I’m a big believer that small changes add up to big differences.

In my quest for healthier living, I’ve made some changes to my health and wellness routines at home that I’d love to share. These three simple swaps will rid your routine of unnecessary toxins, all while keeping your health and hygiene intact!

Yes, mouthwashes kill germs. But that can be part of the problem, too. Many of these formulas kill everything, including good bacteria, which of course your body needs.

If you’re looking for that clean feeling and to get rid of the germs that can cause bad breath, you might have better luck with oil pulling, which is essentially rinsing your mouth with oil.

Wait… stop… I know. It sounds gross. (Like, horrifically gross.) But if this coconut hater can get on board and actually start to like it, you can too! And seeing the benefits of whiter teeth certainly doesn’t hurt either!

If you kill all the bacteria in your mouth, you are leaving a hole in your immunity that something else can come along and fill.

Scientific American published an article on the no fewer than six ingredients of dryer sheets and liquid fabric softener that can be dangerous to your health.

Since fabric softeners are designed to stay in your clothes for extended periods of time, such chemicals can seep out gradually and be inhaled or absorbed directly through the skin. Liquid fabric softeners are slightly preferable to dryer sheets, as the chemicals in dryer sheets get released into the air when they are heated up in the dryer and can pose a respiratory health risk to those both inside and outside the home. —Scientific American

My new favorite way to keep clothes wrinkle-free and smelling good in the dryer is to use wool dryer balls infused with a few drops of essential oil (I like lavender best!). Just put a few drops of oil onto the dryer balls, pop two in with your load, and voila!

Lots of bubble bath formulas contain sodium lauryl sulfate and artificial fragrances, both of which have records of being irritating at best, to downright dangerous at worst, to your system.

Synthetic fragrances that are intended to soothe your senses in these formulas are also on the shortlist of wellness-seekers major no-no’s. Why? They contain an ingredient called phthalates, which are nasty little buggers accused of disrupting hormone systems and worse. (The fact that they have been banned from some kids’ toys tells you that at least some companies are on to their potentially dangerous side effects.)

On top of all of that, companies do not have to reveal what is included in their signature “fragrances,” even when it’s listed on the label.

The good news is, you can get that relaxing sensory experience of a nice bath without using a bubble bath formula. Try a formula scented with essential oils instead!

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