More and more people are seeing the importance of making healthier lifestyle choices, these days.
We know how important it is to fuel our bodies with healthy whole foods, hydrate with clean water, get adequate rest, and get our bodies moving each day, but what about getting our homes in shape?
Believe it or not, the state of our home can impact our overall health as well. Think about it!
We spend a whole lot of time indoors during the winter months and with the advent of products that are supposed to help make our lives “easier”, we have been exposed to more toxins within our walls than those generations before us.
As “keepers of the home”, we want to make sure that the environment inside and out are a safe place for our family to live and grow.
If you are new to natural living, try these simple ways to help make the transition “back to basics” a little less daunting.
TRANSITION TO A HEALTHIER, MORE NATURAL HOME WITH THESE SIMPLE TIPS
1. SWITCH UP YOUR CLEANING PRODUCTS
See my 3 Simple Tips for a More Natural Home post here to see how we made the transition to more natural products and save money while doing it.
2. ADD LIVE PLANTS TO YOUR HOME’S DECOR
Grow beneficial air filtering plants indoors (like Areca Palm, Ficus robusta, English Ivy to name a few).
3. DITCH YOUR FABRIC SOFTENER
Dryer sheets to Wool Dryer Balls. Fabric softener dryer sheets use harsh chemicals that are toxic to the environment while Wool Dryer Balls (like those we use), are made from NZ sheep wool and help to lift and separate the clothing so the air flows better and dries your items more efficiently. This not only saves energy and time, but can also save you money in the long run.
4. LET FRESH AIR AND SUNSHINE IN
Open up curtains, blinds, and windows throughout the home in the morning to help naturally freshen up your spaces.
5. COMPOST KITCHEN SCRAPS
Our chickens LOVE our scraps, but if you have chickens, make sure to look on line for items that should not be given to chickens, like avocado pits/skins, green potatoes, chocolate, or citrus. These are known to be toxic to chickens. Be sure to separate any moldy or rotten items and discard.
6. REPURPOSE AND RECYCLE
I love re-purposing or reusing items. Easy on our wallets and useful around the homestead.
7. BUY USED
When purchasing furniture or textiles, consider buying used that have spent some time releasing some of those manufacturer’s chemicals like fire retardants, stain resistant treatments (carpet and furniture), antimicrobial properties, etc. I know this may not truly rid the pieces of the toxins, but if you are not able to buy all brand new items (who is?), it may be able to help limit the exposure. Not to mention save you money too! Can you tell I LOVE saving money? (smile)
8. CHOOSE NON-VOC (VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS) PAINTS
We all know that paint can work miracles on any budget, but next time you purchase paint, be sure to look for non-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint. These days, there are plenty to choose from in a multitude of colors, but make sure they remain non-VOC after the pigment is added. Stay within your budget and remember natural materials and fabric go along way…as well as plain white (non-VOC) walls. Woohoo! Our simple farmhouse style is not only trending, but healthier for us too! Double SCORE for the farmhouse home team! So, run and tell your hubbies! (wink)
Remember, a healthier home is achievable, but just like getting our bodies back on a healthier track, it won’t happen overnight. Slow and steady wins the race and small healthier changes each day will be worth your effort and pay dividends in the future.
Below are some other helpful resources that we have on hand in our own homesteading library. Just click on the image for the link to view or purchase.
NOTE:
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Disclaimer: The health and wellness posts shared here on GracefullyHome.com are not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any illness or disease. The information provided on this blog is for general educational purposes, has not been reviewed nor approved by the FDA and is not intended to take the place of advice from your medical professional, licensed dietician or nutritionist.
You are solely responsible for your health care and activity choices. Use of any of the recommendations or helpful tools and tips on the GracefullyHome.com blog does not constitute a client-coach relationship.
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