10 Easy Low-Tox Swaps for Your Home: Where to Start
- Alayne
- 6 hours ago
- 8 min read
TAKING THE FIRST LOW-TOX STEP
Devoting your time to something else when time is so hard to come by leaves you wondering if you even have the time to do it at all. I created this Top 10 Easy Low-Tox Home Swap Guide, which chronicles where I began with low-tox swaps in my home, aiming to make the leap feel less daunting for you.
WILL WIN YOU OVER
Like writing the first sentence of a paper... a blockage or sense of not knowing where to start stalls you from moving forward. I completely relate. I didn't really know what I was getting into. Are these products any good? I don't want to waste money. Is it worth the energy to research everything? Can I trust what I'm reading? Can I trust this post? If you've battled through the uncertainties and have come out on the other side ready to give it a chance, rest assured, every recommendation that follows has found a permanent place in my home. I tried multiple options for each of the 10 swaps. These were the ones that won me over, each hailing from trustworthy brands with excellent customer care. I believe a few, if not all, will win you over too.
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10 Low-Tox Easy Swaps: A Fresh Start for Your Home
Toothpaste Tablets w/ Nano Hydroxyapatite
Fluoride-free, nano hydroxyapatite toothpaste tablets by Canary was my first move to low-tox. Canary has a nice selection of flavors, even flavors for kids. Their tablets come in glass jars or compostable refill pouches. Beyond the fact that their tablets are low-tox, lather really well, and taste delicious, sustainability is a real positive with this amazing brand. The switch to tablets sounds odd, but it remains one of my favorite swaps.
Canary Toothpaste Tablets
Fluoride-free/SLS-free
Enamel strengthening nano hydroxyapatite
No Chemicals/Parabens
No Dyes/Baking Soda
Wintergreen, Peppermint, Coconut Mint, Strawberry + Kiwi, Watermelon, Bubble Gum
Approx. $0.11 per tablet
Plastic-free/Vegan/ Sustainable
Handmade in Utah
Small Business
Wyld25
25% off all orders
or
All-Natural Goat Milk Bar Soap
Before shifting into low-tox, I was using the 'cleaner' soaps from health food shops and vitamin stores. They seemed like a good choice initially, but it became clear that, although these soaps were better than regular bar soaps, they weren't as natural as I believed. Having had success with swapping my toothpaste, it was time to make a move with my bar soap. A few trials in, I landed on one of my most favorite brands, Bend Soap Co. Their bar soaps are low-tox, beautifully crafted with minimal ingredients, and have helped so many people with skin concerns. I use it on my face, and it has never been so baby soft and blemish-free. While shower gel is really popular, this is a product you should considering moving away from if you're looking to reduce your exposure to chemicals. Bar soap sounds old-school, but your skin barrier is a conduit into your body. Low-tox bar soap is a smart step in the swap process.
Bend Soap Co. Goat Milk Soap
Farm-fresh, Vaccine-free Raw Goat Milk
Non-GMO Coconut Oil
Olive Oil & Sustainable Palm Oil
Essential Oils* made w/ high-grade botanicals
* Sensitive skin options are free from essential oils
Full Size 4.5 oz Bars & Travel Size
Variety of scents & seasonal releases
Handcrafted in Tennessee
Small Business
Wyld15
15% 0ff first order
or
Low-Tox Laundry Soap
This is the Goldie Locks story of all my swaps so far. I went through so many brands, so hopeful each time, but had trouble finding the right fit. Some trials gave very little suds, some didn't smell so great, some faded fabrics terribly, some didn't leave me confident that things were clean, most felt industrial and not enjoyable... then I used Bloop. Story over.
