Reduce Chemicals
Several years ago, I would have laughed if someone had told me I’d be reading ingredient labels on cleaning supplies.
I wasn’t trying to become “crunchy.”
I wasn’t trying to be perfect.
I was simply trying to be the best mom I could be.
As many of you know, I’m the mom of three amazing children with autism. Throughout their childhood, I spent countless hours researching therapies, nutrition, funding, behavior plans, and anything that might help improve their quality of life.
Then something happened that forever changed how I looked at the products inside our home.
The Little Girl Who Changed My Perspective
A precious little girl in our family suddenly began having frightening neurological symptoms.
Her eyes started crossing. No one knew why.
Before doctors had answers, my cousin’s wife and I spent hours together trying to figure out what could possibly be causing it.
We went through everything.
Foods.
Vitamins.
Household cleaners.
Shampoos.
Lotions.
Anything we could think of. We desperately hoped there would be a simple explanation.
One afternoon, I remember picking up a bottle of children’s vitamins and reading the ingredient label. I was genuinely shocked.
I couldn’t believe a children’s vitamin contained ingredients like high fructose corn syrup and artificial food dyes.
That moment didn’t prove those ingredients caused her illness—they didn’t. We later learned she had a devastating brain tumor and received treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Despite everyone’s efforts, we lost her.
That heartbreak changed me forever. Not because I suddenly believed every chemical causes disease.
But because I realized I wanted to be more intentional about the things I could control in my own home. We are the gatekeepers of our homes. These plant based products are expensive, but losing a loved one is worse than any cost. I’d rather try to be safe with my purchases than suffer loss. I think of the Bible verse that says people die from a lack of knowledge.
I want to think of for myself. This means not buying what the masses do. Products that were safe back when we were little, most likely have been modified in the last decade or so.
If there were simple ways to reduce unnecessary exposures, I wanted to learn about them. So I set off to reduce chemicals in my home.
The Autism Factor
Today, most researchers agree that autism has a strong genetic component. At the same time, scientists continue to study how certain environmental factors may interact with a child’s genes during early development. There isn’t one single cause, and researchers believe autism is complex, involving many genetic and environmental influences working together.
Knowing that made me stop and think. I can’t change my family’s genetics. But I can be thoughtful about the environment inside our home. That doesn’t mean living in fear.
It doesn’t mean believing every ingredient is dangerous. Simply, it means asking myself, “If there’s an easy way to reduce unnecessary chemical exposure, why wouldn’t I?”
That mindset changed how I shop, how I read labels, and how I make decisions for my family. Not in one large purchase. One product at a time.
Another Big Light Bulb Moment:
One reason our family became more intentional about the products we brought into our home is that many chemicals in everyday commerce have been on the market for decades. When the Toxic Substances Control Act was first passed in 1976, about 62,000 existing chemicals were grandfathered into commerce without comprehensive pre-market safety testing. Although the law was strengthened in 2016, that history encouraged me to become a more careful label reader and gradually make healthier choices for our home. We reduce all the chemicals that we can.
My Label-Reading Journey Began
That one bottle of vitamins sent me down a rabbit trail. Soon I found myself reading labels on:
- Breakfast cereal
- Yogurt
- Laundry detergent
- Hand soap
- Air fresheners
- Dish soap
- Household cleaners
- Shampoo
- Lotion
- Bread 🤢
Not because I expected perfection. But because I wanted to make better choices when it was practical. The best part? I didn’t replace everything overnight. I simply replaced products as they ran out. That made the process affordable and completely manageable. Reducing chemicals became my mission.
You Don’t Have to Throw Everything Away
One of the biggest misconceptions about creating a healthier home is that you need thousands of dollars to reduce chemicals.
You don’t. Just choose one better product the next time you shop. Small changes made consistently over time can add up to a healthier home. Or like me, I use Young Living as a plant based pure “Costco” if you will. I trust all of their products. I have seen amazing positive changes in my family since switching and ditching, reducing chemicals in our home.
25 Easy Switch & Ditch Ideas
Kitchen
✓ Wash fruits and vegetables well before eating.
✓ Open your windows whenever weather allows.
✓ Store leftovers in glass containers when practical.
✓ Replace harsh all-purpose cleaners with gentler alternatives as they run out.
✓ Read ingredient labels before purchasing new products.
Laundry
✓ Switch to a plant-based laundry detergent.
✓ Replace disposable dryer sheets with wool dryer balls.
✓ Skip heavily fragranced fabric sprays when possible.
Bathroom
✓ Replace hand soap when the bottle is empty.
✓ Choose body wash with ingredients you feel good about using.
✓ Look for toothpaste with ingredients that align with your family’s preferences.
✓ Replace lotions one bottle at a time.
Living Areas
✓ Skip aerosol air fresheners.
✓ Vacuum regularly to reduce dust.
✓ Consider using essential oils for air freshening, even putting some oil on a cotton ball & putting it in a corner. A natural insect repellent:
Effective Repellent Oils
- Lemon Eucalyptus: Contains PMD, which confuses insect sensors.
- Citronella: A classic scent that blocks bug attractants.
- Peppermint: Repels mosquitoes and cools itchy bites.
- Tea Tree: Deters ticks, fleas, and lice. [1, 2]
Simple DIY Spray Recipe
- Water: 2 ounces of distilled water.
- Base: 1.5 ounces of witch hazel or high-proof vodka.
- Oils: 30 drops citronella, 25 drops peppermint, and 15 drops tea tree oil.
- Mixing: Combine in a glass spray bottle and shake well before each use. [1]
✓ Diffuse essential oils safely according to their directions if that’s something your family enjoys.
Throughout the House, Reducing Chemicals
✓ Read labels.
✓ Buy only what you need.
✓ Replace products gradually.
✓ Filter your drinking water if it fits your budget. (My current favorite)
✓ Store household chemicals safely away from children.
✓ Remember that progress is better than perfection.
My Favorite Healthy Home Swaps
After years of slowly replacing products, these are some of the products our family enjoys using:
- Thieves® Household Cleaner
- Thieves® Foaming Hand Soap
- Thieves® Dish Soap
- Thieves® Laundry Soap
- Thieves® Fruit & Veggie Soak
- Lemon essential oil
- Purification essential oil (for stinky shoes/cleaning the air)
I don’t believe any single product creates a healthy home. A healthier home comes from the combination of many small habits—good nutrition, quality sleep, fresh air, movement, wise product choices, and creating an environment that supports your family’s well-being.
Start Where You Are
Looking back, I’m grateful I didn’t try to change everything in one weekend. If I had, I probably would have quit. Instead, I made one swap. Then another. Quickly it became a lifestyle that I want to share with others.
Years later, our home looks very different—not because we were perfect, but because we kept making small, intentional choices.
You can do the same. One product. Read labels. Making one decision at a time. Reduce chemicals and feel more confident in your family’s safety.
FREE Download: Family Switch & Ditch Checklist
Ready to create a healthier home without feeling overwhelmed?
I’ve created a FREE Family Switch & Ditch Checklist that walks you room by room through simple swaps you can make over time.
Inside you’ll find:
- Kitchen swaps
- Laundry room swaps
- Bathroom swaps
- Bedroom ideas
- Budget-friendly tips
- A printable shopping checklist
Download your FREE Family Switch & Ditch Checklist today and start creating a healthier home—one simple swap at a time!
For more details about chemicals to avoid, read this blog post: 5 Ways to Decrease Toxins in the Home.
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