If you read my story on how I got started my low-toxic journey, you know I wanted to burn my house down and start all over. I was overwhelmed and thought if I didn’t start making changes quickly, I was going to die. A bit dramatic, I’ll admit, but the sentiment stood. I wanted to clean out the cupboards that night and buy all new cleaning products, cosmetics, and anything else I deemed as toxic.
I had to remind myself that change doesn’t happen overnight, especially with something like this. It’s a journey that is constantly changing for the better. Now that I’ve been doing this for a few years, there’s some things I’ve learned along the way. Transitioning to a low-toxic lifestyle can have numerous benefits for both your health and the environment. Here are 5 things to know to help you get started:
Tip #1 - Know the common toxic ingredients
When you research toxins found in everyday products, it’s a long list. Ingredients to avoid in personal hygiene are different than the ones you want to avoid in cleaning products. It makes my brain hurt trying to remember every ingredient. I’m constantly doing research on different low-toxic products because something is always a little cleaner than the last.
As you’re just starting out, I recommend avoiding parabens, fragrance, phthalates, anything with a number, anything containing “eth”, talc, and formaldehyde. Those cover the most common toxins found in your everyday products.
Tip #2 - Consider the cost
Of course, trying to be healthy is expensive and some low-toxic products are more expensive than others. The upside is that low-toxic products tend to last longer and have multiple uses.
If you are on a budget but still want to make changes, I recommend looking at DIY recipes for household cleaners, laundry soap, and air fresheners. I started with DIY until I was ready to purchase items. I’ve tried a couple of brands so far and will be giving my opinion in a future post.
"Being healthy is expensive. Being sick is expensive. Choose your expensive."
Tip #3 - Make gradual changes
Unless you have the money to buy all brand-new products at one time, I recommend making small changes when and where you can. Start by replacing one toxic product at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Prioritizing products by how often you use them is helpful, too.
Tip #4 - Avoid well-known brands
In my opinion, I feel that well-known brands are just greenwashing their products. Greenwashing is basically saying it’s “all-natural” or “plant-based”, but it still contains harmful ingredients like fragrance.
If you feel comfortable using those brands, then go right on ahead. It’s just my opinion for if you’re wanting to use actual low-toxic products.
Tip #5 - Give yourself an adjustment period
Your health will improve drastically when you start using low-toxic products. It took a few weeks to really notice a difference, but I felt it first in my breathing. I wasn’t so congested when I woke up in the morning. Give yourself time to adjust to the changes before you throw in the towel. I promise the changes you make and the money you spend are worth the health benefits.
Last minute advice
Transitioning to a low-toxic lifestyle is a positive step towards improving your health. Remember, the journey to low-toxic living is a process, so be patient with yourself because change doesn’t happen overnight. Knowing your making changes to improve your health make the effort worthwhile.
Good luck!
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