3 simple ways to reduce the nasty chemicals in your home

We’ve all heard the rumour that our homes can be toxic but it’s confusing to know where to start. The enormity of the task can be pretty darn overwhelming can’t it?

So rather than bombard you with lots of big and urgent jobs, that you needed to have done yesterday, I have 3 little suggestions to get you on the road to a safer home today.

I’m a big believer in small steps combining to make a big difference, so I’d love you to start with these three:

1) Stop using plastic wrap to cover your food in the microwave.

This is because toxic chemicals leach out of the plastic wrap as it heats up collecting in the condensation on the under surface. This then drips down into your food to be eaten by you and your family. Instead you can cover your meals with a paper towel or even an upturned ceramic bowl or plate.

2) Take off all shoes at the front door.

This is to stop all the nasties that collect in road dust, such as burnt off fuel, car fume residue and bitumen, from being trodden throughout your home. And, worse still, picked up by little ones who love to crawl and play on the floor.

3) Wash all new clothes before wearing them.

Most garments are covered with toxic dyes, bleach, special treatments and even formaldehyde to stop them gathering mould during transportation and storage. These easily wear off with use, transferring to the skin to be absorbed into the body. Ideally wash and dry new items at least twice before wearing them, three times if they are made from synthetic material. Adding a spoonful of baking soda to the wash helps the process.

There you go, hopefully no brain overload just yet! Stay tuned for my next 3 suggestions coming your way soon.

Do you have a simple way to remove the nasty chemicals at your place? Please share in the comments below.

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29 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 25 Jul 2021
    10:51 am
My shoes always come off at the front door and the slippers go on.

- - mom206279 said
  - 28 Apr 2017
    8:11 am
Grow your own food! You know exactly where its been then.

- - ella12 said
  - 30 Aug 2016
    12:04 pm
I didn’t really consider the shoes one, thanks for that.

- - mom153507 said
  - 30 Apr 2016
    5:59 pm
Thank you so much for the tips!
We have a strict no shoes policy & always wash new clothing but my partner always covers food with plastic wrap so I will be showing him this article!
No more plastic wrap in this house!

- - shelley shelley said
  - 25 Apr 2016
    7:19 pm
Tick tick tick.. I do all these already. I can’t stand it when people leave their dirty shoes on!!

- - mom81879 said
  - 24 Apr 2016
    9:14 am
I’ve found a company called Ha Ra Clean Green. They have cleaning packs for all situations that are non toxic, clean and green. Fantastic products, reasonably priced and clean superbly
- SharonBHall replied
  
  25 Apr 2016 , 3:59 pm
  Thanks for your feedback.
  I’m a big fan of micro cloths for cleaning. When I looked at the Ha.Ra site I couldn’t see any specifics on ingredients for their other products so that always makes me wary. It’s so hard to find good products that really work that are truly chemical free, especially as there isn’t a certification for it.
  I’m glad you have found some products you like and I hope they are a chem-free as they imply.
  – Sharon
- - rachelvk said
  - 21 Apr 2016
    8:48 am
Great tips. I am trying to implement a no shoe policy with little luck but I will keep pesrervering.
- SharonBHall replied
  
  25 Apr 2016 , 4:00 pm
  Good one, best of luck.
  – Sharon
- - mom57665 said
  - 19 Apr 2016
    3:04 am
Great article thank you : )
- SharonBHall replied
  
  25 Apr 2016 , 4:00 pm
  Thanks for your kind words.
  – Sharon
- - mom107723 said
  - 09 Apr 2016
    11:13 am
Great to hear must tell my partner about the gladwrap/paper towel.
- SharonBHall replied
  
  25 Apr 2016 , 4:01 pm
  Good to hear.
  – Sharon
- - cherz said
  - 07 Apr 2016
    6:37 pm
Hate trampling germs through the house from shoes , if only I could get my family to be as strict as me with the no shoes in the house policy.
- SharonBHall replied
  
  25 Apr 2016 , 4:02 pm
  Good luck Cherz. I hope it’s a big success.
  – Sharon
- - rovermum said
  - 06 Apr 2016
    11:03 am
Ooh, I need to work on 2 and 3. I sometimes wash new clothes, but not always. In my mind, I’d hate to ruin some tops before I’ve worn them! And I hate to ask people to take their shoes off when they enter my home. Some do, some offer. If they have no socks on, hmmm. If they do, they might feel uncomfortable, so I’m happy for them to leave their shoes on.
- SharonBHall replied
  
  11 Apr 2016 , 3:01 pm
  Glad you’re doing so well with No 1 – you can always soak the items in cold water overnight with some wool wash and some bicarb. I usually do this as the first wash to be more sustainable and stop any possibility of colours running onto other clothing. I hope that helps!
  – Sharon
- - mom134803 said
  - 06 Apr 2016
    2:58 am
Shoes out at the front door is nice but what happens next is that kids are to lazy to put shoes on when they go outside again….and living at the edge of a reserve you can imagine the effect of that in our house

- - mom112217 said
  - 05 Apr 2016
    10:15 pm
O.K. l always use glad when microwaving so that is going to be hard and l bought new clothes for a trip and normally would wash them but short of time so now l will wash!
- SharonBHall replied
  
  11 Apr 2016 , 3:07 pm
  Great to hear your going to washing them. Have a fabulous holiday.
  – Sharon
- - mom101628 said
  - 05 Apr 2016
    9:09 pm
Those 3 tips I already do – however my house is full of mould. What can I do for this?

- - readingwishes said
  - 05 Apr 2016
    8:12 pm
Three great tips. I try and wash new clothes at least twice, but once for good measure, always. I learnt so much from Alexx @ Low Tox Life – highly recommend her course, life changing!