Starting your Nontoxic Journey without the Overwhelm
- Jenna Johnson
- Jun 23
- 4 min read
I used to think nontoxic living was all or nothing. You either had a perfect pantry of clean ingredients and a minimalist house full of organic wood toys…or you didn’t.
Even though I couldn’t do it all at once — I still tried. I tried to do everything at the same time, for a long time.
It all started when I looked at the products on my shelves, and began looking into organic produce to eat while I was pregnant with my first child.
I was mind blown to learn about the harm of toxins and how they can wreak havoc on our bodies. I dove deeper. I started asking more questions - from a place of curiosity. Of responsibility. Of quiet, rooted love. But it started from fear at first. Why?
Because my home — this little world within four walls — was where my children were going to learn to breathe deeply. To sleep safely. To eat, crawl, heal, and grow.
So slowly, I began to realize…if I can shift even a few of the things we use every day…
I can shift everything.
The Myth of All-or-Nothing
You don’t need to do it all at once.
You don’t need to throw away your shampoo, your couch, your candles.
You just need to ask:
“What do I use every day?” - and start there.
🌿 Start with what touches your skin, what your kids eat off of, what you clean your counters with, your laundry detergent, etc.
Small shifts.
Big ripple.
5 Gentle Steps to Begin Your Nontoxic Journey
1. Switch Plastic for Glass
This was one of my first swaps.
Not because of aesthetics (though I do love a good mason jar, and my husband says I shouldn’t buy anymore- ha!)…
But because I learned how plastic can leach toxins into our food, water, and skin — especially when heated.
I didn’t throw out everything overnight.
I just started saving jars from sauces and soups. I labeled them. I stacked them. I filled them with oats and snacks and rice.
And slowly, over time, my kitchen felt a little lighter and little clearer.
2. Retire the Synthetic Candles (And Welcome the Diffuser)
I used to burn scented candles every evening.
It felt cozy. Familiar. I LOVED a good pumpkin spice candle from Bath & Body Works (not to mention their body sprays, lotions and more).
Until I realized…that scent? It’s synthetic.
That cozy glow? It’s often paraffin wax and lead wicks. Yuck!
Now, I light beeswax candles for dinner and use a diffuser for relaxation and aromatherapy. Oils are so easy to incorporate into your daily life.
Lavender at bedtime
Citrus in the morning
Frankincense on heavy days
It still feels like home. But now… it smells like peace, without all the synthetics.
3. Learn to Read Labels
This one felt intimidating at first.
But I learned to look out for just a few things when starting:
“Fragrance” (a hidden chemical cocktail)
Parabens
Phthalates
PEGs
SLS/SLES
And I found brands I could trust, that didn’t make me guess. Clean living doesn’t mean boring, it means honest.
4. Make a DIY All-Purpose Spray
This was a turning point. So much DIY!! That’s how it all began for me. I mixed up a simple recipe in an old spray bottle and it was a game changer!! Who knew cleaning supplies could be so simple, made from natural ingredients?!
1 part white vinegar
1 part water
10 drops lemon or tea tree essential oil
It costs pennies and yet it smells like a summer morning. And it’s safe enough for my toddler to use, when he wipes the table.
It’s not just about safety — it’s about empowerment. This is a very important point that no one talks about - finding clean products and being in charge of what you bring into your home, is empowering!
5. Say No to Synthetic Fragrance
Once I switched away from fragrance, and tossed my perfumes, scented lotions, laundry detergents, etc. I started noticing it everywhere - in laundry sheets, air fresheners, baby lotion, dryer beads, shampoo, swiffer dusters and even magnesium salts - it’s in EVERYTHING! I didn’t realize how common fragrance actually is.
Once I removed it from our space, I noticed a huge difference. Fewer headaches and calmer sleep. Less foggy brain symptoms.
Now, our home smells like the real world:
Lemon in the kitchen. Dirt in the hallway. Lavender in the bath. Some beeswax candles and a vinegar based cleaner - and that is enough.
This Is a Journey — Not a Checklist
Clean living is not about perfection - it’s about intention - it’s about looking at the things we touch every day and asking: “Does this align with the way I want to live?”
There is no gold star for the most glass jars or organic labels. There is only the peace that comes from knowing you’re trying.
🌿 Trying to be mindful.
🌿 Trying to keep the air a little cleaner, the water a little safer.
🌿 Trying to honor the bodies you’ve been entrusted with — including your own.
You don’t have to overhaul your life. Just open your eyes, and start small. Know that every little shift matters. This isn’t just about what’s in your cabinets, it’s about how you care for your family. How you root yourself in awareness. How you build a home that breathes life.
One drawer at a time.
One swap at a time.
One act of love at a time.
With you on the journey,
Jenna
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