5 Easy Low-Tox Swaps To Detox Your Home

Creating a healthier, more conscious home doesn’t have to mean throwing everything out and starting from scratch. I want to encourage you to be wasteful, just use up what you have, but start making small, conscious changes. Let’s face it, some of the most powerful changes are the smallest — the daily things you use without thinking. From the products you clean your counters with to what you put on your skin, these everyday items can either support your wellbeing or quietly compromise it. This post shares five easy low-tox swaps to help you begin detoxing your home naturally and mindfully, without the overwhelm, to help you get started on your journey.

1. All-Purpose Cleaner

2. Laundry Detergent & Softener

Swap synthetic laundry detergents and dryer sheets for fragrance-free, plant-based detergents and wool dryer balls

Your clothes, towels, and bedding sit against your skin for hours, which means the chemicals used to wash them matter. Many detergents are loaded with optical brighteners, sulfates, and artificial scents that can disrupt hormones and cause skin irritation.

Low-Tox Alternatives:

• Choose detergents that are free from dyes and fragrances (like Seventh Generation or Bio-D).
• Use soap nuts or eco laundry strips as a completely natural alternative.
• Swap disposable dryer sheets for wool dryer balls, which soften clothes without residue.

We all know how expensive laundry detergent can be, especially the eco-friendly alternatives, so why not make your own? Just a few simple ingredients are all that is needed

DIY Recipe:
Add the following to a large pan or bowl, ¼ Cup Washing Soda, ¼ Cup of Bicarbonate of Soda, ¼ Cup of Epsom Salts ,¼ Fine Salt, ¼ Castile Soap followed by 2 Litres of water of hot water, mix well with a stick blender for a couple of minutes then add 2 more litres of hot water and repeat.

Tip: Add a few drops of essential oil (like lavender) to the dryer ball for a fresh, clean scent without the need for fabric conditioner.

Believe it or not, all you need to soften your clothes is a tablespoon of white vinegar. I know what you’re thinking, surely my clothes are going to smell vinegary! Trust me, they’re not, and it works, it is all I use everyday!

3. Candle Swap

Swap paraffin wax scented candles for beeswax or soy candles scented with essential oils.

While scented candles can create a lovely atmosphere, most are made with paraffin wax, a petroleum byproduct that releases toxins when burned. Combined with synthetic fragrances, these can reduce air quality in your home, triggering headaches or hormone disruption.

Low-Tox Options:

• Opt for candles made from 100% soy wax, beeswax, or coconut wax.
• Check that they use cotton wicks and are scented only with essential oils.

I love to use soy candle sand, this is incredibily versatile, allowing you to make your own candles without any of the mess of melting the wax and waiting for them to cool. Simply add in your candle sand to your jar and your favourite essential oils, depending on your mood and you are good to go. Creating a lovely candle lit atmoshere around your home with aromas to support your wellbeing.

Not into candles but want a home fragrance? Try an essential oil diffuser or simmer a pot of herbs and citrus peels for a cosy, non-toxic aroma.

4. Body Lotion

Swap fragranced body lotions with synthetic ingredients and parabens for cold-pressed nourishing oils or natural balms.

Your skin is your largest organ, and it absorbs much of what you put on it. Most conventional body care products contain a cocktail of preservatives, artificial scents, and petroleum derivatives, none of which we want on our skin and entering our bloodstream.

Healthier Alternatives:

• Use single-ingredient oils like jojoba, sweet almond, or coconut oil for daily hydration.
• Look for body care brands that disclose all ingredients and avoid parabens, phthalates, and “parfum.” I love Ringana products, all their skincare range is free from toxic chemicals and preservatives and is very kind to the skin.

DIY Recipe: Whip up a simple balm using shea butter, coconut oil, and a few drops of lavender and frankincense essential oils for a deeply calming and nourishing blend. Or even easier buy a natural base lotion and just add in some Vitamin E and your essential oils of choice.

5. Dishwasher Tablets

Swap conventional dishwasher tablets for natural, biodegradable alternatives.

Most commercial dishwasher tablets contain a mix of surfactants, bleach, and synthetic fragrances — all of which can leave residue on your dishes and leach into your food.

Low-Tox Alternatives:

• Look for dishwasher tablets or powders made without phosphates, chlorine, or synthetic dyes.
• Brands like Ecover, Bio-D, or Seventh Generation offer safer options that are still effective.

DIY Recipe

Mix 2 cups of bicarbonate of soda with ¼ cup of citric acid. Slowly add 2 tbs DoTerra OnGuard Concentrate, 10 drops of essential oil. Mix well and transfer into 2 silicone ice cube trays, keep compressing mixture into trays until it starts to dry. Leave overnight and then pop out and store in a glass jar.

Tip: Run a hot cycle with white vinegar and a halved lemon once a month to keep your dishwasher clean and fresh naturally.

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Summary – Start Small, Start Somewhere

Creating a more natural home doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing transformation. These simple swaps are gentle, effective ways to support your wellbeing while making your home feel cleaner, calmer, and more aligned with your values. Start with one or two, and build from there, this is exactly how I began. Your home—and your body—will thank you.