We have been taught to believe that the smell of bleach means a clean home or that having a space that smells like fresh cut flowers from a spray bottle is “good” or that we should use antibacterial soaps to kill the germs to avoid getting sick.

What if I told you that all of these so called “needed” items are actually destroying your health from the inside out? Killing off the good gut bacteria you are working so hard to maintain? Pretty crazy huh?

Now, I know bleach or antibacterial products have a time and a place. But that time and place really shouldn’t be under the roof you live in where the scents get trapped and continue to leech into your body. When you are constantly exposed to harsh chemicals like ammonia, synthetic fragrances or antibacterial products it kills off the gut bacteria you WANT in your gut microbiome therefore compromising your immune system, your hormones, your detox pathways and so much more. For a product that is supposed to protect you…is actually doing more harm than good.

I know looking at your cleaning and home products can be overwhelming, which is why I have broken it down for you for where to start! The idea, replace one item at a time and just keep it simple! If you want to scan your products and see how they rate use the ewg.org Healthy Living app (I use it EVERY time I buy products in the store)!

WHERE TO START:

Switch to natural cleaning products. Try to avoid the synthetic fragrances, ammonia, bleach, and antibacterials. If this feels overwhelming start with your all-purpose cleaner and build from there! My favorite all-purpose cleaner is Thieves from Young Living OR Rosey from Thrive Market.

Ditch the candles, air fresheners, plug ins…all the fake smelling crap. Go for diffusing essential oils or soy candles infused with essential oils. These will actually benefit the air quality in your home…not destroy it. Another way to freshen your home is opening the windows 2x a month even in winter or having a few plants especially in your bedroom like a snake or spider plant.

Antibacterial nothing. I know when cold and flu season rolls around you think antibacterial and sanitizing everything is the answer…but it’s actually making your immune system worse. Antibacterials kill off the good bacteria in your gut leaving you more vulnerable and struggling even more. Ditch the hand sanitizer, the antibacterial soaps, the cleaning sprays and just use natural soap the way our ancestors used too. My favorite hand soap is Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap (it’s watery…but gets the job done safely and doesn’t dry out your hands like antibacterials do).

Toss the plastic containers and start using glass. If this isn’t possible, DO NOT heat food up on plastic, or put hot food in plastic, let it cool first. This causes mycotoxins to leech into your foods that we call endocrine disruptors which can cause hormonal imbalances, gut health issues and so much more. This goes for beverages, water and even what your pantry items come in. Go for glass or BPA free aluminum if you can!

Want to learn more ways to reduce toxins in your home and body? Or more specifics on ingredients to avoid, DIY cleaners, or specific brands to reach for? I am hosting a 5 Day Detox Challenge in the Bombshell-ish Body Membership August 1^st! I share all things detoxing your body, home, beauty products, cleaning products and more! You deserve to feel amazing and the best place to start is with your products! Click here to join!

**The membership is a MONTHLY subscription and will charge your card every 30 days. If you want the cleanse wait until August 1st to join and you can self cancel at anytime!