• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • family
    • kids
    • motherhood
    • recipes
  • homeschool
  • DIY
  • lifestyle
    • Style
    • Travel
    • Gift Guides
    • Parties
  • Subscribe
  • About Me
    • Collaborate
    • Disclaimer & Privacy Policy
  • Nav Widget Area (Left)

My Simple Wild

a motherhood & simple living blog

December 27, 2017 / lifestyle

The Best Ways to Detoxify Your Living Space

The Best Ways to Detoxify Your Living Space

Guest post written By Lana Hawkins. Lana is an architecture student from Sydney an the editor-in-chief of Smooth Decorator

What is more polluted, outdoor air or indoor air? Most people would say outdoor air without any hesitation, but the truth is a bit different. Some research shows that indoor air is actually much more polluted because of all the fragrances, cleaning products, VOCs from paint, furniture and carpets, tobacco smoke, dust, cooking and heating gasses, office electronics and much more which cause your indoor space to become toxic. So, how can you detox your home and ensure it’s a healthy space for you and your family? Here are some of the best ways.

detoxify your living space

Use natural fibers and non-toxic paint

It’s a little-known fact that your furniture, carpets and curtains made of synthetic materials contain many toxic chemicals that are health hazards, especially when closed off in a small space such as your home. So, try to replace your artificial fabrics with natural fibers that will not off-gas in your home. Also, traditional paint contains VOCs that get released into your indoor air over time (especially right after painting) and can cause different health issues. However, there are low-VOC or zero-VOC paints available on the market that will make your indoor air much cleaner.

Make your own cleaners

Store-bought cleaners contain a lot of chemicals that are good for removing dirt, but bad for our health. Luckily, some everyday household items like baking soda, vinegar and lemon can serve as much more natural cleaners, and they do a very good job of making your home sparkle. You can switch your anti-bacterial products for some essential oils, like tea tree, lime and cinnamon. These will kill the bacteria, but not pollute your air with formaldehyde and other nasty chemicals.

 

detoxify your living space

 

Keep an optimal indoor temperature

Your heater may not be making your home toxic, but it’s definitely robbing your space of precious oxygen you need to function. Oxygen helps you sleep, focus and generally feel better. So, if you own a radiant heater, make sure to have proper ventilation. It’s better to wear a sweater or an extra blanket than to overheat your space.

Wash linen regularly

Coming home to a dirty sofa throw or bed linen will definitely reduce the comfort levels in your living space. So, make sure to wash your linen weekly, especially those fabrics that come into direct contact with your skin.

detoxify your living space

 

Remove office equipment

Even though it’s hard not to bring your work home, it’s best to keep your office equipment in a separate room away from your living space and your bedroom. Research shows that some electronics such as laser printers emit particles that can be harmful to your health.

Get rid of air fresheners and artificial candles

Most of us want our homes to smell and feel fresh, so we use air fresheners and fragranced candles, but usually, these are the exact source of indoor pollution. So, ditch the air fresheners and candles full of phthalates and petroleum, and opt for more natural options such as soy wax candles and just use baking soda to absorb unwanted smells.

detoxify your living space

 

Regulate indoor air quality

The best way to air out your living space is to open a window (especially if you’re not located next to a high-traffic road). Fresh outside air will quickly replace the stale indoor one and rid it of many gasses that collect over time. Another great way to regulate your indoor air quality is to introduce a few potted plants into your home. They will release oxygen, filter some of the harmful chemicals and make your space look more attractive. However, the best way to ensure a good quality of air in your home is to get an air purifier, especially if you or your loved ones suffer from allergies. You can check out reviews of the best air purifier for allergies and get the one that best fits your household’s needs and your allergy type.

Vacuum regularly

Carpets and floors harbour many contaminants such as dust, dust mites, pollen and others, so make sure you vacuum it regularly. The best way to get rid of these particles is to get a good HEPA vacuum or just get your carpets deep-cleaned. Additionally, leave your outdoor shoes at the door to avoid bringing dirt particles into your home.

All of these tips and tricks might seem overwhelming, but if you just make a few simple changes to your habits and get your whole household to help, you’ll have a perfectly clean, fresh and toxin-free home.

 

Thank you for stopping by!

Have a beautiful day !

New Momma Survival

Next Post
Previous Post

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. Nadene says

    December 31, 2017 at 12:53 am

    I love these tips. Pleasant and more organised living is something I aim for in 2018

    Reply
  2. This Joyful Life says

    December 31, 2017 at 2:37 am

    Great post! Do you have any recipes for natural cleaners? I would love to know some!

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      December 31, 2017 at 2:41 pm

      I do! I love using thieves essential oil to clean. I’ll add a few drops to my steam cleaner to clean the floors and mixing it with vinegar in a spray bottle for my kitchen counters. I use a few drops of it in the bottom of my garbage can to help with odors and a couple drops of lemon essential oil in my garbage disposal. I’ll write a post soon with all my recipes 😁

      Reply
  3. modernwifelife31 says

    December 31, 2017 at 3:59 am

    Wonderful tips! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  4. kezemi says

    January 1, 2018 at 7:06 pm

    I love all these tips! You have a beautiful home

    Reply
  5. Amber Starr says

    January 2, 2018 at 1:35 pm

    Great tips! I’ve made a big switch this past year to more natural cleaners and no longer use air fresheners or candles that aren’t soy. I plan on adding some more purifying plants to our home too!

