I don’t know who needs to read this, but this one’s for the person who’s either looking for more clean, plastic-free, and natural fiber items for their home. OR – for the person who’s just starting out and needs a catch-all list.
Hi! Hello! You know who you are.
If you’re anything like my sister and I – who have been scouring the internet tediously and testing products relentlessly so you can welcome some clean products into your home, I’m happy to put this post together for you. If only it can save you a few months of scrolling and endlessly looking for options and all that time asking ChatGPT to help a girl out and find some products for every corner of your home.
Because girl, I’ve been there, and ooph – I did not enjoy the effort it takes to actually find products (not to mention all that money spent testing them). But the end results I’m loving! My skin is clearer (because of the sheets on my bed – and my natural skincare remedy), my body is happier (hello plastic-free kitchen), and unrelated to things mentioned in this post, and more related to switching to natural fiber clothing (check out our natural fiber activewear post here, we’ve got a more inclusive clothing post coming soon) I feel less…gross. Is it TMI if I say you sweat differently when you wear natural fiber clothes?
No but seriously – there’s no way I can go back to using polyester – *cough* plastic *cough* – blankets in my home. I’m so dedicated to the whole natural fiber sheets and blankets thing that I totally shoved a 100% cotton blanket in my suitcase on a recent trip to the US and lugged it all the way back to Perú with me.
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Bedroom
The bedroom is one of the best places to start on your toxic-free, clean home journey, especially since you spend so many hours sleeping there.
Transitioning to a plastic-free, natural fiber home is essentially a big game of out with the old and in with the new. Which can be daunting if you’ve got to do all that research yourself. Don’t worry, I’ve gotchu.
- Sheets & Blankets
- Quince – they’ve got blankets and sheets galore! This is the brand I mentioned I bought a blanket from and hauled all the way to Perú (It’s currently my fav).
- Parachute – love! But I’ve found the linen sheets to be too hot – but maybe that’s just me.
- Garnet Hill – their organic cotton sheets are the ones currently on my bed!
- Pillows & Pillowcases
- Silk pillowcases – comes in a two pack and includes two scrunchies.
- 100% wool pillow – not great for side sleepers, but if you sleep on your back (like my husband), it’s great!
- Mattresses & Frames
- Medley Home – they offer options made from natural latex (derived from the sap of rubber trees) and wool fiber.
- Curtains
- We bought linen curtains from Etsy!
Possible unpopular opinion here, but we’re totally here for giving blankets and bed sheets as gifts. Silk pillowcases also make a great gift if you want a slightly cheaper, but skin-healthy, YOU-healthy option.
Living Room
Moving on to the living room, we’ve got:
- Couches
- Medley Home – in total transparency, we haven’t tried their couches yet, but, it’s on the shopping list.
- Rugs
- We’re still looking for some good rug options. Jute or hemp are natural fibers and are generally considered a good option, but we don’t have a specific brand that’s making these. Do you have any recommendations?
- Maybe I should ask ChatGPT…
- We’re still looking for some good rug options. Jute or hemp are natural fibers and are generally considered a good option, but we don’t have a specific brand that’s making these. Do you have any recommendations?
- Curtains
- Again, check Etsy for linen curtains or cotton curtains.
Laundry Room
Maybe you’re like me and started looking for some non-toxic options for your home due to an allergy. It all started for me after a horrible allergic reaction to some brand-name laundry soap. It was bad – it was so, so bad. But here we are now, living my best life, so así es la vida.
- Laundry soap – if you’re sensitive to chemicals in your household products, I cannot recommend this brand enough!
- Dryer balls – or, you can always do what we do here in Perú and just hang your laundry to air dry.
Kitchen
There are so many things you can swap out in your kitchen to bring healthier-for-you options. Let’s talk about them!
- Water Filter – to remove toxins from your water
- Sponges – plant-based
- Cleaners
- Dishwasher cleaner
- Dish soap
- All-purpose spray
- Cutting Boards – wood is a great first step, any wood. If you can get a solid piece of wood vs one glued together, that’s definitely better. There are tons of options on Amazon (we like this one), or if you want more solid piece options, I’d recommend looking on Etsy, or picking up something at the Indian Market in Perú. You know…when you’re in the area next.
- Knives – we recommend you invest in quality knives, like Henckels, and a quality knife sharpener. Stainless steel knives with wood handles is a great plastic-free option! This one from Amazon is a personal fave and is a little more budget-friendly.
- Pots & Pans – GET RID OF YOUR NON-STICK PANS! Throw it out! It’s all poison (even the ones that say they’re not, it all is – don’t listen to that liar). Costco often has great deals on stainless steel pots and pans sets, which is typically where we get ours.
