5 Simple Tips: How to Start Your Low-Tox Journey

So you want to go low-tox!

You want to cut toxic chemicals, artificial substances, and single-use items from your home and lifestyle.

Great!

…but how do you start?

Take it from me, attempting to overhaul your entire life in one weekend is a recipe for overwhelm (and an easy way to quit before you’re even close).

I put together a list of 5 Simple Tips you can start today to help launch your journey into a low-tox, low-waste lifestyle that is healthy for you and your family and eco-friendly to boot.

Tip #1: Make a list of all the chemicals, single-use items, and products you want to swap for low-tox options.

I started my journey right here. I looked through my whole house and started a running list of all the things that were potentially harmful to the health of my home space.

I listed things like plastic laundry pods, harsh cleaning sprays, wax warmers with synthetic fragrances, plastic-wrapped toilet paper, and single-use plastic bags.

I also made a list of the things we usually throw away, like dryer sheets, paper towels, food packaging, food scraps, etc.

I put all of this info into a Google Sheet and wrote notes about each item. This gave me a straight-forward look at where our home was at currently on the “High-Tox, Low-Tox” spectrum.

Tip #2: Identify the BIGGEST issues.

Once I had my list (which I continue to add to as I become more and more low-tox overall), I thought long and hard about which items were causing the most issues right now.

I identified that by using plastic pod laundry detergent and dishwasher detergent, we were likely adding micro plastics to our bodies, which could be causing issues long-term.

I also noticed that we used an awful lot of single-use plastic bags, whether that was from freezing meat, containing partially-used refrigerator items, or shopping with plastic bags.

I then started to research alternatives for those big areas. I didn’t make changes immediately. I just looked into my options for swapping those out.

Tip #3: Create a realistic timeline for making big swaps.

While I knew the plastic laundry pods and dishwasher detergent pods had to go, I also refused to send them all to the landfill without using them up. I already purchased them, and throwing them out wouldn’t help the environment any more than it would help my bank account balance.

Instead, I told my husband I didn’t want to purchase any more laundry or detergent pods or single-use plastic bags. When we started to run low, I made the switch to a plastic-free, refillable, and sustainable brand for laundry detergent and dishwasher detergent (I decided on Blueland for both). The same went for the single-use plastic bags: we used up what we had already purchased, and then we bought food-grade, washable, and reusable silicone plastic bags to use for food storage.

I also went through my list from Tip 1 and thought about how soon I could make swaps to more sustainable, low-tox options. For example, I boxed up all of my wax warmers and synthetic wax melts and purchased air purifying pods from Azuna to keep my home smelling fresh. I love their Apple Pie scent.

I also purchased organic essential oils from Revive Essential Oils and a diffuser. I often use the diffuser when I need a little boost of fresh fragrance (my go to is Lemon Essential Oil) or calming fragrance (Lavender is the best for othis) in one room or another. I also use essential oils for cleaning (Lemon Essential Oil is an amazing alternative to Gu-Gone and a great boost for cleaning sprays) and in my DIY body care items (like my Pregnancy Body Butter with Frankincense and Lavender).

Both were easy, cost-effective swaps I could make right away without wasting a bunch of previously purchased items or putting a dent in my bank account.

Tip #4: Save links to all the swaps you want to make in the future and inform everyone who does ordering in your household how you want to change your go-to products.

I have a big folder in my bookmarks called “To Buy” with all the links to future brands and products I want to buy from as I run out of one thing or another. These links include things like bamboo toilet paper so we can swap out the plastic-packaged, tree-killing TP we currently use for a more eco-friendly, and hopefully bum-friendly :), alternative. I also have links to things I want to buy for my garden that doubles as a way to help me keep my waste production low, like a counter-top compost bin for food scraps.

Since my husband does a lot of the ordering for our home-care items, I gave him a list of all the things I wanted to swap out when we start to run low, so instead of ordering more of the same items, he tells me when he notices we’ll need something and then I can go into my folder and set up auto-ship on the product from the low-tox brand.

Tip #5: Allow the process to take the time it needs.

I totally understand the desire to get it all swapped out RIGHT NOW. When I hit my second trimester in my first pregnancy, I went into hard-core, what I call “natural-nesting” mode: I had the overwhelming desire to make everything homemade, get rid of all chemicals and microplastics, and turn my backyard into a huge garden. But doing anything of those things immediately would have overwhelmed me…not to mention how it would have overwhelmed the heck outta my poor husband!

By slowing my roll down, making a list of all the ways I wanted to change our products and adjust our space, and doing the research to figure out what swaps I actually wanted to make and when, I was able to create a detailed plan for going 80-90% Toxin Free for our home without completely spiraling out of control.

I have what is realistically a 5-year transition plan from my old lifestyle of not paying attention to toxins or waste to creating an 80-90% toxin free and low-waste lifestyle. This extended timeline allows me to take my time to make sure I’m making smart swaps when it makes sense for me and my family.

Bonus Tip #6: Share your journey with friends and family.

While each household’s journey to low-tox living can be unique, talking about swaps I wanted to make with my friends and family is how I came across some of my absolute favorite low-tox/low-waste brands and products. My sister told me about Blueland, which is now my go-to laundry and dishwasher detergent. My mom told me about Revive Essential Oils. And, since the internet is always listening, talking about low-waste toilet paper options gave me ads for “Who Gives a Crap” bamboo toilet paper.

You might be surprised how many people in your life have thought about making similar swaps to help keep their homes and families healthy and happy. Working together to discuss which products and brands others trust or which ones aren’t worthwhile can help make your journey to low-tox living easier. It’s like reddit, but more personal. :)

Do you have a go-to product or brand that helps you live a low-tox lifestyle? Share it in the comments!

Using these 5 (plus the bonus #6) tips, you can start your low-tox journey without feeling overwhelmed or out of control. What’s the first swap you’re going to make? Share your journey in the comments! And be sure to join the Home Made by Mama Newsletter to get more tips like these in your inbox weekly.