Low tox living thread?

[Peony1897]

Yes I realise the name sounds a bit conspiracy and Insta 😬

I’m trying to make some gentle swaps to more eco friendly cleaning, cooking, beauty and so on, and just wondered if anyone else would be interested in swapping tips or reviews? 🍃

Anyone?

I will join as am trying to do similar. I find the free Yuka app good as you can scan product bar codes and it highlights harmful ingredients and suggests healthier alternatives.

So far I have replaced my aluminium based deoderant with a mineral salt one, replaced my suncreen with a zinc oxide one and got rid of all non stick cookware and plastic utensils.

I only use stainless steel pans and utensils to cook with and I clean the kitchen with white vinegar instead of chemicals.

Hi! Thanks for the suggestion will give the Yuka a try - is it easy to use? I switched to Fussy a few months back having been an avid Mitcham user and I actually think it’s better than Mitcham! I haven’t had that BO smell once while using it even after very sweaty days exercising in the sun etc

I switched to mineral sunscreen 2 years ago but it’s so expensive 😬 I’m using Badger as at £20 a tube it’s the cheapest I can find. I see Aveeno do a mineral sunscreen but it seems to only be on sale in the states? Hoping a cheaper alternative will crop up at some stage.

Cookware I made the jump a few years ago, but we still have a non stick egg pan - one of the tiny ones I find really useful for the kids. Eye out for an aluminium one but not sure they even exist!

I think for me the areas I need to focus on now are beauty and cleaning - I still use the usual culprits for shampoo, shower gel etc. I’ve tried a few from Holland and Barrett like Faith in Nature but to be honest didn’t find them that effective.

Once I’ve ran down my current lot of cleaners I’m going to do a batch order from Miniml I think with the reusable bottles.

Are you trying to limit UPF as well?

Bumping one last time for anyone else!

I highly recommend the shampoo bars from Soul and Soap. I tried quite a few before I found them that didn't really work for me, but I've been using the tea tree and mint one, and the lemongrass one when that is out of stock, for about 4 years now. They also do a nice deo balm.

And I use smol for cleaning products - Ive found they're mostly as good as standard mainstream products. I know a lot of people using purdy and fig too, haven't used that myself but they are all raving about it

I will have a look at Smol, with Miniml they have a very short ingredient list and contain mainly non ionic surfactants. I’m no scientist so it’s hard to interpret them and whether they’re gentle ingredients or no.

Hi @Peony1897 have you used the Miniml products yet? I’ve been longing to swap out what I can kitchen, cleaning, beauty, clothing etc for more eco friendly products.

What a great thread, I'm surprised it hasn't had more responses.

I too am trying to cut back on toxic products. I love the smol range, the website/subscription service is very easy to manage too. Their bathroom spray, kitchen spray, washing up liquid are great. Their laundry pods are also very good, I've been using them for years and years now but do find I need to occasionally use something different or my washing machine starts to smell a bit.

I use basic bar soap for washing hands and body. I have given up trying to find a better shampoo and conditioner. I've wasted so much money on eco fancy stuff and they've never been great. Now I think two items I use ony hair 2/3 times a week will be ok because I'm perimenopausal and I really want nice hair

Yeah me too, just replacing the last of my non stick stuff with stainless steel. Managed to find a bread maker with a ceramic coated baking tub, seems like that is ‘better’.

Fab idea for thread

I'm using ocean saver dishwasher tabs, eco egg for washing machine, Miniml for cleaning spray, Faith in Nature for hair stuff, no fluoride toothpaste 50% of the time, bar soap with fewest ingredients

I use stainless steel pans/cutlery when possible.

I just invested in a British Berkefeld gravity water filter to minimise micropoastics/chemicals in the water.

I don't use sun cream, keep kids in shade when needed (sallow skinned anyway). They need some natural Vit D imo.

Slowly changing us to all cotton bed sheets.

I am not t so good on going natural with clothes as they're so costly and I'm not a fan of 2nd hand tbh. But being a little more conscious in that department.

I don't really use deodorant (it sounds crazy but I stopped when breastfeeding and don't seem to need it- I shower immediately after exercise and I will whack some natural on if I'm going somewhere I think I might need it) and I try not to use make up or even moisturiser- again, my skin doesn't seem to need mousturiser.

Definitely no air fresheners or plug ins used.

I've been buying the organic food I can afford, especially soft fruit and tomatoes.
I'm trying to avoid any UPF

I'd love any insights- am I missing anything ?
Very keen to get new ideas.

Oh and a random one - I don't use spot-ons on the pets anymore, just give them prescription tablets for their parasite prevention.

I've also ditched the plastic chopping boards

And next time i need to buy floss, I'm going to try a silk one (from Amazon)

I haven't bought the plastic free toothbrushes as horse / pigs fur bristles really grosses me out

We try to be low tox, especially low plastics.

I’m huge on fragrance free including natural fragrance or essential oils. We use Smol, Ecover Zero and Miniml in the house.

I recently bought a beautiful walnut chopping board and a bread board so no more plastic for us, except for raw chicken and fish.

I also refuse to heat in plastic, including ready meals if we have them in. We store in glass containers with plastic lids from IKEA.

I use a water flosser over regular floss too. Toothpaste and sun cream we use fluoride and SPF 50 versions as they’re both backed my science.

There’s an ‘ethical living’ section, you might find some good ideas there.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/ethical_living