Non-Toxic Home Guide
One of the key components for supporting our health is reducing the burden of environmental toxins on our bodies (I talk a lot about this in my Debunking Detox and Environmental Toxins articles). Creating a home environment with minimal environmental toxins is an important way to make your home as safe as possible for you and your family.
The term “clean” can mean a range of different things from “environmentally friendly” to truly “non-toxic.” Things can get even more confusing because anything called “eco-friendly” or “environmentally friendly” is NOT necessarily better for your health.
Not sure where to start? I’ve got you covered!
This is our curated guide of our recommended non-toxic home products that our team has tested & approved of – from candles, to cookware, to cleaning products & beyond!
This will be a living, breathing resource that we’ll continually update as we fall in love with new trustworthy products.
You will also find some specific language/key words to reference on ingredient lists when looking for products on your own. We hope this resource will empower you to make informed decisions about your home products!
We hope you enjoy!
Pssst…My go-to resources for things like this are the Environmental Working Group (EWG), EWG Healthy Living App, Consumer Reports, and Mesothelioma Center. I have no affiliation with any of these brands or stores (except Amazon), this 100% to make your life easier!
Candles + Fragrances
LOOK FOR: 100% soy, coconut, apricot, or beeswax; essential oils; cotton, hemp, or wood wicks
AVOID: artificial and synthetic fragrances, formaldehyde, lead wicks, paraffin, parabens, phthalates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), acetaldehyde, toluene, benzene, acetone, artificial dyes
Cookware + Bakeware
LOOK FOR: stainless steel, ceramic, glass, cast iron
AVOID: “non-stick” coatings such as teflon, fluon, hostaflon, polyflon, PTFE, aluminum, lead (sometimes in glass or ceramic products), Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, Bisphenol A (BPA)
- Pots + Pans
- Bakeware
- I recommend using baking parchment, too (skip the aluminum foil!)
Cooking Utensils
LOOK FOR: natural wood, food-grade silicone, stainless steel
AVOID: plastic, rubber, aluminum
- Silicone (like these ones)
- Natural wood, such as bamboo or acacia (like these)
- Stainless steel (like these), but avoid using metal utensils on non-stick pots/pans
Food and Drink Containers
LOOK FOR: glass, stainless steel, food grade silicone, ceramic, plastic-free, microwave-safe
AVOID: plastic (even “BPA-free” plastic), estrogenic activity, bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates
- Food Storage Containers
- Stasher Silicone Bags
- Mason Jars
- Glass Food Containers
- Glass Salad Container
- Porter Ceramic Bowl
- Glass Pantry Containers
- Glass Spice Jars (I’m obsessed with these!)
- Water Bottles – if you use a straw, opt for glass, metal, or silicone
- Hydroflask
- Glass Tumbers (I have this one and swapped for a glass straw)
- Glass Water Bottle with Silicone Sleeve
- Stanley Cup (with a glass straw)
Air Purifiers
LOOK FOR: HEPA filter, 3rd party tested, NSF certified
Water Purifiers
LOOK FOR: 3rd party tested, NSF certified, reverse osmosis
Cleaning Products
LOOK FOR: essential oils or fragrance-free, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), white vinegar, non-toxic, formaldehyde-free, 3rd party tested
AVOID: ammonia, quaternary ammonium compounds (QUATS), EDTA, ethanolamines, alkanolamide surfactants, glycol ethers and esters, isothiazolinones, formaldehyde, chlorine, bleach, sodium hypochlorite, “fragrances”, pesticides, “flammable” warnings, triclosan, phthalates, perchloroethylene (PERC), 2-Butoxyethanol, PFAS
- Overall Brands + Products
- Dishwasher Detergent
- Branch Basics
- Seventh Generation (unscented products)
- ECOS Dishwasher Detergent
- Ecover Dishwasher Tablets (they make great rinse-aid, too)
- Favorite Laundry Detergents
To learn more about non-toxic living options, see our blog post on Non-Toxic Beauty Guide! As always, please reach out with any questions!
Quick Reminder: there is no way to completely avoid all toxin exposures in our lives – nor do we want to. Even the attempt might make you crazy. What will make a difference, is that you get ALL the knowledge and information you need to feel prepared and empowered to be in control of your own health!
**Amazon links are affiliate links and eligible for commission to Good Nutrition.
About the Authors
Morgan Goodstadt, MS, RD, CDN, LDN, IFNCP
Registered Dietitian, Master’s in Clinical Nutrition, Certified Integrative and Functional Nutritionist and Health Coach. Morgan combines her expertise in nutrition with evidenced-based functional medicine and experience in human behavior to help her clients improve their health, relationship with food, and overall wellbeing. Her philosophy aims to achieve balance in both the diet and other areas of life.
Paige Freyre
Paige is a health & wellness enthusiast in training with the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy.
Paige has a deep passion for the intersection between nutrition and mood – and with a background in Psychology, she loves to illuminate behaviors that simplify living a happier, more abundant life!
You can find Paige on Instagram at @happierhacks !
Download my free guide:
Debunking Detox
The term “detox” has been exploited as a way to sell diet programs. But is there some truth to it? Do we need to “detox”? The answer, as I typically say with nutrition, is that it depends.
