Some changes in life happen loudly — a big move, a new job, a new baby. But the changes that have shaped our home the most were the quiet ones. The tiny, almost invisible decisions we made in the middle of ordinary days: choosing glass instead of plastic, cooking fresh instead of opening a packet (not always though), reaching for a dish brush instead of a sponge. None of it felt revolutionary at the time. But looking back, these small swaps have completely transformed the way our home feels — calmer, cleaner, lighter, and more intentional.
This journey became personal when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Watching her navigate treatment reminded me how much our daily choices matter — what we eat, what we breathe, what we put on our skin. A decade earlier, my father passed away from GBM4, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. That loss shook me to my core and planted the earliest seeds of awareness. Since then, I’ve been learning, unlearning, and slowly reshaping our home to be a place of healing, not harm.
This isn’t about perfection or fear. It’s about informed choices. It’s about protecting our family’s health, reducing the noise and toxins around us, and creating a home that supports us instead of overwhelming us. It’s about choosing better, not more. And it’s about realizing that sustainability isn’t a grand lifestyle overhaul — it’s a series of tiny, doable choices that add up quietly in the background.
These are the swaps we’ve made so far, the habits that stuck, and the things I’m still figuring out. If you’re on your own journey toward a healthier, simpler home, maybe some of these will resonate with you too. I hope this gives you ideas without overwhelming you.
Key Principles I’ve Learned so Far
- 🌿 Choose natural options whenever possible
- 🍃 Pick materials and foods closest to their natural state
- 🔁 What you use every day matters more than the occasional treat
- 📄 Read ingredient lists — shorter and simpler is usually better
- 🔥 Avoid heating plastic; it breaks down into toxins
- 🧴 Materials matter (glass, steel, wood better than plastic)
- ⏳ Long shelf life often means preservatives
- 🌱 Foods that come directly from the earth are always better than processed ones
- 🧪 All processed foods contain additives — some more harmful than others
- 🧖♀️ What goes on your skin also matters; not just what goes in your body
- 🌬️ Air quality matters — avoid artificial fragrances and chemical scents
- 🥄 Choose cleaner cooking oils (olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, butter)
- 🍭 Avoid artificial colors and flavors, especially for kids
- 💛 Try not to obsess — stress is a toxin too, and balance matters
1. Kitchen Swaps That Made the Biggest Difference
Plastic → Glass (Everywhere Possible)
- Leftover containers & mixing bowls: We replaced plastic Tupperware & plastic mixing bowls with glass containers. They last longer, don’t stain, and don’t leach microplastics. Examples:
- We got a full Costco Glass Container set. Here is a similar one on Amazon. Wish their lids were not plastic either but no choice there unfortunately.
- Pyrex Glass Cooking/baking containers
- glass containers
- Spice jars & pantry storage: All spices, lentils, and dry goods now go into glass jars. Examples:
- I got most of mine from Dollarama.
- Reusing glass jars: Every salsa sauce, olives, coffee, or jam jar gets washed and reused for storage, freezing broth, organizing drawers, or even as vases.
Cookware Upgrades
- Nonstick pans → Stainless steel or cast iron Nonstick coatings break down over time. Stainless steel and cast iron last decades.
- We got Stainless Steel Frying pans from Ikea. Its definitely harder to cook with them so we try to keep learning with tutorials on youtube.
- Plastic/silicone spatulas → Stainless steel or wooden Heat + plastic = microplastics. Stainless steel has been a clean, durable upgrade. Here is the link to my set from Amazon.
Cooking Oils
- Canola oil & seed oils → Olive oil, avocado oil, desi ghee, or butter I’ve become much more mindful of the oils we cook with. We now stick to olive oil for low‑heat cooking, avocado oil or ghee for higher heat, and butter in moderation. Avoiding highly processed seed oils has been a simple but powerful shift.
Food Choices
- Foods with artificial colors/flavors → Cleaner, simpler ingredients Especially for kids. If the ingredient list reads like a chemistry lab, it’s a no from me.
Especially for kids. If the ingredient list reads like a chemistry lab, it’s a no from me.
Dishwashing
- Sponges → Dishwashing brushes Sponges harbor bacteria quickly. A wooden dish brush lasts longer and dries faster.
