When it comes to figuring out how to keep potentially toxic substances out of your home, Jennifer Higgs says it can be as simple as following your nose.
Instead, she relies on products like tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, and concentrated lemon juice for their disinfectant properties on various surfaces. Hot water and vinegar can also work for spot cleaning, and she scrubs with baking soda when some abrasive action is required. While Higgs has some tried-tested-and-true cleaning recipes that she mixes up, she also likes using Dr. Bronner’s soap for some cleaning tasks.
Art supplies and toys are non-toxic whenever possible, except for some outdoor play items. Vaporizers/air purifiers help clean dust and allergens from the air, while plants also help with air quality. Peace lilies, chrysanthemums and snake plants are popular choices, with NASA having even tested their efficacy at removing substances like formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene.
She also recommends finding a good all-purpose soap for both household use and personal use. Many are plant-based and come in bar form. That’s often considered more environmentally friendly because there is less water weight being transported around.