The things we can change and the things we can’t. There are some things we can dump from our lives that are toxic. Physical, Emotional, Mental, Spiritual. I’ve wanted to touch on this for a while so I’ve decided to split it up into a few different posts that touch on different aspects of this idea! The first one is relatively easy. Making the choice to clear your house of toxic things is an important one when you are getting ready to bring a tiny person into your space. 

I was having dinner with my two best friends the other night and we were talking about why this is, or isn’t important. On one hand it feels as though this has only really become relevant recently. Didn’t some of our moms use plastic bottles? Didn’t we grow up with plastic toys? It seems hard to believe that we aren’t okay ( for all intensive purposes) because our parents chose the Fisher Price plastic farm for us to spend hours playing with.

I think this is a very personal decision and should not just be looked at from the toxic ingredient perspective but also from a wastefulness perspective. I just finished reading A Kind Mama and although I don’t agree with everything in the book, I did like that Alicia Silverstone pointed out the more things we buy or receive that are new and plastic are only adding to the world’s garbage dump. It’s not like these materials really break down that easily, or at all for that matter. So if you can’t get behind ditching plastic toys ( or bad make up, or clorox kitchen cleaner), try to ask yourself if you can get behind helping the planet and being less wasteful. Doing one tiny thing that might actually make you feel better and hopefully help the world your tiny person will grow up in one day. 

TOXICITY IN THE HOME

For me, I really started to notice how huge of a headache I would get when I was cleaning the bathroom or kitchen using comet or bleach or whatever we had bought to clean. I would leave the space and just feel nauseous. Buying (or making!) a simple natural house hold cleaner can make a huge difference in your own home. I personally haven’t made any but have found two Canadian based all natural cleaning product companies that I’m interested in trying- Sapadilla Soap Co. and iQ. The other products I have used in my home include J.R. Watkins and Seventh Generation. I would like to try Dr. Bronners Magic Soaps because I feel like I see them everywhere ( not that that is a good reason at all) but I’ve always been curious! You can use them (by changing how you dilute it) as body wash, fruit rinse, dish soap, all purpose cleaner…the list goes on. 

It’s important to check which ‘all natural’ cleaners you’re using to make sure they really are ‘all natural’. It’s a real commitment to ensuring everything is 100% toxin free. If you know the good brands, stick to them! Even well known brands such as Method and Mrs.Meyers aren’t 100% safe ( I have read that Mrs.Meyers uses artificial fragrance). It’s up to you to do your research and find what level you’re on! There are a few sites that help you to check this, or just doing a simple google search and reading some reviews will have you up to date pretty quickly. Don’t stress if this feels like it’s too much for you to handle. Try to switch things out slowly here and there and build up to your own level of a green cleaning cabinet for your home! 

The other part of removing the toxins in my house includes pots and pans. I recently ditched my non-stick covered Ikea pots for some stainless steel and cast iron ones. I just couldn’t help feeling like I was putting a huge effort into cleaning out my fridge and cooking well but then sautéing spinach in a pan coated in tiny chemicals! Non-stick surfaces are metal pans coated with a synthetic polymer called polytetrafluoroetheylene (PTFE), also known as Teflon. Toxic fumes from the Teflon chemical released from pots and pans at high temperatures may kill pet birds and cause people to develop flu-like symptoms, sometimes called “Teflon Flu”. 

I would be curious to hear what you’re cleaning with and if you have any suggestions on cleaner options for the house! The one thing I’m definitely not great with still is laundry detergent, which is interesting considering it’s one of the most chemical heavy things in our house and it touches my skin everyday. I am going to try Nellie’s as my next step! It’s made in Canada and they have re-useable dryer balls which I’ve been curious about trying for a while! 

In the next Au Natural post I’ll be talking about make up, shampoo, soaps, creams, deodorants, and toothpaste!