12 Ways To Detox Your Home With Dr. Maren

We are so thankful to be featuring Dr. Christine Maren today on LSK! We connected with Dr. Maren because of our wellness series and we're so thankful that she offered to share her 12 Ways To Detox Your Home process here on the blog. As you know, we are so passionate about clean living and love getting our hands on the best information in order to make healthy choices, develop smart habits, and share new information with you guys! Below are her 12 steps to make your home a clean, safe, and healthy space. Be sure to follow Dr. Maren on Instagram, too. xo1. IF THERE’S ONE THING YOU DO, FILTER YOUR DRINKING WATER AND TEST YOUR WATER SUPPLY.

Filtering your water helps to decrease potential exposures to heavy metals like lead, arsenic and cadmium as well as a slew of chemicals and solvents like trihalomethanes, atrazine, benzene and chlorine.

The comprehensive test I recommend from National Testing Laboratories measures 20 heavy metals and minerals; 7 inorganic chemicals; 4 physical characteristics; 16 disinfection by-products; 47 volatile organic compounds; 20 pesticides, herbicides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Look for a NSF-certified water filter. My favorites are the Aquasana Reverse Osmosis with Remineralizer or Big Berkey.

2. DON’T FORGET ABOUT YOUR SHOWER AND BATH WATER.

A whole house filter or even a shower head filter can reduce your exposure to by-products of water treatment like chlorine - sometimes even chlorine and ammonia (chloramine) - and contaminants like organochloride pesticides from steamy vapors you and your family inhale while bathing.

I recommend the Aquasana whole house filter, or their premium shower head filter when a whole house filter isn’t possible.

3. BREATHE CLEAN AIR.

Use a high-quality air filter, especially in the bedrooms. Look for a triple element filter including HEPA, carbon and zeolite to help to minimize airborne toxins, including benzene, wood smoke, formaldehyde, mycotoxins and other volatile organic compound (VOCs).

I recommend the Austin Air HealthMate Plus or IQAir. Be sure to factor in the cost and frequency of filter replacement when you consider your purchase.

Also, make it a habit to purge the air in your home by opening doors and windows for 5-10minutes a day. House plants also help pull toxins from the air.

4. INVEST IN AN ORGANIC MATTRESS AND BEDDING.

We spend a third of our life in bed, so changes you make in the bedroom count. Organic beds help limit exposures to flame retardants (polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDEs), decabromodiphenyl oxideantimony, insecticides like boric acid, synthetic pesticides, formaldehyde and other chemical additives.

I recommend My Green Mattress and IntelliBED. My favorite low-cost bedding is Target's Threshold Organic Cotton Sheet Set.

5. DUST AND VACUUM REGULARLY.

Household dust and dirt is thought to be one of the biggest sources of daily exposure to lead, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), pesticides, and other chemicals.

Invest in a high quality HEPA vacuum from Miele or Nilfisk. Swiffers also do a good job of clinging to dust.

6. CLEAN WITH FRAGRANCE-FREE AND SOLVENT-FREE DETERGENTS AND CLEANERS.

Many conventional cleaning products expose you and your family to hazardous chemicals which are known human carcinogens and endocrine disruptors - things like phthalates, benzene and boric acid. Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that can interfere with the body’s endocrine (or hormone) systems, causing harmful developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects.

You can clean almost anything with baking soda or vinegar and essential oils, or consult EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning for better alternatives.

I buy my favorite household cleaners through Branch Basics and Thrive Market. I also add the Micro Balance E3C Laundry Additive to every load of laundry to help eliminate mold spores.

7. SWAP OUT PLASTIC FOR GLASS

Limit your exposure to phthalates by using glass, ceramic, or stainless steel containers for heating and storing hot food. Avoid plastic water bottles and travel mugs.

Mason jars make an inexpensive alternative. I also love my glass and stainless steel water bottles from brands like U Konserve, Thinksport, S'well, Lifefactory and Kleen Kanteen.

8. AVOID NON-STICK POTS AND PANS.

Teflon exposes your food to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Lodge Cast Iron pans are a great option because they’re economical and durable. Ceramic, stoneware, and stainless steel are also good alternatives.

9. CHOOSE LOCAL, SEASONAL, AND ORGANIC PRODUCE WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

Wash all fruits and vegetables using mild additive-free soap and clean water to limit exposures to organochloride pesticides (OCs) and organophosphate pesticides (OPs),

including glyphosate.

Avoid the EWG “Dirty Dozen” list of high-pesticide produce. Consider purchasing a membership to a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) box.

10. SHOP FOR ORGANIC AND GRASS-FED OR PASTURED ANIMAL PRODUCTS.

Buying clean animal products limits exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochloride pesticides (OCs), organophosphate pesticides (OPs), dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs).

I order grass-fed beef, bison, lamb and pork through Butcher Box and U.S. Wellness Meats.

11. WHEN IT COMES TO FISH, THINK SMALL

Larger carnivorous fish like tuna, sea bass, halibut and swordfish may contain mercury, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Farmed salmon may also contain PCBs.

Reference the NRDC Mercury in Fish Wallet Card or EWG’s Consumer Guide to Seafood.

My favorite resource for organic, wild seafood is Vital Choice. I buy the canned Redtresca salmon belly, wild Alaskan salmon filets, wild Atlantic sea scallops, and wild Portuguese sardines in extra virgin olive oil.

12. AVOID SPRAYING YOUR HOME AND LAWN WITH WEED AND/OR PEST KILLERS.

Although these poisons are easy to purchase and look almost innocuous, they are far from safe and expose your family to toxic organochloride pesticides (OCs) and organophosphate pesticides (OPs) like glyphosate. Also, removing shoes you’ve worn outside helps prevent pesticides from entering your home.

Reference the EPA’s Citizen’s Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety for tips on prevention and safer alternatives, including “biological controls” like ladybugs.

HEALTH STARTS AT HOME.

I'm Dr. Christine Maren, a board-certified functional medicine physician and mother of three. I advocate for real food, healthy living, and clean beauty. I think physicians should be role models when it comes to nutrition and healthy living, and my mission is to empower others to achieve the highest expression of health.

These are the tried and tested resources that I recommend to my patients and use in my own home. You'll find more of my favorites - along with special offers and discounts – at drchristinemaren.com/trusted-products.

---