Living a toxin-free life does not mean you need to be hyper-vigilant to the point of exhaustion. If you’re overwhelmed and anxious because you pursued a cleaner lifestyle, this is your sign to take a step back. 

I see a lot of parallels happening in the wellness industry right now between the dogmatic diet culture and the clean living space. I am passionate because I think the secrecy of what companies are putting in your products needs to come to light. 

But even a good, healthy thing can be taken too far. When these conversations start to induce feelings of anxiety or maybe even shame, the effect of those feelings can actually be worse than the products you’re avoiding. 

Spoiler alert: There is no such thing as completely toxin-free living, and that is not a goal that anybody should be striving for. Instead, focus on living a toxin-free (ish) lifestyle.

In this short episode, I’m hoping to send you off with a newfound confidence that you DO have the tools and strategy you need to live a more toxin-free life. I’ll be sharing my simple, stress-free, five-step framework for living a toxin-free(ish) life. 

You can reduce your toxin exposure by focusing on the five things in your home that are contributing the most. Then, I’ll walk you through the three key questions to ask yourself when it comes to all the rest.

IN THIS EPISODE, I COVER:

• The harmful effects of stressing yourself out about toxins
• The three questions I ask myself when a product falls outside of the big five.
• The five categories that deserve your time and attention, and if you’re able, a little bit of investment.

3 Questions to Ask If You Should Find a Swap

If a product falls outside the Big 5, it could go under your ‘ish’ category, meaning you know it might not be the best thing for you, but you’re okay with that.

These are three questions to ask yourself to see if you need to find a toxin-free swap, or if you’re okay with it being an ‘ish’.

• Is there an alternative available that is cost-effective, still works, and is convenient to buy?
• Does this align with a current priority of mine?
• Would giving this up steal my joy?

And once you decide, it doesn’t have to be set in stone! I usually don’t go out for greasy tacos and flavored margaritas with artificial dyes, but when I’m visiting my friends in California, that’s definitely something we’re doing!

You can determine what’s important to you and when you’re willing to be a little flexible.

5 Categories That Deserve Your Attention

Now, it’s totally okay to have some ‘ishes’, but these five categories are definitely worth swapping out. They’re chock full of chemicals and toxins that can lead to serious health concerns. 

If you’re going to invest your time, energy, and money into anything toxin-free, let it be in these categories.

• Keeping the water you drink clean.
• Cutting out artificial fragrances.
• Ditching and swapping your household cleaners.
• Addressing the indoor air quality of your home.
• Swapping your deodorant.

I have a ton of resources to learn more about each of these categories (or you can listen to the episode to find out why these are so important!)

Prioritize What Matters Most at Home

These five things are what you probably use every day and are exposed to the most. You use deodorant every day. You drink water every day. You live in your house where you use cleaning supplies. You get my point.

When you swap for a toxin-free alternative in these categories, you’re making the biggest difference in your health.

Start with one of these categories, and once you’re done, move on to another one. Start slow and you’ll eventually have a toxin-free(ish) home!

SHOP MY FAVORITES:

Download the Tossing the Toxins Guide

Shop toxin-free household products on the Toxin Free Shopping Guide

Take a peek at what’s in my house and my favorites here.

Related Episodes:

Episode 41: How to Create a Holistic Lifestyle You Actually Love

Episode 109: The Beginner’s Guide to Non-Toxic Living: 5 Simple Steps for the Biggest Impact

Episode 118: The Top 25 Toxic Ingredients to Avoid in 2025!

FAQs About Living Toxin-Free(ish)

How do I remove toxins from my house?

Start with removing the toxins you’re exposed to the most: cleaning supplies, fragrances, and skincare. Use my Toxin-Free Shopping Guide as a resource to find and purchase non-toxic products.

What are the most toxic household items?

The most toxic household items are candles and fragranced room sprays, cleaning supplies, and deodorant. These are the items that should be moved from your home or swapped first.

How can I make my house smell good without toxic chemicals?

Non-toxic candles or diffusers with high-quality essential oils are great options! It also helps to simply open your windows and get some fresh air into your home.

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS WEEK’S EPISODE, PLEASE:

• Leave a positive review or rating wherever you listen
• Shop toxin-free products on my Toxin Free Shopping Guide
• Download your free Tossing the Toxins Guide
• Post a screenshot, what you loved, and tag me on Instagram @wendy_toxinfreeish

Want to ask me a question to get answered on the podcast? Leave me a voice message here.