Bleach. Detergent. General cleaning products. We expect these household items to have toxins and know what to look for. But oat milk? Tea? Whoa, whoa, whoa. We weren’t ready for these. Curious about what other everyday items are introducing toxins into your home? Read on to find out where they might be lurking, and how to swap them out to keep your household as green as possible. As Realtors on the Olive Well team at Compass we are always trying to live our motto, "where all live well." We hope this can help you live your best life in your home. Enjoy!
Dryer Sheets Do we love a fresh-smelling load of laundry as much as the next person? Yes. Do we love the household toxins that come along with dryer sheets? Not so much. Dryer sheets are laced with chemicals that can impact the user with headaches, central nervous system disorders and more. Even scarier? The fragrance used is a known carcinogen. Wool dryer balls are a natural substitution and can be used for years before needing
to be replaced, these are our favorite.
Antiperspirants Up until now, we thought the biggest debate when choosing our antiperspirant was choosing between unscented and fresh scent. Turns out we were wrong! Instead, we should have been focused on the aluminum in many antiperspirants that has been linked to allergic reactions and potentially linked to breast cancer. We prefer to ditch the toxins, and look for natural deodorants instead. Our favorite natural deodorant for women is Crystal and Native for men.
Oat Milk It pains us to write this, because once upon a time we would have written a love letter to oat milk. You know, if it wasn’t weird to do. But alas, we’ve consciously uncoupled with processed oat milk, and here’s why: it contains canola oil aka trans-fats. That will be a hard pass for us as canola oil can be inflammatory. If you’re not ready to block and delete oat milk from your life, try making it at home. Choose high-quality oats with no additives, and clean sweeteners. If that seems a bit too complicated then you can try our go to Oat Milk, Elmhurst 1925 Milked Oats. You won't be disappointed.
Tea Tea is usually associated with calm and relaxation. But we were anything but calm when we found out many teas contain pesticides! If pesticides are used when the tea leaves are grown, and not
washed off, those pesticides stay on the tea leaves and go right from the field to your cup. Pesticides have short-term and chronic effects on our health, ranging from dermatological to neurological. If tea’s a non-negotiable, do your research before you brew: buy organic, GMO-free tea from companies that disclose their harvesting and processing practices to make sure they are pesticide-free prior to consumption. Our favorite tea brand is Rishi, USDA organic, GMO free but packed with flavor in a cute little sachet.
Plastic Containers You’re probably familiar with BPA and know that it’s no good for anyone, but do you know why? BPA, or bisphenol-A as it's known amongst friends, is a toxin often found in plastic containers,
and can leach into food stored in the container. Once consumed, BPA transfers, and has been linked to immune deficiencies and hormone regulation. That’s a no from us. Swap out the plastic for glass or stainless steel containers that keep your food just as fresh and toxin-free. Bonus point: plastic alternatives are much better for the environment. We use these containers from Amazon, the look good and we feel good
knowing they do not contain any yucky toxins.
It’s sometimes overwhelming to learn about the number of toxins in our homes as we all strive to make our home a place of safety and sanctuary. Be your own biggest advocate when it comes to integrating clean products into your home; make sure to read labels, look into processing practices, and trust that there are safe alternatives for your needs.