Travel & On-the-Go
- Plastic travel mugs → Stainless steel
- Plastic Bottled water → Reusable bottle I carry my stainless steel bottle everywhere now.
2. Health & Food Swaps
Sweeteners & Baking
- White sugar → Brown sugar, coconut sugar, or honey
- White flour → Organic flour, almond flour, or whole wheat
Snacks
- Artificial candies → Milk chocolate or lower-sugar treats We still enjoy treats, just with fewer dyes and additives.
Coffee
- Instant cappuccino sachets → Homemade instant latte Fewer additives, cleaner ingredients, and honestly better taste.
- Takeaway coffee paper cups → Stainless steel travel mug. These cups are lined in plastic & are so harmful for us.
Dishwashing
- Commercial tablets → Natural/eco-friendly tablets
Produce Cleaning
- Washing fruits and vegetables with baking soda to help remove surface pesticides.
- Understanding & implementing The Dirty Dozen & Clean 15 through this useful resource.
Cooking Habits
- Cooking fresh vegetables and meat as much as possible
- Reducing processed foods
- Reducing takeout and restaurant meals
3. Home Environment Swaps
Fragrance & Air Quality
- Fragrance plug-ins → None
- Scented candles → Minimal use
- Aerosol air fresheners → Avoided
- Trying to open windows as much as possible.
Indoor air quality matters more than we realize.
Baby & Kids
- Preloved Over New: Clothing, toys, crib, changing table, cycle, bike,scotter etc → Preloved whenever possible. This has become one of my favorite lifestyle changes. Preloved items are often better quality, more affordable, and reduce waste. For kids’ birthdays, I even write on the invite: “Please choose a preloved gift for us.” It’s been heartwarming to see how many parents appreciate this shift.
- Baby monitor → Only during illness/emergencies
- Noise machine → Reduced usage (Both due to EMF exposure and dependency concerns.)
- Kids’ plastic cutlery/crockery → Stainless steel or glass
4. Personal Care
Hair dye → Natural hair I stopped dyeing my hair to break free from unnecessary chemicals. It’s been liberating yet difficulat in the beginning. Now I’m loving it.
Skin & hair care → Natural alternatives rather than spending millions on chemicals that aren’t even good for you. So much better for our skin and hair & hardly costs anything. Examples:
- Rice water for hair: I love saving Rice Water every time I cook rice (whenever you boil rice or soak it, save its water in fridge for next few days to apply in hair for 15 mins before a shower). Leaves hair luciously shiny and healthy.
- Egg white on face: Its great for skin.
- Sandlewood powder on face: So good for skin esp for breakouts. Its great prevention for pimples. I swear by it and been using it for decades on and off.
- Porrige/oat for face: Works great.
- Lemon for skin: Anytime you use lemon, just scrub leftover skin on your face, hands, elbows and feet. Great cleanser and scrubber and feels so clean.
- So many other things that are in your kitchen are great for skin & hair: yogurt, lemon, mayonnaise, oil, cucumber etc.
Loofah → Shower brush A cleaner, more hygienic alternative that lasts longer and feels better on the skin.
5. Clothing Swaps for Healthier Skin & a Cleaner Closet
- Synthetic fabrics → Organic cotton wherever possible I try to choose cotton whenever possible especially for sleepwear, undergarments, kids’ clothes & bedsheets. It’s softer, breathable, and free from harsh dyes and finishes.
I’m also learning about other natural fabrics that are better for our skin and the planet:
| Fabric | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Organic Cotton | Hypoallergenic, breathable, free from pesticides and chemical dyes |
| Linen | Made from flax, biodegradable, moisture-wicking, gentle on sensitive skin |
| Hemp | Durable, antimicrobial, requires less water and pesticides to grow |
| Bamboo Linen | Naturally antibacterial, soft, moisture-wicking |
| Silk | Gentle on skin, biodegradable, but best sourced ethically |
| Wool (untreated) | Warm, breathable, natural — avoid blends with synthetics |
These swaps help reduce microplastic pollution, skin irritation, and exposure to petrochemical-based dyes and finishes. I’m still figuring out how to source these affordably and sustainably, especially for seasonal wear and kids’ clothing — but even small steps feel meaningful.
6. Reuse, Repurpose & Reduce Waste
Trying to avoid disposable items as much as possible. Choosing ‘biodegradable’ wherever possible.
