Kickin’ the Chemicals: Living a Toxin-Free Lifestyle

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I’m not a totally crunchy mom. I admire those who are and I admire those who aren’t. I’m just a regular mom trying to do the best for my family. I believe it’s all about balance and sometimes just let your kid have the darn cookie for everyone’s sake.

I thought I was doing mostly all the right things; we weren’t eating overly processed foods, trying to cut out added sugar, if I could make it I would (i.e. applesauce and yogurt). I was reading a lot more labels than I ever had before.

But one day when my daughter was about two, I was cleaning her highchair tray with our cleaner. I had heard good things about this brand and knew that it was one of the “safe” cleaners on the market. I decided if I’m reading labels, let’s see what this one says. 

I. Was. Shocked.

Under the directions, it told me to clean the surface with cleaner, then WIPE DOWN WITH A WET CLOTH. What was that cloth wiping off ? Wasn’t my cleaner supposed to clean and kill whatever was left on her tray? Was it seeping into the plastic? What about all those times I didn’t wipe with a wet cloth?! Was her sweet, little body ingesting all of the chemicals then?!

I started doing research and boy were my eyes opened.

Many of the products I had been using in my house were chock full of chemicals and I had no idea. I thought all of these cleaners were “all natural” and that I was doing the right thing by buying them. I was sorely mistaken.

Here’s some science for you real quick (nothing too crazy, I promise):

It takes 26 seconds for anything, chemicals or not, to enter your body. That means when you mop your floor with cleaner, it takes 26 seconds for it to be absorbed into the soles of your feet and become identifiable in your bloodstream. 

I don’t know about you, but I’m not washing my feet within 26 seconds of walking across my clean kitchen floor. 

Another thing I learned was the two biggest offenders in your home for toxins are air fresheners and dryer sheets. I used both daily, thinking that they would make everything smell better. I didn’t realize that by doing so I was directly affecting my whole family’s lifelong health.

At that point, I started making simple swaps. The first was changing out my cleaner for one that was plant and essential oil based.

Cue the eye rolls!

Second, I switched out dryer sheets for wool dryer balls. An added bonus is they are super cheap, and they last for 3-5 years. That was a no-brainer. 

Third, I unplugged those air fresheners that were strategically placed throughout my home and started diffusing essential oils instead. If your eyes weren’t already rolling, I can feel them now. But bear with me.

I am all for modern medicine. I 100% believe in it and will seek medical attention when necessary. But pure essential oils are literally made from plants, trees, and fruit. So if I was trying to seek out ways to eliminate fake fragrance full of chemicals, this seemed logical to me. I would want something made from nature, not something made in a science lab.

It became apparent to me that it wasn’t just about what was going in our bodies, but what was going on them as well. That’s because what goes ON also absorbs IN. It didn’t happen overnight, and if I’m being honest it’s still an ongoing process. Now my family not only enjoys all these changes, we feel better. 

I can’t keep my family in a bubble, unexposed to everything around them. I’m not nieve. But, I sure can control what comes into my home. So with that, I’m choosing to ditch the toxins one chemical-filled product at a time. 

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Kristin Latchaw
I am a born and raised Cincinnatian, and I love this city and everything it has to offer. I'm married to my wonderful husband, Joe, and our daughter is a spunky, opinionated toddler named Rozlyn. I was raised a West Sider, but moved northeast shortly before marriage. My husband teases that West Side roots run deep, and I cannot go anywhere without seeing someone I know! I love exploring the city with my little family. Some of the most fun we have had together is when we just get up and see where the day takes us. I am embracing my current role as a SAHM and constantly learning as I go!

1 COMMENT

  1. Great job! Great post! We crunchy mamas welcome any and all mamas to our club, lol!

    Next task, start switching your family’s beauty products (shampoo, soap, toothpaste) etc. to safe ones too. Think of smearing chemical filled lotion all over your skin and letting it sink in…
    Good luck 🙂

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