The Beginner’s Guide to Non-Toxic Swaps

Non-Toxic Living

Mar 24

TL;DR: You’re probably using products every day that contain ingredients you’d rather avoid—and making the switch can feel like a lot. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to toss everything or spend a fortune to start living cleaner.

Bright, minimalist kitchen with natural light and clean surfaces – representing a non-toxic home.

Let’s Take the Pressure Off

If you’ve started learning about the ingredients in your everyday products, chances are you’ve felt overwhelmed. Maybe even a little frozen. "Wait, what is this reproductive harm warning on my countertop spray?"

I’ve been there. Once you start digging, it’s easy to feel like everything needs to change all at once. But the truth is, you don’t have to do everything perfectly to make a meaningful impact.

This isn’t about panic or perfection. It’s about intentional, informed swaps—starting with the changes that matter most.

Step 1: Start Where It Matters Most

Trying to overhaul your entire home overnight is a fast track to burnout.

Instead, I recommend focusing on areas that have the greatest impact on your body, your health, and your home environment—especially what you’re exposed to most often and most directly.

Here’s the Clean Slate Priority Framework I use with my clients (and in my own home) that is intended to guide you and make cleaner living feel simple, strategic, and highly impactful. Pick one area—or even just one product—and start there:

Clean Slate Priority Framework showing Water, Air, Skin + Body, Food + Storage, and Cleaning Products as key areas for healthier living.

Step 2: Find Your Easy Wins

Small, intentional changes really do add up—and often, the simplest swaps are the ones that stick.

Here are a few low-effort, high-impact ways to get started today:

✨ Ditch synthetic fragrance: Say goodbye to plug-ins, dryer sheets, and heavily scented candles.
🧼 Upgrade your dish soap: It’s one of the most-used products in the home.
🧺 Reevaluate your laundry detergent: Many contain ingredients linked to hormone disruption and skin irritation.
💧 Add a water filter: Even a basic pitcher filter can make a big difference.
🧽 Focus on what you use most: If you’re spraying your counters daily, start with your all-purpose cleaner.

This is about progress—not perfection. Start where you are.

Person washing glass dishes at the kitchen sink with running water – a visual of simple, everyday cleaner living.

Step 3: Use the “Good, Better, Best” Approach

You don’t need to overhaul everything with the most expensive options right away. In fact, one of the best ways to make clean living more accessible is by thinking in tiers:

Choose what works for your budget and lifestyle. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress that feels sustainable.

Step 4: You Don’t Have to Figure It All Out

Here’s the good news: you don’t have to figure it all out.

That’s what Clean Slate is all about—helping you cut through the noise, find products you can actually trust, and make cleaner living feel doable for real life.

Want to explore some of my favorite low-tox swaps? These are all vetted, safer picks that take the guesswork out of it.

The Bottom Line: Progress Over Perfection

Cleaner living doesn’t have to be overwhelming, expensive, or out of reach. By starting small and focusing on what matters most, you can create a healthier, safer home—one thoughtful swap at a time.