Beginner’s Guide to Detoxing Your Home: A Step-by-Step Approach
Detoxing your home doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By taking small, manageable steps, you can create a healthier living space for yourself and your family. Let’s get started.
Do you remember growing up as a kid watching all of the iconic cleaning commercials on TV for Pine Sol, Swiffer Clean, Glade Plug-in & Febreeze? Every commercial painted this picture of one small action that made your home magically clean and made you feel refreshed. We associated scents & brands with the ultimate definition of “clean.” Unfortunately, those synthetic fragrances are doing quite the opposite and are actually damaging our health and hormones.
But don’t be too hard on yourself—it’s easy to be misled. The products you use are likely a result of habit, passed down from your parents, or the influence of a clever social media campaign.
Sadly, most products on the shelves today are filled with a lot of different toxins that are not conducive to our health & well-being. If they are so toxic, how do they end up on the shelves? Money & a lack of regulation.
As we dive into this week, my goal is to help guide you on how to create a holistic home that allows you to relax, unwind & be conducive for rest & healing.
Detoxing your home doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By taking small, manageable steps, you can create a healthier living space for yourself and your family. Let’s get started.
Why Detox Your Home?
I always say, “Health is wealth”. Every day, we’re exposed to a variety of pollutants & chemicals in the world, which can contribute to hormone disruption, allergies, respiratory issues & other health concerns. While we can’t control the world, we can control what we put in our bodies & in our homes. Detoxing your home helps to give you control over your health
How To Detox Your Home
Step 1: Start with the Air
Clean air is essential for health. Poor air quality can trigger respiratory issues, brain fog, fatigue, and hormonal imbalances. Did you know that the air in your home can be 2-5x more toxic than outdoor air? (EPA source). Here’s how to freshen it up:
Open Windows Daily – 10-15 minutes of fresh air circulation can improve indoor air quality.
Use Air-Purifying Plants – Incorporate snake plants, spider plants, peace lilies & aloe vera to help filter toxins.
Invest in an Air Purifier – A good-quality air purifier can help remove pollutants, especially if you live in a city or suffer from allergies. I use the GERM Guardian HEPA Filter with UC-V light (link here).
Eliminate Synthetic Fragrances – Throw away the air fresheners, toxic candles, and plug-ins and replace them with essential oil diffusers + organic essential oils.
Make sure candles are made with beeswax, coconut or soy. Link here to Salt & Stone Candle.
Step 2: Ditch Toxic Cleaning Products
Many store-bought cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that can irritate the skin and lungs. Switch to safer alternatives:
DIY Cleaning Solutions – This is the cleanest & most affordable solution, but I honestly have not made my own yet. You can simply mix vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils and put them in a spray bottle to create natural cleaners.
Use Non-Toxic Brands – Look for eco-friendly, fragrance-free, and biodegradable cleaning products. A few of my favorites include: Ecos, Branch Basics,
Skip Antibacterial Soaps – While they may seem like a good way to eliminate germs, they strip away both good and bad bacteria, disrupting your skin's natural microbiome and often containing triclosan, which can contribute to antibiotic resistance and hormone disruption. Instead, try ecos refillable hand soap.
Step 3: Upgrade Your Kitchen
If you missed last week's article, make sure to check it out here for a full deep dive on the Kitchen. At a glance, here are a few quick ways you can detox your kitchen:
Replace Plastic Containers – Use glass, stainless steel, or silicone storage containers instead of plastic.
Filter Your Water – A high-quality water filter can remove contaminants like chlorine, lead, and other toxins. I recommend a reverse osmosis water filtration on your home.
Choose Non-Toxic Cookware – Ditch non-stick pans with Teflon and switch to stainless steel or cast iron.
Switching to Reusable Bags – Use cloth or mesh bags instead of plastic ones.
Avoiding Plastic Water Bottles – Opt for a reusable stainless steel or glass bottle.
Replacing Plastic Wrap – Beeswax wraps or silicone lids are great alternatives.
Step 4: Reevaluate Your Personal Care Products
With so many options on the market, choosing personal care products can feel overwhelming. I usually rely on the Sephora Clean Label to ensure I’m selecting clean skincare and makeup. Whether shopping online or in-store, the best practice is to check labels and research ingredients before purchasing. Ingredients to look out for include:
Parabens & Phthalates – These chemicals can interfere with hormones.
Fragrance – A catch-all term that may include hundreds of undisclosed chemicals.
Sulfates – Commonly found in shampoos and soaps, they can strip the skin and hair of natural oils.
Better Alternatives: Opt for clean beauty brands or simple DIY swaps, like coconut oil as a moisturizer or beef tallow for hydration.
Step 5: Rethink Your Laundry Routine
The laundry aisle in the grocery store is my worst nightmare—it's one of the most toxic sections you can walk through. Laundry detergents and fabric softeners are often packed with synthetic fragrances and harmful chemicals that can disrupt hormones and affect your respiratory system.
The detergent you choose is one of the most important decisions you can make. Your clothes, bedding, and towels all come into contact with your skin—the body’s largest organ, which absorbs whatever it touches, from laundry products to skincare. Here are some ways you can have even cleaner laundry:
Use Non-Toxic Detergents – Opt for plant-based, fragrance-free options.
Ditch Dryer Sheets – Switch to wool dryer balls for a chemical-free alternative.
Wash New Clothes Before Wearing – This removes residues from manufacturing that may contain harmful chemicals.
Step 6: Detox Your Bedroom
On average, you will spend 6-8 hours sleeping in your bed every night. It’s important to create a safe haven for your body to rest & recharge.
Switch to Organic Bedding – Conventional bedding often contains pesticides and synthetic chemicals. Look for organic cotton, bamboo, or linen sheets are healthier choices. This includes sheets, pillows, bedding & blankets. Organic cotton sheets & Organic cotton throw blanket.
Invest in a Non-Toxic Mattress – Many traditional mattresses off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can lead to respiratory issues & hormone disruption. Look for mattresses made with natural latex, organic cotton, or wool. Check for GOTS or GOLS certification.
Use an Air Purifier – See first section on HEPA Filter! Here is the air purifier I have.
Ditch Synthetic Fragrances – Avoid air fresheners and scented candles, and opt for natural alternatives like lavender essential oil for relaxation.
Reduce EMFs – Keep electronics like phones and Wi-Fi routers away from your bed to promote better sleep quality. If it’s in your room, simply turn off the wifi at night or put devices on airplane mode.
Swap out the LED light bulbs - Use warm white or amber bulbs instead of bright white/blue light.
Step 7: Minimize Electronic Pollution
Our homes are filled with electronic devices that emit electromagnetic fields (EMFs), which some believe can impact health.
Unplug Devices When Not in Use – Lowers EMF exposure and saves energy.
Use Blue Light Filters – Helps reduce eye strain from screens.
Keep Electronics Out of the Bedroom – Promotes better sleep and minimizes EMF exposure.
Turn Off Bluetooth on Wearables & Digital Clocks – Disabling Bluetooth on devices like the Oura Ring and switching to non-digital alarm clocks can further reduce exposure.
Final Thoughts
Reminder: Detoxing your home doesn’t mean you have to throw everything away and start from scratch. By making gradual changes and replacing products as they run out, you’ll create a healthier home over time. There are still things on this list I haven’t tackled yet (like lightbulbs and my mattress), but every small step makes a difference. Before you know it, your home will be perfectly aligned with your holistic hottie vibe.
Join me this week on Instagram @marybethlifestyle as I share my favorite products and tips!