Detoxing Challenge - April Swaps

Wow! I can't believe we have already finished April. Where did it go? Even though the month seemed to fly by I made A LOT of swaps. Some were easy, some were expensive, and some are things you probably never thought of.

Toilet Paper - When I found out about the horrible toxins in our toilet paper, I immediately switched to a bamboo, nontoxic, non-bleached brand. However, the brand I first chose was more than I wanted to pay, so I continued to research and found Amazon Aware. It is 100% bamboo and chemical-free. A 12-pack will cost you about $17, and a 24-pack will cost you about $30. You can easily set up a schedule for it to be sent based on your family's needs.

Paper Towels - After learning how bad toilet paper was I did some research on paper towels. Most contain the same chemicals as toilet paper and are terrible for the environment. I use A LOT of paper towels in the kitchen so I knew it would be expensive to switch over to bamboo. So I did a little more digging and found Papaya, a company who makes reusable paper towels. They are a win! Cute designs, super absorbent, and easy to rinse of and reuse. When they get dirty you just pop them in the dishwasher or washing machine. A set of 2 and a hook will only cost you $18!

There are times when I still want to use paper towels so I also bought bamboo paper towels through Amazon Aware for those times. A package of 6 will cost you about $20.

Everyday Cleaning Solution - In the past, I have just used Clorox or Lysol wipes for an everyday solution, but once I heard how toxic these wipes are, I knew I needed to find a safe alternative. After switching my laundry and dishwasher pods to Blueland, I decided to give their everyday cleaning solution a try. It is a simple tab that you drop in water, and it dissolves into a safe cleaning solution. They have a starter pack that offers a glass spray bottle and tablets. The solution smells like fresh lemons and works as well as any other multi-surface cleaner I have used. The starter pack will cost you about $13, but you will only need to purchase the tablets after, which are about $4 for 2.

Hand Soap - This month I FINALLY ran out of my BBW hand soap stock! I decided to give Blueland a shot with their hand soaps too. Yuka rates these soaps as excellent. The soaps follow the same concept as the cleaning solution. Their starter pack gives you a refillable glass soap dispenser and tablets that dissolve in water to make a great foamy soap. There are several different scent options, and all of them smell amazing. The starter set will cost you about $8, and refill tablets are about $12 for a pack of 5.

Deodorant - This month I ran out of my Hello deodorant and decided to try a different nontoxic option. I opted to try Curie. Yuka rates this product as excellent, so I wanted to give it a try. This deodorant absolutely works! I got the coconut nectar; it smells so nice and lasts all day. You can order a two-pack from Amazon for about $25.

Baby Oil - I have always loved using baby oil in the shower as a final step, but when I finished my bottle this month, I was shocked to see how poorly it was rated and all the terrible ingredients. So after a little research, I decided to try jojoba oil. I have learned that cold-pressed oils are the best, and I found a cold-pressed jojoba by Cliganic. It doesn't have a smell, which I miss from the baby oil, but it works just as well, and it has ingredients that are good for me. It was also rated excellent by Yuka. You can find a bottle on Amazon for about $20.

Compression Socks - Due to my gene mutation and medications, it is important that I wear compression socks when I will be on my feet for a long period of time or on a long flight. This month it was time to replace my socks because my only two pairs left both got holes! I found a great deal on Amazon for a pack of 3 bamboo compression socks for $17. They are very comfortable and certified by OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100. This is a voluntary certification and means that the products are made without harmful substances.

These thoughtful switches throughout April demonstrate again that making healthier, more sustainable choices doesn't have to be overwhelming; rather, it's a gradual and rewarding process of discovering safer, equally effective alternatives for a better home and personal well-being.