Is Your Home Making You Sick? Hidden Toxins in Your Home

Most of us consider our homes “safe spaces.” It’s where we relax and unwind. It’s where our kids crawl and our pets lounge. 

But what if your home isn’t as safe as you thought? 

Hidden toxins could be lingering in your house without you even knowing. These toxins can have significant health consequences that may be putting yourself and your family at risk.

I want to help you spot these toxins and eliminate them. Making small changes over time can help you create a truly safe and healthy environment for your family to thrive.

Do Toxins Really Affect Us?

The FDA deems many chemicals as “safe” at specific levels, but that doesn’t mean those chemicals don’t affect us. And in fact, we’re often exposed to higher levels of certain toxins because they may be on the ingredient list in several of the products found in our homes.

What happens when our bodies are exposed to these toxins everyday, multiple times a day? Our bodies can’t eliminate them as optimally as we should be able to because our bodily systems and processes have to deal with a bigger toxic load than normal.

Chemicals can affect anything from brain function to reproductive health to emotional health, and we call these hormone (or endocrine) disruptors. Since it takes only a minute amount of hormones to cause changes in the body, it’s vital that we eliminate products containing these. Let’s look at some of the effects of toxic exposure. 

Health Effects From Toxins:

• Disruption to Hormones
• Neurological Issues
• Reduced Fertility
• Negative Changes to the Gut Microbiome
• Cancer
• Delayed Cognitive & Physical Development
• Respiratory Problems

Here are some ways that toxins could be hiding in your home so that you know what to look out for and avoid.

Household Cleaning Supplies

Is it possible all of those household cleaners could be doing more harm than good? Many household cleaners contain potentially harmful chemicals like phthalates, halogenated flame retardants, and alkylphenols that are considered endocrine disruptors.

These toxins linger  in your house, sticking to surfaces and floating in the air you breathe. A number of studies showed how some particular chemicals like harmful fragrance chemicals, phenols, flame retardants, and phthalates were found in at least 90% of dust samples, suggesting ubiquitous presence in indoor environments.

A great, non-toxic brand of cleaning products we use in our home is Branch Basics (use code TAYLORDUKESWELLNESS). We use this for everything from cleaning our countertops and floors, to spraying veggies, to bath time with our baby, to laundry needs. I am very mindful of not only what I put in my body, but also what I put on my body. As a mother, I can feel confident using these products even with having a baby crawling around in the home.

Lingering Dust

The dust in your home could be trapping all those toxins, causing them to linger in your house longer than needed. Chemical dust fills the air and exposes the household to toxins from things like all purpose cleaning spray or automatic fragrance plug-ins. 

Dust is one of the main ways children are exposed to chemicals. Children play all around the house, crawling in corners and putting their hands on everything. If you don’t dust regularly, I’d encourage you to start now. This is one easy way to rid your house of those extra harmful chemicals.

My preferred method of dusting is wet dusting. Simply wet a microfiber cloth and wring it out until it is only slightly damp. Use this to dust furniture and truly “capture” those dust particles. Rinse the rag as needed. 

Chemicals on Clothes and Furniture

Flame retardants, found particularly in children’s clothes and household furniture, can be laden with harmful chemicals. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), the chemical used as flame retardants, can lead to thyroid disorders, decreased cognitive function, early-onset puberty, delayed physical and mental development, cancer and can negatively impact the immune system. 

When buying products or furniture, buy ones filled with cotton or wool instead of polyurethane foam. Also, be mindful of the soap you use to launder your clothes, as this has a significant impact on your health. If you use laundry detergent or dryer sheets with chemicals, this not only lingers on your clothes, but also your towels and your bed sheets. 

I highly recommend using wool dryer balls, using non toxic detergent (I use Branch Basics – use code TAYLORDUKESWELLNESS) and investing in a non-toxic mattress (use code TAYLORDUKES) so that your body is able to rest, reset, and detox while you sleep.

Mold Exposure

If you have ever experienced water damage in your house or you even have extra moisture in the air, mold could be a problem you don’t even know exists. Mold exposure can increase your risk of asthma and rhinitis. Molds can also produce mycotoxins, which heighten your risk for immune deficiencies, cancers, and other issues. 

Mold can release tiny spores which contaminate the air around. Depending on the degree and severity of mold exposure, you may need to work with a functional medicine provider and mold remediation company to help you navigate your environment and next steps. 

I recommend having air purifiers in bedrooms and living spaces to destroy pollutants including VOCs, bacteria, mold, viruses, and allergens. 

Toxins in Your Water Supply

Think about all of the water you consume throughout the day. No only do we need drinking water, but many of us also use water for tea, coffee, and cooking. Beyond that, consider the water you use to wash your hands and to take a shower/bath.

Your body is made up of about 60% of water, so it’s important to hydrate optimally. However, we also need to ensure we’re using clean water. 

The sad reality is most of the water supply is contaminated with chemicals or heavy metals. These pollutants, depending on the level, can range in side effects from neurological to endocrine-disrupting to cancer-causing.

One great tool you can use to see the chemicals in your water supply’s zip code is the EWG Tap Water Database. You can search your town to see the specific chemicals in your water. From there, you can decide on the best water filtration system to reduce or eliminate them. I trust and love Aquasana (use code AQTDW50) for my own family’s water filtration needs. 

Ways to Make Your Home Toxin Free

To start your non-toxic living journey, here are a couple of things you can do to help reduce the toxins in your home.

• Remove your shoes at the door to reduce tracking in toxins
• Open your windows as often as possible, even if it’s only for 15 minutes per day
• Make sure your home air system is clean and running effectively
• Use high quality air purifiers
• Buy non-toxic household cleaners – use code TAYLORDUKESWELLNESS
• Make your own DIY cleaners with vinegar/baking soda mixtures
• Buy organic cotton clothing to reduce chemical exposure especially for your kids
• Use non-toxic laundry detergent – use code TAYLORDUKESWELLNESS
• Invest in a non-toxic mattress (use code TAYLORDUKES)
• Dust your home weekly
• Vacuum your carpets regularly
• Filter your water (use code AQTDW50)
• Get a dehumidifier if your home easily retains moisture
• Use wool dryer balls
  

If you are worried that you and/or your family are being exposed to toxins causing adverse health effects, one way to check is by getting tested. Once you know the specific problem that is affecting your body, you will be better able to change your lifestyle behaviors and environment to avoid them.

I offer the Vibrant Total Tox Burden lab test as an option for TDW Community Members. Many have found this information invaluable in pinpointing the types and sources of toxins in their environment. This is a huge way to uplevel your personalized detox plans. 

Stay Updated on All Things Wellness

At Taylor Dukes Wellness, we are always working on new ways to serve you on your health journey. Be the first to learn about new healthy living resources, blog posts, and TDW offerings, by getting on my insider list here.

And get deeper support through my TDW Community. When you become a member, you get access to functional medicine expertise from me and my team, a digital library of exclusive wellness content like deep dives, live monthly Q&As with me and more.