In the last few months, I've grown increasingly more interested in whole health living. As I've shared before, I'm buying organic and/or locally grown food, and that's been a great start. Little by little, I've been trying to become a family that buys and consumes responsibly.
After choosing to buy and eat organic and local foods, I started going through my home to try to make a list of all the chemicals we are using so I could begin swapping them out for healthier, all-natural, eco-friendly products instead. Have you ever taken a chemical inventory of your home? You might be surprised at what you find and all the chemicals you are using.
- glass cleaner
- stain remover
- countertop & surface cleaners
- air fresheners
- hand soap
- dishwashing soaps & detergents
- toilet cleaner
And think about all the personal and beauty products you use on a daily basis! Chemicals you're putting on your scalp, your eyes, your lips...
- shampoo & conditioner
- face wash & makeup remover
- lotions and soaps
- makeup - lipstick, eyeliner, mascara, etc...
- feminine hygiene products
It becomes a little overwhelming to take in! It's harmful to you, to your pets, to your environment... it's just bad!
After the overwhelming part, I realized I needed to do something about this. I needed to understand what solutions were available to me and what I could actually afford. After all, we're on a budget, and what I've always seen and assumed and read is that these kind of changes are expensive! Thankfully, after a few Internet searches and asking around, I've found a couple resources I thought I'd pass on.
This has been a fun experiment. First of all, Jessica Alba is one of the founders. (That's pretty cool, but celebrity endorsements don't do too much for me.) Second, the offer a free trial. (Now we're talking!) And third, there's no commitment. You can buy in bundles depending on your needs and set up a recurring shipment, too. That makes it really easy! Best of all, all of the products 100% plant-based and sustainably-sourced. They're not the cheapest option and I don't like their shampoo very much, but I feel good buying from the Honest Company.
2. ePantry
You guys. This is the ultimate solution. Choose products based on your needs from multiple eco-friendly brands, set up monthly shipments (where it even guesses what your low on and suggests what you may need!), and use their super user-friendly app to manage what gets sent out when. The prices are affordable and almost all of my chemicals I was using have now been swapped out with ePantry items. (ALSO! PSA! IF YOU USE THIS LINK, YOU GET A $10 CREDIT! WOO!)
I've talked about them before in regards to food products, pet products, and also paper products, but they also have a personal care section and a home section where you can purchase everything from plant seeds to lip balm, from essential oils to to air freshener. This is one more really great solution. If I ever forget anything in my ePantry shipment, it's easy to throw in some personal care goodies with my snack order and dog treats!
The moral of this story is... Going green is not as hard as it may seem. It's taken some trial and error, and it's been easiest to slowly swap out more and more, but I feel happier, safer, cleaner, and all around better about my conscious and eco-friendly shopping decisions I've made for my family!