THE FULLEST Guide to House Hygiene

A healthy home supports a healthy body and earth. However, like all things, it requires intention (and attention), the right information, and a plan of action! We’ve rounded up our favorite tips and recommendations of the best non-toxic products we’ve been using in our own homes and put it into a neat checklist. Regularly check-in with this guide and your home to give it some love and take care of its most pressing needs.

Bedroom

This is one of the most important rooms to keep toxin-free as it’s the place our bodies use to restore and replenish overnight. Here are some fresh tips to keep it healthy.

• Sheets: Not only are these Coyuchi bed linens stunning, they’re made with organic fibers, regeneratively farmed, fair-trade, and a member of 1% For The Planet.
• Mattresses: Your mattress can hold debris, skin, mites, and dust. On top of regular cleaning, and rotating once a month, choosing a mattress that is made with clean fibers is an amazing investment in your bedroom health. We love both Holy Lamb Organics and Avocado Mattresses that both use GOTS-certified wool and latex and have varying degrees of affordability. (Be sure to rotate your mattress every other month to ensure even wear over the lifespan of the mattress.) For $125 off any Green, Vegan, and Latex Avocado Mattress order, use code THEFULLEST at checkout.
• Sunning: Sun your pillows, duvets, and mattresses periodically to refresh and revitalize the wool.
• EMFs: Give your body and brain a break by turning off WiFi and Bluetooth every night. We definitely recommend Somavedic as our choice of mitigating device and they have a range of products and price points for multiple lifestyles.

Laundry

There are many environment-friendly alternatives that can clean your clothes just as powerfully as chemical options.

• Laundry detergent: Branch Basics Laundry Kit has everything you need from regular washes to stain removal and is refillable and absolutely non-toxic.
• Dryer balls: Do you love the smell of dryer sheets and the way they soften your clothes? Unfortunately, they can often be filled with harmful fragrances. These Wool Dryer Balls are a great alternative for dryer sheets, and soften clothes just as effectively while reducing dry time, wrinkles, and static.
• Laundry Stripping: Outside of regular washing, laundry stripping can detoxify your clothing from dirt, grime, and built up residues. Check out this simple video tutorial.

Bathroom

Mold is a common bathroom issue due to the moisture in the air and sometimes poor ventilation. However, there are ways to keep your bathroom tiles, sinks, toilets, linens, and surfaces clean and mold-free without resorting to harsh bleaches.

• Towels: After your shower your pores are open and more susceptible to toxins. Choose organic materials and unbleached fabrics like this gorgeous waffle towel from Auntie Oti.
• Mold Cleaner: Use Branch Basics Bathroom solution, Oxygen Boost +3% hydrogen peroxide to eliminate mold on hard surfaces.
• Toilet Spray: Dispel any unnecessary bathroom odors naturally with Supernatural’s Before-You-Go Toilet Spray. This toilet spray will help you to open up and ease your bowel movements so you can fully let go aided with the strong body relaxing scents of teakwood and tobacco. We love using the TUSHY Toilet Brush with Coconut Husk Pads to scrub the toilet.
• Bathroom Cleaners: 100% toxin-free, plant-derived, biodegradable formulas, hypoallergenic, anti-microbial, and antiviral we love their tile and grout powder and bathroom cleaners.
• Bath Mats: Mats are notorious mold and bacteria breeders. Be sure to clean them as often as you clean your towels. We recently discovered Dorai; thoughtfully designed home products made of diatomaceous earth, a natural material that dries instantly. Consider swapping your traditional bath mat for Dorai's Bath Stone. It’s designed to instantly remove water, actually helping prevent mold. Plus, you never have to think about washing your bath mat again! Use code Fullest15 at checkout for 15% off your Dorai order. We also are big fans of any bath mats made from natural materials like Jute because the dry more quickly and therefore, are less likely to mold.

Kitchen

As the place where we prepare and make our food, a hygienic kitchen is essential. A few swaps make your home’s heart clean, non-toxic, and easy to use!

• Cookware: The importance of choosing healthy food for our bodies is commonplace but much of our efforts can be undermined if we’re preparing it in certain kinds of cookware. Check out Dr. Sadeghi’s comprehensive guide for simple non-toxic swaps.
• Sponges: Swap your sponge (or pop it in the dishwasher at least once a week). You could also try a wool sponge that is naturally antibacterial and a cleaner alternative to synthetic sponges. Put them in the sun to detox and refresh.
• Drying Mats: Sick of mildewed dish towels? For something low cost and environmentally friendly look for wool options like this one that is naturally antimicrobial. Wool is capable of easily absorbing moisture and then evaporating it over time, which prevents mold and mildew. This Dorai Dishpad is also another option as a minimal, collapsible kitchen drying mat that dries instantly. Great for all types of drying jobs from dishes to produce and folds down for smaller items and easy storage when not in use.
• Water Filters: This one depends on the amount of water that you’re using and your system. But the basic rule of thumb for cleaning or changing a water filter is every 40 gallons or two months.Our favorite undercounter water system is from Pristine Hydro.
• Organic Quick Dry Towels: These towels are made in Japan using traditional Japanese weaving techniques. Many years ago, Nawrap manufactured mosquito nets, but later transitioned into home textiles. Because of this, the soft material has a net-like appearance. The weave construction is incredibly unique, and the fabric is very absorbent and quick to dry. Perfect for kitchen use.

General Tips & Monthly Check-Ins

Outside of the common cleaning areas, there are some simple items that can make a huge difference to the health of your home and your health. Although they don’t need to be done with the same consistency, make sure to check in on these for a thriving environment.

• Change your air conditioning air vents every 90 days.
• If available to you, invest in an air purifier filter (we love Molekule) and make sure to also change it every 90 days.
• If you don’t have a budget for an air purifier, pick up some beeswax candles. They are natural air purifiers and produce negative ions when burning. Learn more about functional candles that also detox your home, here.
• Vacuums do so much for the health of our homes. However, their filters easily get clogged and impacted with dirt and fuzz. Most vacuum brands offer specific tutorials on cleaning out vacuum filters.
• Leave your shoes at the door! This practice is employed in many Asian countries for its obvious cleanliness. Plus, it feels much nicer to have your feet connecting to the ground.

Finally, our biggest tip is to enjoy the process. We’ve been trained to feel that housework is a chore and something we “have” to do. However with the right mindset, playlist, or company, cleaning can be a process that feels good for the soul. Remember that you are taking care of your outer world and that’s going to have positive effects on your inner world too!