Clean living swaps for regular people
Clean living is the new black. Except it’s a designer black that’s pronounced with an accent. One look at any form of media will tell you that you can transform your life to be completely organic, unprocessed, bpa and chemical-free. Or else, you’ll die.
Organic cleaning solutions against designer whitewashed kitchen scenes adorn your Instagram feed. All natural hair and makeup products promise to lead you to the fountain of youth, with supple skin and luscious locks. Essential oils replace your medicine cabinet while a list of supplements longer than the Constitution present themselves critical for optimal living. If you’re not diffusing lemongrass in a charcoal mask while you check your Juice Plus auto ship schedule, you’re probably not doing it right.
Well dad gum. Anybody else have a gaggle of little people and like, utility bills to pay for?
If you’re like me, you care about the ingredients in your products and don’t want to offer up your humans as chemical experiments and hope for the best. You want safer products in your home, but you operate on 1 to 1.5ish incomes and you exist in between #reallife and #goals. You’re interested in transitioning to cleaner, safer products for your family but you only have so much capacity to do so. I’m here to tell you, you can take manageable steps in that direction without being overwhelmed, spending money you don’t have, or becoming something you’re not.
Start small. This is about balance, not becoming a clean living warrior. Let’s live in reality.
Coconut oil | Coconut oil is the business for pretty much everything. Think you’re dying? Coconut oil. Dusty house? Coconut oil. Heartburn? Toothache? Dry skin? Dull hair? Also coconut oil. Seriously, there are so many benefits to coconut oil, it would be hard to exhaust the list. You can start by using organic coconut oil (Aldi, Walmart, Amazon, and probably a few sketchy gas stations) to replace facial moisturizer and body lotion, as a hair mask, to clean your mouth or pacify a toothache, as wood polish, diaper rash treatment, in baking, to soothe sunburn, to soothe nausea, and as coffee or smoothie additive to wake up the brain. Just buy it.
Castile soap | Castile soap is uh-mazing. Divide one jumbo bottle into multiple smaller bottles to maximize usage throughout the house. Castile soap, like coconut oil, is carried by some grocery stores like Food Lion and Walmart, and can also be found at health stores. My personal favorite is Dr Wood’s almond scented castile soap, although there are plenty of scents and brands to choose from. Keep a bottle at the sink for hand washing and dishwashing. Convert to a spray bottle and mix with water to use as an all purpose cleaner Keep it in the shower to use as a natural body wash. (Don’t use it to wash your face, and make sure to heavily dilute before using it on a baby). We’re only just scratching the surface on the uses for castile soap here.
Magnesium spray | It’s affordable. It’s easy to apply. Taking magnesium is great for hormone balance, but figuring out the right amount for your body can be a process. I don’t really want to put myself through gastrointestinal distress until I come up with the magic amount of magnesium. Did you know magnesium can help reduce anxiety, promote better sleep, and is an essential nutrient for many processes in the body? Healthy levels of magnesium also support muscle and nerve function, as well as energy production. Give the bottom of each foot a spray before hopping into bed and your body will absorb it. Close your eyes. Wake up the next day. Really, it’s a thing. Lightly spray under each armpit for a natural deodorant, and an alternate method of absorption. You’ll know if you sprayed too much because your armpits will be on fire. (You’ve been warned). Amazon reviewers say this product relieves pain associated with fibromyalgia, leg cramps, and more.
Essential Oils | Don’t click off this page. I know oils are the most overwhelming, oddly intriguing, mystical product in the non toxic realm. It doesn’t help that everyone whose selling them has the perfect messy bun, a handmade headband, and some kind of handmade rustic display. Then consider that those displays have about 36 perfectly placed oils that are all totally essential (see what I did there?) and a complete must have to revamp your life. I can’t buy 36 oils today. Can you? If I did, I would use about three. That’s what you really need to make a splash. About three, and the fourth is a bonus. Choose your company (I like this one) and make sure you’re working with pure oil without the fillers. Otherwise, save your money. Start off with lemon, peppermint, and lavender. If you want to impress yourself, go ahead and get the oregano, too. It’s worth it. Just these three to four oils can replace your scented candles and perfume, pack a serious punch as an all purpose cleaner, help with your allergies, promote good sleep, providing a calming environment, help with acne, and more. Like, a lot more. Plus, you’ll need them when you get fancy later on and start making homemade body butter and chapstick. Yes, you.
Gather your supplies, arrange them in front of your sink full of dishes, and snap a picture because you’re on the road now girl. This is cleanish living for realists at it’s best. I’m glad you’re here.
