Healthy Home Tips

We spend over 90% of our time indoors.

When I read this statistic I was shocked! I was sure there was no way, but a majority of us spend most of our time inside. This means we are breathing in and exposed to indoor air more than we are outdoor air. Indoor air quality can be very poor, and there are quite a few different factors to cause this. One place to start learning more about air quality is on the EPA’s website. That’s where I started, and I got more and more curious and so I just kept learning and researching. The more you know, the more empowered you can be to make healthy choices for your home!

Growing up, I had headaches starting at an early age and had horrible acne a majority of my jr. high, high school, and college years. Just a few years ago when I started to take my health seriously, I learned so much about the products I had not only in my home that were affecting my lungs and olfactory system (aka smell), but the ones I was putting on my skin. Our skin is our largest organ and the things we put on our skin are absorbed directly into our bloodstream. 

Now, I am not here to scare you, but I am here to help us all be more aware of how we can take small, gradual steps, to a healthier home. 

Here are four very practical action items you can start implementing today! 

1) Open your windows! 

Opening your windows is a simple way to clean the air in our homes! There are so many toxins floating around in the air in our homes.There are so many different factors that pollute our indoor air, such as synthetic fragrance, mold, dander, gasses, radon, household cleaners, etc. Take full advantage of this beautiful weather coming up and air out your home with that great fresh air! 

2) Ditch the wall plug ins and bath and body works candles

Synthetic fragrance is not regulated by anyone in the US. There have been recent studies that have come out about synthetic fragrances in our homes causing the same damage to lungs as smoking cigarettes. YIKES! The well marketed wall plugs and candles can actually cause more harm to your lungs that are not worth the “good smelling” home. Synthetic fragrance is also a main cause in headaches and migraines. There are lots of alternatives to keep your home smelling fresh that will go easy on your lungs and alleviate the headaches. If you do like to burn candles, I suggest this company! - Fontana Candle Company. Their instagram page is linked here! Diffusing quality essential oils is another way to freshen up your home. There are also lots of indoor plants that will help purify your air and reduce the amount of carbon monoxide in your home. Air purifiers (although an investment) will make a massive difference in the overall air quality of your home and keep the air fresh so you won’t even need those fragrances! 

3) Make the switch to natural cleaning products

Lots of common household cleaning products contain chemicals that are very damaging to our lungs. Exposure to these chemicals can cause irreversible damage. When I learned this, I stopped using the toxic cleaners I had in my own home. I switched to using doTERRA’s cleaning concentrate. I use it for everything from cleaning my counters and floors to cleaning the toilets! I noticed right away that I didn’t have a burning nose and headache after cleaning my bathroom! Branch Basics is another great alternative to the harsh chemicals in other products. These swaps actually saved me money as well. The concentrate cleaner is $14.50 and it will last me about 6 months!

4) Download the "Think Dirty" App 

This app is so fun to me! You can look up your household products like shampoo, makeup, sunscreen, hand soap, lotion, laundry detergent, perfumes, etc. and it gives them a rating based on the ingredients in the product. I have done this with just about everything I own, and it has helped me make healthy alternative swaps. You can look up products at the store and learn more about certain ingredients and their properties - good and not so good. This free app has been very informational and eye opening for me! 

These changes didn’t happen overnight, but over the last 5 years I have continued to learn and make swaps in my home! I have noticed such a huge improvement in my health, focus, brain fog, hormonal acne, and headaches. I am by no means perfect, but I have seen a drastic increase in the quality of my health and home. I hope this encourages you to dig a little deeper into what is in your home as well! 

Here's to a Healthier Home!