Bloop Laundry Soap
Small-batch Laundry Soap
SLS-free/Phosphate-free/1,4-Dioxane-free
Food-grade Polysorbate
Natural-crafted, Phthalate-free Fragrances
Chlorine-free/Color Safe
HE & Standard Machine Compatible
Watershed Safe/Recyclable Cartons
Made in the USA
Small Business
Wyld25
25% off all orders
Clean Burning Coconut Wax Candles
Candles bring so much to the table with creating comforting, relaxing ambience. I was completely unaware of the dangerous toxins they bring along with them if you are not selective about which types of candles you are burning. Paraffin and soy paraffin blends release VOCs (volatile organic compounds) via their wax, fragrances, and wicks. Soy, vegetable, and soy blend waxes may contain traces of pesticides and GMOs if they are not organic or non-GMO. Synthetic fragrances release phthalates (semi-VOCs) and synthetic dyes which are derived from petroleum and coal tar also contribute to VOCs. This swap was a big deal for me. Lighting a candle should fill you with peace and calm, not a whole host of harmful toxins.
Hemlock Park Organic Coconut Wax Candles
Organic Non-GMO Coconut Wax
FSC-Certified Wood Wicks
Paraffin-free/Petroleum-free
No Parabens/Phthalates
No Synthetic Fragrances/Dyes
IFRA Safety Standards
Vegan/Sustainable/Carbon-neutral Deliveries
Nice Selection of Scents
Handcrafted in the Sierras
Small Business
WyldOne
15% off all orders
or
Low-Tox Goat Milk Lotion
Having the simple understanding of 'what goes on my skin gets absorbed into my body', made swapping out my lotion even more simple. If you haven't taken a look at your lotion label, I think you'll be surprised when you do. The market is saturated with moisturizer brands, many of which use an incredible amount of unnecessary chemicals, stabilizers, dyes, and fragrances. Switching out your lotions and moisturizers makes a big impact on lowering your encounters with toxins.
Bend Soap Co. Goat Milk Lotion
Farm Fresh, Vaccine-free Raw Goat Milk
High-grade Botanicals
Non-greasy Formula
No Parabens/Phthalates
No Synthetic Fragrances/Dyes
Non-GMO/Gluten-free/Alcohol-free
8oz bottles w/ dispensing lid or add pump ($1)
Multiple scents & seasonal releases
Handcrafted in Tennessee
Small Business
Wyld15
15% 0ff first order
or
All-Natural Foaming Hand Soap
I am always washing my hands, so this was a swap that needed to be in the top 10 for sure. Similar to lotion, hand soap has direct access to our skin barrier many times a day, every single day. Even though this was a surefire switch that needed to happen, finding a really good low-tox alternative was not easy... especially in the form of a foaming soap. It makes me so happy that I can save you the time and share this one with you.
Bend Soap Co. Goat Milk Foaming Hand Soap
Farm Fresh, Vaccine-free Raw Goat Milk
Organic Vegetable Glycerin
Non-GMO Coconut Oil
Essential Oils (not in Unscented)
No SLS, Parabens, Phthalates, Preservatives
No Synthetic Fragrances/Dyes
No Seed Oils/Non-GMO
Naturally Antibacterial
Eco-friendly Formula/Septic & Greywater Safe
Handcrafted in small batches in TN
Small Business
Wyld15
15% 0ff first order
or
(Currently not selling foaming hand soap on Amazon, but other low-tox offerings are available)
Loose-leaf Organic Tea
#7 is the swap that surprised me the most. I wasn't interested in switching to loose-leaf tea. I had been using teabags, eventually teabags with organic tea, for decades. Turns out, this is another one of my top swaps. There's a real satisfaction in steeping organic tea leaves, herbs, & dried fruits. The flavor options are phenomenal, with each one brewing into a rewarding cup of tea. I purchased a little universal infuser that rests right on the top of my mug. I always thought I would have to steep an entire pot over a long period of time with gear that I didn't have in my kitchen. It takes a cup, an infuser (looks like a small strainer), your favorite loose-leaf tea, boiling water, and a few minutes... oh, and honey if you like things sweeter. I do, and that's why organic loose-leaf tea makes the list. It's a sweet swap that lowers your exposure to microplastics, toxins, and molds found in conventional teabags and teas.
