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by Angela Cummings and Sophia Ruan Gushée

Clutter accumulates quickly in our homes. Before we know it, the one storage cabinet has expanded to three. And flat surfaces are covered with...well, anything and everything.

What we often don’t consider is how this clutter may be affecting our health. In addition to the dust that accumulates with clutter, so do the number of products that may contaminate our homes with chemicals. Of special concern are those that have...

by Angela Cummings and Sophia Ruan Gushée

When it comes to kitchen cabinets, you don’t have to trade beauty for healthy.  You can have both!

Nontoxic kitchen cabinets can help the air quality in your home, and they come in a variety of styles and finishes. Below are three tips to filter towards healthier kitchen cabinets.

1. Solid Hardwood

Wood cabinets can be made of solid hardwood wood or composite wood. Examples of composite wood...

by Angela Cummings and Sophia Ruan Gushée

When detoxing your home, it can be overwhelming to think of replacing each little item with nontoxic versions. However, the opportunity of replacing each little item is that it can be done incrementally, one item at a time. In the bathroom, shower curtains are one of the little things that can be replaced without a lot of hassle or a lot of cost.

Why replace the shower curtain?  

When you open a new shower curtain, it has...

by Angela Cummings and Sophia Ruan Gushée

As you detox your home, it’s important to understand what materials to avoid, but almost more important to know what materials to choose! Glass is one of the materials consistently preferred over plastic for two big reasons: it’s better for people and for the environment.

In 2013, 299 million tons of plastics were produced(1). That number increases each year. Plastic water bottles alone increased by 39.8 billion within 14...

by Angela Cummings and Sophia Ruan Gushée

It’s not every day that people replace their mattress. In fact, not even every five years. It’s every seven years, if you follow the suggestions of the Better Sleep Council.(1)

How much time do you spend sleeping on that mattress?

The average adult American spends between nine and eleven hours per day on personal care activities, including sleep.(2) That’s an average of 3,650 hours per year.  A quick calculation of...

Holiday string lights are often an integral part of the festive decor. But did you know that holiday string lights can contain lead that can rub off on hands and contaminate your dust? 

Below are tips for healthier string lights.

1. Seek lead-free string lights. They exist! Each year, there are more options available too.

2. Look for ones that are also RoHS (Reduction of Hazardous Substances) compliant.  RoHS restricts the use of specific hazardous materials--such as lead,...

by Angela Cummings and Sophia Ruan Gushée

Placemats help to protect tables and add interest to table settings. While many people focus on the style of placemat, the material it’s made of is equally important.  

Place mats can be made from natural materials (like cotton, hemp, or linen), or synthetic fibers (like polyester and nylon, vinyl, plastic, or wood). In addition, they can be dyed and treated with other chemicals. Some of these materials can contain...

by Angela Cummings and Sophia Ruan Gushée

The bedroom. It’s one of the most important rooms in your home, making it one of the first places to detox.

It’s where you sleep after a loooong day of work, raising kids, and running errands. It’s where your kid’s recover after being exposed to germs at school. And where we all, big and small, get a good night’s sleep in order to stay healthy (1).

One third (1/3) of our time is spent sleeping. (2)

That...

by Angela Cummings

Back in the day, I used to burn candles to make our home smell comforting and welcoming. Especially in the fall and winter when we gathered with family and friends. There was something about having our guests arrive to the smell of a freshly-lit candle that gave me comfort, an expectation that they’d feel right at home.

But behind that comforting scent was a dirty little secret that I would never have imagined.

How Standard Scented Candles are Made

That dirty little...

by Angela Cummings and Sophia Ruan Gushée

Materials, or textiles, are everywhere. They cover (ha! pun intended) or comprise:

• furniture: mattresses, couches, chairs, seat covers
• bedding: blankets, mattress pads and sheets
• clothing, including athletic apparel 
• other products made from fabric, including toys

Across the board, materials in each of the categories above can be made from synthetic or natural fibers.

So, how do you figure out which type of material is safe?

...