New furniture, clothing, accessories, gadgets → Preloved whenever possible This has become one of my favorite lifestyle changes. Preloved items are often better quality, more affordable, and reduce waste.
Reusing Plastic That Comes Into the Home
I never buy organizers. All the plastic boxes from groceries — berries, greens, mushrooms, etc. — get washed and reused as drawer organizers, craft storage, pantry dividers, and more.
Cloth Over Paper
- Old washcloths → dusting, cleaning, wiping spills
- Paper towels → used sparingly
Recycling
We sort and recycle everything properly. It’s a small habit but makes a big difference.
7. Tech & Lifestyle Swaps
Phone habits → Speakerphone or wired earphones only I never put my phone directly to my ear anymore. After losing my father to GBM4, I became deeply mindful of EMF exposure.
Wireless Bluetooth Earphones → Wired Earphones
A small EMF reduction that gives peace of mind.
Reducing Screen & Device Dependency
Not a swap, but a mindset shift — especially around kids’ devices and sleep aids.
8. Things I’m Still Learning & Want to Improve
Vulcan Gloves nitrile:
I have been reusing these gloves after washing for making parathas. But from some AI research, I learned that this may not be safe for health. However, I’m not ready to dispose off the gloves only after using them once as thats so bad for the enviornment. Safest is washed hands. I’m quite used to cooking parathas with gloves and feel hands only (nails/polish etc) may not be that hygienic also. So I’m sleeping over this one for now.
Vitamins & Supplements
I’m becoming more mindful about anything with a long shelf life. I want to research cleaner brands and understand what’s actually necessary.
Makeup
I’ve reduced makeup to once a week or less. I’ve been using brands like Physicians Formula, but I want to learn more about:
- Cleaner ingredients
- Shorter ingredient lists
- Brands with transparent sourcing
Essential Oils
I bought them years ago— But I want to learn how to use them effectively. Some beginner-friendly uses I want to explore:
- Adding a few drops to mop water
- Diffusing during cleaning
- Using lavender on pillow corners
- Mixing with vinegar for natural cleaning sprays
Where to Learn More: Health Experts Who’ve Guided My Journey
So much of what I’ve learned about cleaner living, detoxing, and making informed choices has come from people who dedicate their lives to understanding the body, the environment, and the hidden toxins we’re exposed to every day. These are the voices I trust and return to often:
1. Dr. Daniel Pompa
His work on cellular healing, detoxification, fasting, and environmental toxins has shaped so many of the swaps I’ve made. His explanations are practical, science-backed, and easy to apply in real life.
2. Dr. Sethi (Functional Medicine)
I’ve learned so much from her about hormone health, gut health, and reducing toxic load in everyday life. Her content is simple, relatable, and incredibly empowering.
3. Dr. Mark Hyman
Website. A leading voice in functional medicine. He breaks down complex health topics — inflammation, food quality, toxins, metabolic health — in a way that makes you rethink your daily choices.
4. Dr. Jolene Brighten
Website: https://drbrighten.com A hormone and women’s health expert. Her work is especially helpful for understanding how everyday products, stress, and diet affect our hormones.
5. The Environmental Working Group (EWG)
Not a single expert, but an incredible resource. Their databases (for cosmetics, cleaning products, sunscreens, produce, and more) help you make informed choices without overwhelm.
Closing Reflection
I’ll be honest — knowing all of this can feel heavy. Sometimes it overwhelms me to think about how many toxins surround us, how many products we grew up trusting, and how much of our lifestyle we’ve had to rethink. There are days when it stresses me out, and I have to consciously remind myself not to spiral. I try not to let this awareness consume me, because living in fear is its own kind of toxin. But I still believe these swaps matter.
They’re small, doable steps toward a healthier home, and they help me feel like I’m honoring my parents’ journeys by making more informed choices for my own family. Even though I know better now but I don’t always make the correct choices for myself.
Even when it feels like a lot — choosing better oils, avoiding artificial colors, opting for preloved items, or rethinking the things we bring into our home — I remind myself that this isn’t about perfection. Every swap we make — even the tiny ones — reduces toxins, saves money, and simplifies life. It’s about awareness. It’s about doing what we can, when we can, and giving ourselves grace for the rest.
I’d love to hear how your own journey is going. What swaps have you made, or what are you hoping to change next?