- Le Creuset cast iron pots and pans are also a great option! And in a pinch, they can double as a self-defense weapon…you know, if you can swing it without blowing your shoulder out.
- Dishes – I tend to like Made In because they’re very transparent about where their products come from. Or here’s a nice option from Amazon.
- The important thing with dishes is you’re trying to avoid lead. It’s not as big of a concern with brand new dishes. But if you have dishes that have been passed down from relatives, you may want to get a lead test. The paint they use on designs is where you really need to be cautious. Because the plate material is a different material from the paint, which can be toxic.
- Silicone Recs – while silicone is better than plastic, there are some studies that show it can leach if it gets hot. So keep that in mind when shopping for your silicone pieces. That being said, the main recommendation I have is for reusable bags.
- Stasher has so many reusable bag options, like this one from Amazon. But, if you wait until closer to Black Friday or other major holidays, they usually have some really good deals directly on their website that Amazon doesn’t always have.
- Personally, as someone who lives abroad, I really like these. They’re great for when I want to travel with snacks on a bus, plane, or car ride. They’re durable, reusable and come in tons of sizes. I use these a lot in my day to day life as getting other plastic free options here in Perú is really difficult.
- I suppose I should mention that this is something I bought in the US and brought back to Perú with me. I’ve never seen them in stores here. But they smush and pack really well in a suitcase!
- Personally, as someone who lives abroad, I really like these. They’re great for when I want to travel with snacks on a bus, plane, or car ride. They’re durable, reusable and come in tons of sizes. I use these a lot in my day to day life as getting other plastic free options here in Perú is really difficult.
- Stasher has so many reusable bag options, like this one from Amazon. But, if you wait until closer to Black Friday or other major holidays, they usually have some really good deals directly on their website that Amazon doesn’t always have.
Pantry
I cannot stress this enough – but it’s time to get rid of those plastic Tupperwares.
- Glass storage containers – did you know that using glass instead of plastic actually makes your veggies and herbs last longer?
- We’ve got glass containers in all shapes and sizes in my house, so here’s another great option for you.
- Mason Jars – my family uses these for everything! As a drinking glass, food storage (we like to do a little meal prep after a trip to the farmers market and store all the herbs in glass jars so they last longer), for meals for work, the tallow lotion I buy comes in one of these jars. The best thing is they come in all kinds of sizes. I love to buy the teeny tiny 4oz jars for homemade salad dressing storage, and they make the perfect gift size if I want to give them away with a homemade treat inside. They also come in a wide-mouth option here.
- Pro Tip: Get other lids from Amazon, like these spout lids, to make your Mason Jars more versatile.
- Pyrex glass storage – FYI, Costco usually has good deals on Pyrex sets
- Measuring cups – you can’t go wrong with a good Pyrex glass measuring cup
Bathroom
Ah, the bathroom, so many potential toxins here. But let’s talk about just the home stuff.
- Robe – naturual fiber, long, and so comfortable!
- Shower curtain – wash it every one to two weeks, it will get stinky if you don’t wash it. But if you wash it (probably at the same time as you wash your sheets…you are washing your sheets, right?) it will be fine.
- Rug – you can find tons of cotton options on Etsy and Amazon (just be warned, the natural options don’t really come with grippers, and can be slippery). If you’re not afraid of getting a little arts and crafty, I’d recommend getting a 100% cotton bath mat and some rug grippers from Amazon so you don’t risk falling.
- Water filter for your shower
- Toilet bowl cleaner
- Towels – we have Parachute towels, but honestly, finding 100% cotton towels is not as difficult as you may think. Just start reading tags; even Costco has some.
Interested in natural skincare options? Check out this post here!
Pro Tip: If you’re trying to replace everything in your house, it can get kind of expensive, but if you’re open to buying gently used things – just wash them well – there are sometimes deals to be had on Poshmark. But read the descriptions carefully!
What other non-toxic content would you be interested in? Would a post about non-toxic soaps for your head, shoulders, knees, and toes interest you? Let me know in the comments so I can put it together for you!
Explore other recent posts:
- Essential Plastic-Free, Natural Fiber Swaps For Every Room
- My Favorite Apps & Websites To Use While Traveling Or Living Abroad
- Non Toxic Activewear | My Favorite Microplastic Free Yoga Pants
- Come See My Peruvian Textiles: Including Fabrics, Yarn and Ribbons
- How I Made A Farm Rio Inspired Matching Set
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P.S. If you’re looking for an activity you can do on a bad flare day and from bed or with your virtual community, download our free trivia here.
Playing trivia is a great way to still participate in fun activities with your friends and family without ever leaving the comfort of your bed. It’s perfect for keeping in touch with friends who you may not be able to visit regularly. Check it out and let us know what you think! 👇
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