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Welcome! I’m Natalie. I am a western mountain mama who just recently relocated to the coast! Here I share all things motherhood, homemaking, homeschooling, and slow living. I hope you follow along as we share this next chapter of our lives. I am so glad you are here! Grab a cup of coffee and stay awhile

Follow My Simple Wild

Categories

Join the Tribe

Popular in Lifestyle

Reclaiming Your Home, Where Kids Have Taken Over

Popular in Travel

travel toiletries checklist

Travel Toiletries Checklist + What’s In My Carry On

Popular in Food & Drinks

Ma’s Banana Bread + chia seeds

Archives

Follow Along @mymountainwild

Yesterday we visited @seaquestlynchburg and had su Yesterday we visited @seaquestlynchburg and had such an amazing time ! The highlights were the stingrays showing off and squirting water at us, and the birds eating out of Liam's hand. For Theodore, it was all just fascinating. Every animal got an "ooo" and "awww" and wide eyes and a pudgy little finger pointing at it or a little hand excitedly waving high. 
Then we spent some time at the little toddler play area in the mall where Theo hugged every kid there and had the biggest smile on his face the whole time. 
I would say this week's homeschool field trip was a success!
Next week we're checking out our local library, and the week after that, the children's museum.
It's always so fun to explore a new area. ☺️ 

#howwehomeschool #fortheloveofhomeschooling #homeschooling #homeschoolfieldtrip #unschooling #homeeducation #seaquest #fieldtrip #fieldtripfun
I don't always get a few quiet moments to myself, I don't always get a few quiet moments to myself, but when I do, I make the most of it !
I put on a homemaker or homesteading podcast, light a candle, sip hot tea... 
It gives me time to slow down and take deep breaths, and relax a bit. (And I'll be honest, this time often also has a good snack involved or some dark chocolate I hid on the top shelf of the pantry 😆) 

I spent some time yesterday during nap time restocking some herbs in my new apothecary cabinet. I filled jars of nettle, peppermint, red raspberry leaf, and rosemary. These dark amber jars are on Amazon and pretty perfect for storing herbs ! 
I'm dreaming of what herbs I'll be drying from my garden to add to these shelves 🤩

I'm curious- if you use herbs in your home, what are your top 3 most used ?
S'mores, burning brush, snuggling up with a blanke S'mores, burning brush, snuggling up with a blanket, and admiring our new house on the hill. 

We've been busy setting up our new home, finding places for everything, and thrifting some furniture. Theo is already use to the new house and his new room. He loves the playroom in the basement and having a real bath tub! 
Liam had his first playdate on Friday, and we're planning out his lego table this week. Nate has been busy fixing things around the house and helping me hang art and things all over. 
 It feels good to be finding a new rythm again. To have a regular bath night, and cooking big meals we eat around the table my grandpa built. We're dreaming of the garden this Spring, what fencing we can put up for animals, what color to paint the house... 
and it just feels so so good to be in our own home again where we can do what we want and plan and dream for the future.
We got this gorgeous 1964 Thomasville china hutch We got this gorgeous 1964 Thomasville china hutch for $100 off FB marketplace! 🤩 It took 2 trips an hour away to bring this big gal home. 
This is by far my most favorite piece of furniture I've ever owned. My original plan for this piece was to hold and display all my china, tea cups, and table linens. 
But I also needed storage for all my herbs, herbal books, tinctures, salves, etc. I added a few jars of herbs and knew this needed to be a moody apothecary cabinet stat! 
I threw a bunch of other decor and little things I love in there. I'm sure I'll rearrange it a dozen times before I love it. My goal is for two whole shelves to be filled with dried herbs from our garden by Fall. 🤍
I've got candles in a drawer, tablecloths in another, and the top drawer is random things, supplies and tinctures. The right cupboard is holding all my vases & jars,  and the left cupboard is holding all my herbal and homesteading magazines.
 
What is the best FB marketplace find you've scored ?? 
I think this is my favorite!
I stopped by a children's resale store today after I stopped by a children's resale store today after Theo & I finally got in to see a chiropractor. 
Best $18 I've spent, my goodness. He's been going down over and over, giggling and being silly and saying "ooo". When we go to a park, it's hard to get this kid away from the slide, so I would say sliding is one of his hobbies 😆 
I just never want to forget this age. I can barely remember Liam when he was around this age - 17 months old is crazy and exhausting, but so so fun! 
He wants to do what we are doing- putting on his shoes, brushing his teeth, combing his hair... he already wants to be a "big boy" and do things himself, but he still loves his mama sooo much and wants to snuggle all day long. 🤍

Copyright © 2023 · My Simple Wild · Designed by Bella Creative Studio