Nontoxic Swaps that Changed My Home
- Jenna Johnson
- Aug 19
- 5 min read
I didn’t start clean living with a shopping cart full of glass jars and herbal sprays.
I started with a question:
“What do we touch, breathe, and eat every single day?”
And it led me to this…
If it’s where my children grow, eat, crawl, and sleep…then it matters. My childhood was laced with chemicals through and through as a kid that grew up in the 80s and 90s, yet I want different for my own.
But I didn’t jump into nontoxic overnight. I tried. I threw out the majority of stuff in our home and lost myself in the thick black never ending rabbit hole of articles and online information.
But looking back, I see the benefits of focusing on one small shift at a time.
Then another. Then another.
In time, those tiny changes do add up.
They soften my nervous system.
They quiet the background noise in my head.
They made motherhood feel a little more rooted… and a lot less reactive.
So what swaps would I recommend? Lets dive in - here’s a list of swaps that changed not just my home, but how I showed up inside of it.
1. Cleaning Products
As a kid, I used to hold my breath every time I sprayed the counters and rub in my bathroom with Scrubbing Bubbles and Windex.
Now I have the knowledge about cleaning products being linked to lung cancer based on chemical exposure over time. If you cannot pronounce the ingredients on the labels of your cleaning products, TOSS THEM.
This goes for the greenwashed brands too.
Better yet?! Go DIY!! That’s how I started, and still feel safest - because it’s hard to know which brands to trust.
Ditch the Lysol and go with Hypochlorous acid - or make a simple cleaning solution with:
distilled water
white vinegar
a few drops of lemon + eucalyptus essential oil
When I swapped these out, I had an INSTANT sigh of relief.
It didn’t just clean my home, it changed the feel of it. No more burning nose or stinging eyes. No more concerns about chemical exposure on my baby’s hands and feet from cleaning my floors. Just a fresh, soft sense of calm.
2. Laundry
The laundry detergent you’re using could be a heavy chemical load on your body.
Sadly, it’s not your fault. Our mainstream media brainwashes us to think that the smell of bleach, fragrance or bright blue beads means CLEAN.
Instead, the chemicals in our clothes cling to our clothes, our sheets, our skin. Our bodies absorb them and turn them into parts of our cells. We are what we expose ourselves to.
The more I learn, the more I realize-
Fragrance isn’t just a smell…it’s a chemical soup — and our skin is drinking it all in. 1,4 dioxane is just the tip of the iceberg.
For a full copy of my laundry guide with safer options, click the link here.
3. Skincare: Because My Babies Are Always on Me
Ever had someone hold your baby and when they circle back to you, all you can smell is the beauty products, body lotion, deodorant and makeup they were wearing?! YUCK.
When you’re nursing, holding, wearing, and cuddling your baby all day long…What’s on your skin is on theirs, too.
🌿 Start simple. Again, DIY is great! I stopped using 10-step skincare routines full of hidden synthetics and swapped it for trusted brands and DIY.
Look for ingredients that are simple, such as:
Raw shea butter
Rosehip oil
Frankincense
Jojoba oil
Castor oil
Tallow
and more! It’s about honoring this sacred season of motherhood where simplicity is enough.
4. The Kitchen: Where Nourishment Meets Intention
The kitchen is the heart of our home and a HUGE project to take on when it comes to nontoxic living. Mine used to be full of plastic: measuring cups, containers, utensils, Tupperware, the list goes on. I didn’t realize how many microplastics were leaching into our food… until I did.
🌿 Now we use:
Mason jars for storage
Beeswax wraps instead of cling film
Wooden spoons over silicone
A glass water filter system on the counter (click here for info in the one we use).
It’s not perfect. But it’s purposeful. That’s the goal to easing into the ultimate success in your nontoxic journey.
Every time I open a drawer and see real materials made of wood instead of plastic, I exhale. I see lead free drinking glasses and coffee mugs, I see unscented trash bags and reusable napkins. I see safer pantry snacks and cutting boards made of wood.
For ideas on simple swaps, check out my Amazon kitchen shopping post. For a full overhaul, click here for a lengthy recommendation list.
5. The Air We Breathe: The Most Overlooked Toxin
I used to light candles every day made from paraffin wax with synthetic fragrance. I didn’t know any better. They were the kind I ordered from Bath & Body Works, Pier 1, or Yankee Candle Co.
Big ones. Fancy ones. I stocked UP. I bought the kind that promised “clean linen” or “summer breeze.”
But when I found out the ambiance was toxic and my candlelit glow was putting off serious endocrine disruptors and formaldehyde, I knew I had to make a change.
🌿 Now I open windows for fresh air, and when I can’t, we fall back on air purifiers and medical grade filters for our AC / heat.
Let the breeze in, when you can - and diffuse essential oils with intention. Looking for for less toxic candles? My favorites are:
Meaningful Mantras
Heather Kay Candles
Basic Bee Candles
It’s Not About Fear — It’s About Freedom
This journey isn’t about guilt.
It’s not about throwing everything away.
It’s about choosing what brings peace.
What supports your body, your babies, and your breath.
I always say:
Start with one thing - not ten.
Let the momentum grow slowly — like a seedling. Water it with patience.
And celebrate every small shift. After all, they DO make a difference.
Why go to the trouble? Because your home isn’t just a place…
It’s a rhythm.
It’s a sanctuary.
It’s the heart of childhood for your kids.
And it’s an extension of how you love the people inside it.
Not sure where to start? For a free copy of my Home Detox Guide, click here (and be sure to share with your friends and family)! This is the first ebook I ever wrote.
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