We all want healthier lives for ourselves and our children. This begins when you detox your home.  There are some easy steps you can take to create an environment that promotes good health and a positive outlook. It can begin with adding some plants.  They create a pleasant atmosphere, improve the air quality and could promote healthier habits in general. Adding fresh air always does a world of good to a home – and there are multiple ways you can do this.

Next, there are some replacements to the harsh cleaning chemicals many of us use that can be thrown together once a month if you worry about these things. Some people don’t and that’s fine, too! Last but not least, we’ll talk about some creative ways to inject more fruit, veggies and water into you and your family’s life.

Add plants

So, step one: put plants wherever possible. Think about each room and it’s needs. For a room with a lot of footfall like a hallway or a living room, you’ll want a toxin-busting plant like a rubber plant or fig trees. These are not only super fashionable but also are great air purifiers.  Eliminating harmful chemicals from the air you breathe. Their leaves just need a gentle wiping down every once in a while so they don’t get covered in dust.

In a bathroom, you’ll want to place some peace lilies, which remove mold from the air. Fungus cultivates easily in warm and damp places which is why these are best placed in the bathroom. Plus, they are very pretty to look at. If you’re looking to reduce dust levels, plants like the spider plant or dragon tree are ideal. These are also super easy to care for, so your maintenance needs will remain the same as before, with the added benefits of plants.

Plants have been proven to increase our satisfaction and happiness, too. Their mere presence improves our mood, and when you incorporate plant care into your life (within reason, you have other things to worry about too), you’ll be more likely to care for yourself too. Regardless, an addition of green is never a bad thing.

Add air

Sound esoteric? I can see why you’d think that. However, few of us ventilate our homes as much as we should. Plus, we become nose-blind in our own homes, which means that we no longer notice any bad smells because we’re just used to them. Having better ventilation will be beneficial to your lungs and noses.

In the winter, we’re especially reluctant to open our windows since it’s so chilly, and we don’t want to lose any of the warmth we’ve accumulated. However, I can assure you that 10 minutes of cold home in the morning is not that bad. Open up your windows as you’re getting up to invigorate your morning (everyone could use some extra energy before going to school and work) and close them after 10 minutes. I mean all the windows, too, yes when you detox your home you need to go all out!

You might be thinking “Honestly, I think my windows ventilate air far too well when they’re closed! Why should I open them?”. If your windows leak air as-is, you’ll probably want to replace them. Being too cold or too warm isn’t good for you. Replace your windows if you’re worried about losing energy – it’s better for your health and for your energy bill!

Add non-toxic cleansers

Artificial smellies are all the rage these days, but generally they cover up bad smells instead of eliminating them. And you can’t really be sure what you’re breathing in when artificial candles melt and their smell wafts through your home. Granted, smelly candles are lovely. But try to choose beeswax candles instead of regular ones.  They are natural toxin-eliminators and better to detox your home.

This isn’t for everyone, but have you thought of using natural cleaners? This doesn’t have to be for every room in your house – but if you have small children, their little hands and feet are all over the floor and could be going into their mouths. The chemicals you use to clean the floor will therefore also be going in their mouths which is less than ideal. Research natural detergents. A good rule of thumb is to include vinegar, lemon peel, baking soda and essential oils like tea tree, lime and cinnamon. This way you can make a pleasant-smelling cleaner without worrying about the residue on your baby’s fingers.

Add fruits and veggies

Sometimes introducing a healthier diet into your home sounds like a huge upheaval.  You don’t quite know where to begin (because you probably tend to choose crisps over fruit too, let’s be honest). Thankfully, you can encourage yourself and your family to make healthy choices throughout the day with a thoughtful kitchen layout. You don’t have to change around everything in your cupboards. Keep fruit and veggies in a prominent and easy-to-access place, so you see them before anything else.

Choosing small plates is a good way to go for smaller portions, too. When you chuck out the huge troughs and trays that we use as vessels for our food, you’ll probably eat less and listen to your body more than your plate. Using smaller plates, bowls, glasses and utensils automatically makes us cut down on portion sizes, and psychologically we will feel fuller with less!

On top of pushing yourself a little bit to make healthier food choices, it can be good to think about the hygiene in your kitchen. For instance, I had no idea that soap-soaked rags and sponges harbour more bacteria than rinsed and dried ones. You can have them in circulation to make sure you’re being clean and hygienic at the same time.

With all of this in mind, remember not to get overwhelmed by making lots of changes at once. Start small when you detox your home, and go from there. Make your home a healthier place for you and your family, and you’ll enjoy a happier future in the long term!