Open Door Tea Organic Loose-Leaf Tea
Organic Handcrafted Teas
* Many (not all) options are organic
* Enter 'organic' in their search bar
Plant Essential Oils & Extracts
No Artificial Flavorings
Single Origin & Proprietary Blends
Wellness, Herbal, & Ayurvedic
Extensive Selection & Seasonal Releases
Naturally Caffeine-free Options
Eco-friendly packaging
Handcrafted in CT
Small Business
Wyld12
12% off all orders
Organic Low-Acid Coffee
So, I drink tea more often than coffee, but the coffee swap was one that I didn't know I needed until I did it. Conventional coffee set off a chain of unfortunate events when I drank it... upset stomach, jitters, racing heart rate, and, worst of all, it seemed to trigger panic attacks. I came to believe it was coffee in general, so I limited myself to 1/2 cup and not often. This was an unnecessary limitation I put on myself as a result of drinking conventional coffee. What I needed was the right brand. I can indulge in a full cup of Fabula Coffee without my heart pounding out of my chest (other than for how much I love it). Without delving into all of the science, the proof is in the pudding that whatever is in conventional coffee is not good for the body.
Fabula Low-Acid Organic Coffee
100% USDA Certified Organic
Top 1% Specialty-grade Arabica Beans
Naturally Low-Acid
Mold-free/Mycotoxin-free
Non-GMO/Vegan
350+ Chemicals Lab-tested
Plastic-free K-cups (Keurig compatible)
Roast-to-Order
Ground & Whole Bean
Flavors & Seasonal Releases
Half-Caff & Decaf
Small-holder Farms
Wyld20
20% of all orders
or
Stainless-Steel Tea & Coffee Gear: Kettle & French Press
Fellow's Raven Stovetop Kettle and Clara French Press are my two favorite kitchen buddies that bring it all together. When you have some really great low-tox tea and coffee to brew, you should have a great way to brew them. I use the Raven Stovetop Kettle to boil water for pouring over my tea (cup and infuser) as well as for brewing my coffee in a Fellow Clara French Press, best coffee I've ever had at home. I prefer a stovetop kettle over an electric kettle. Fellow has both but tends to carry more electric kettle options than stovetop. No matter which Fellow you choose, a stovetop kettle, an electric kettle, and/or a French press, your beverages will not come into contact with plastics or PFOAs which puts the period on low-tox tea and coffee swaps.
Fellow Stainless-Steel Kettles & Clara French Press
PFOA-free/Stainless-Steel
Shatterproof Design
Weighted Counterbalanced Handles: Comfort & Precision
Highly Rated
Stovetop Kettles: Gas & Electric Stove Safe
French Press: Wooden Handle & Lid Pull Option
Brew w/o Plastic K-Cups
Reduce single-use cups by brewing at home
Kettles come in a variety of colors
or
Plastic-free Silicone Kitchen Utensils
A quick and less expensive way to spruce up your kitchen game and go low-tox at the same time is swapping out your kitchen utensils. Cooking over any kind of heat while using plastic to stir your food is not good. This is a self- explanatory swap that doesn't require a whole lot of words here other than to say I tried a bunch of brands from Amazon and some were much better quality than others. These are the top performers to round out our top 10 list!
Staub Silicone & Wood Kitchen Utensils
Spatulas, Spoons, Ladles
Durable BPA-free Silicone
Acacia Wood Handles
High Heat Resistant
Food Safe
Safe on all cookware
Dioycli & Vovoly Silicone Kitchen Utensils
2pcs Rice Paddle Set - Top Pick
BPA-free Durable Silicone Exterior
Heat Resistant/Safe on cookware
Upgrade Silicone Spatula Spoon 3 Pack - Top Pick
BPA-free Food-grade Silicone
Flexible but Stiff/Reinforced Core
Heat Resistant/Dishwasher Safe
I'm hopeful this Top 10 Easy Low-Tox Home Swap Guide inspired you to get started! Happy swapping!