Where Should You Actually Start?

When you begin learning about chemicals in everyday products, it can quickly feel overwhelming. Suddenly you notice exposures everywhere. In skincare, cleaning products, packaging, textiles, air and water. It can easily create the feeling that everything is a problem. And when it starts to feel overwhelming in an already busy life, many people simply ignore it.

But that is not really the point of low-tox living.

Low-tox living is not about eliminating every possible exposure. That would be impossible. It is about becoming more aware of what surrounds us and gradually reducing the unnecessary chemical load our bodies carry. Over time, small decisions matter more than dramatic ones.

One helpful way to begin is to look at where exposure happens most frequently in everyday life.

Many of the products we use daily are applied directly to the skin, used in the kitchen, or released into the indoor environments where we spend most of our time. That makes places like the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room natural starting points.

Lets start in the space we have the most passion for - the bathroom. We have a whole article written on this subject since this is where we think its simple to start, and closest to our bodies. Read the article here.

Moving on to the kitchen, a few simple changes can already make a difference. For example, avoiding plastic utensils and plastic cutting boards when preparing food. Research has shown that plastic cutting boards can release small microplastic particles during normal use, which may end up in the food we eat.

Heat also plays a role. When plastic utensils are used in hot pans, they can release additional particles and additives. Choosing alternatives such as wooden utensils, stainless steel tools and wooden cutting boards is a simple way to reduce that exposure.

It can also be worth paying attention to cookware with non-stick coatings. Some non-stick technologies have historically relied on PFAS-related substances. PFAS are often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they persist in the environment and accumulate over time. Research has linked certain PFAS compounds to hormone disruption, immune system effects and long-term environmental persistence, which is why these chemicals are increasingly restricted and studied worldwide.

Cleaning is another area where many people use far more chemicals than necessary. A close friend of mine runs a professional cleaning company, and she often says that with the right cloths and good technique, clean water can do most of the job. In many cases it is the method that matters more than strong chemicals.

In the kitchen, one simple swap can be choosing ecological dishwasher tablets instead of conventional ones.

The laundry room is another place where small choices add up. Many fabrics do not actually need to smell strongly to be clean. Fabric softeners often contain fragrance and other compounds that remain in the textiles and stay in contact with our skin throughout the day. Using a simpler ecological detergent or modern laundry sheets with minimal packaging can reduce both chemical exposure and environmental impact.

Another helpful approach is simply to replace products as they run out rather than changing everything at once. Over time, this creates a gradual shift in the environment of your home without unnecessary waste.

A low-tox life is not a final destination where everything suddenly becomes pure and controlled. It is a direction where we gradually reduce unnecessary exposure while still living balanced, joyful and real lives.

And over time, it is the small decisions that make the biggest difference.

The goal is not to remove everything but to reduce unnecessary exposure where it actually makes a difference.

Who else here is on their low-tox journey? We’d love to hear from you!

With love,
Christina