scale buildup, plus restores the damage that hard, chemical-filled water has done to your hair, skin, and nails.

Filterbaby

Filterbaby is a good filter option for your sink and faucets. Filterbaby boasts an advanced filtration system that removes heavy metals such as chlorine, copper, zinc, and iron, as well as removes contaminants such as microplastics, lead, rust, algae, and more.

2. Use An Air Purifier

On average, Americans spend 90% of their time indoors.

Indoor air quality is typically at least 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air – and can get much worse. Fortunately, unlike outdoor air pollution from industry or wildfires, the air quality of your home is within your control. While removing pollutants from your home at their source is still essential, investing in a high-quality air filter is one of the best things you can do for your and your family's health.

A proper medical-grade HEPA filter is the top thing to look for in an air filter. Medical grade HEPA removes 99.97% of particulates at 0.3 microns in diameter. Beware of advertising for “HEPA-type” filters.

Here is a fantastic article on what to look for and avoid in a filter.

Favorite Air Filter/Purifier Recommendations

Austin Air

The best air filter on the market is Austin Air. This powerful filter removes airborne particulates such as hair, molds, chemicals, viruses, pollen, dust, and other oders. While this option is on the higher end, I spent a year intentionally saving to invest in their basic unit, which has made a massive difference in our health.

Air Doctor

The Air Doctor is another solid and high-quality choice for an air purifier. The Air Doctor filters out 99.99% of airborne contaminants at .003 microns in size from mold spores to smoke to bacteria to pollen and even pet dander. This purifier also has a 3-stage filtration system with a pre-filter, UltraHEPA and Carbon/VOC filters. A nice plus to the brand, is that their filters last a long time and only need to be replaced every 6-12 months!

Levoit Air

This filter is a cheaper option and still does a great job at filtering out 99.99% of certain bacteria and viruses, as well as dust, lint, hair, fibers, pet fur, mold, pollen, smoke, fences, etc.

We've also heard good things about Coway Airmega and Honeywell HEPA Insight.

Make Your Own

You can also make your own simple filter with a 20x20 box fan and a 20x20 Filtrete Air Filter! Simply turn the fan on, and the filter will suction to the back without tape.

3. Lawn Treatment & Pest Control

Pesticides and herbicides are the most toxic chemicals in the home and are a massive burden on your body’s detoxification systems. The suffix “cide” literally means to kill – these products were designed to kill, and human cellular function is not immune.

Even when sealed in their containers, these chemicals pollute air quality, and when used around the house, they linger for months on surfaces and contaminate the water supply. They target the nervous system, respiratory system, reproductive system, and more.

The first step is completely removing chemical pesticides, herbicides, conventional fertilizers, pest control poisons, etc. They negatively affect your health even when stored in the shed or garage.

Then replace them with non-toxic alternatives – there are lots out there!

Finally, if you (like me) live near local parks or schools, you can use resources like these to petition your local government to end the use of harmful chemicals like glyphosate and transition to organic and regenerative management.

4. Laundry Detergent & Air Fresheners

These two products are the worst offenders under the category of indoor air pollutants. The key word here is fragrance. Because the specific scents of products are considered proprietary, companies are legally not required to disclose over 3,000 chemical ingredients under the one word “fragrance.”

You know when you walk past the cleaner aisle of the grocery store and get hit with a wafting wall of the smell of detergent? That’s just what is coming out of sealed containers – and even that is enough to give me a headache.

This category is the first one you should consider when switching to non-toxic products. We have complete guides on the best alternatives for laundry detergent and air fresheners.

5. Cosmetic Beauty Products

Anything that goes on your skin is absorbed in your skin (in less than 30 seconds!) and thereby into your bloodstream and the rest of your body. The skin is a second mouth; therefore, everything that goes onto your skin should be nearly at the same level of quality that you are willing to eat.

This is especially important for women, who are exposed to a higher level of personal beauty products – not to mention tampons and birth control – from a very young age. Our rates of chronic disease are reflective of this.

This is a large category, so start with the beauty products you use most frequently on a daily basis, things like sunscreen, lotion, and makeup. When replacing your products, I recommend using the Environmental Working Group Healthy Living app to scan them first. This app ranks thousands of products based on their toxicity levels. Choose products that rank at least in the green zone according to their toxicity rating. Begin by replacing the most toxic ones and gradually work your way down the list of your products.

Scan your products like lotion, makeup, body wash, hair care, nail polish and more.

Wrapping It Up

We know that embarking on this journey can feel overwhelming, but living a non-toxic life can be simple. Start small with the above recommendations: clean your air, water, and beauty products, and get rid of extra harmful chemicals, and you will be on the right path!