A Quest for Clean Living sounds refreshing and pure. We all quest for clean living in some way through our for love clean clothes, clean dishes, and especially a clean house.
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Learn about the one area that is harder to clean up in our lives – Living Well with Less Technology.
What does it mean to be on a “Quest for Clean Living? One definition is to pursue or search for a way to make our lives cleaner. A quest for living with less chemicals on our food, clothing, in our home, and in the air we breath.
Define Clean Living
The first thoughts that come to mind when defining clean living is striving to live a life that is free of the earthly elements that harm us physically or mentally.
Clean living can be defined as “someone who has a way of life that is healthy and morally good.” (According to the McMillian Dictionary).
Approach Clean Living by breaking it down into categories:
- clean eating
- chemical-free household products
- breathe in clean air
- clean living solutions
CLEAN EATING
The Quest for Clean Eating. Choosing to eat fruit, vegetables, grains, and meat that is free of chemical residues and processing is a great place to begin. Options for clean real food would be growing our own food, purchasing from local farmers, or choosing the organic label at the grocery store.
You want to eat clean real food but it doesn’t fit your budget?! No worries, buying and consuming clean food should not be stressful.
If your budget is limited, I would suggest using the “2022 Dirty Dozen & Clean 15“ The Environmental Working Group puts together a list of food that contained the most chemical residues (dirty) and the food that had little or no chemical residues (clean). You can find that list here.
Accept the Clean Eating Challenge today!
CLEAN HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
The Quest for a Clean Home. Imagine a household without commercial cleaners, plastic storage options, and even carpet! It is not just those people who are “green” that want cleaner options. More people are struggling with allergies and sensitives to chemicals, making them move towards other alternatives.
Four Areas to Consider
Let’s look at four areas to improve our home right now.
- Prepare a homemade cleaning solution
- Move Out Plastic
- Limit or Eliminate Carpet
- Toss Artificial Scents
First, consider making your own cleaning products. It is cost efficient, effective, and fun! I like to steep lemons (cut in half) in a jar of vinegar for at least a month. Strain. Store the lemon vinegar cleaner in a spray bottle. Natural Living Ideas has 8 homemade cleaning solutions.
Second, begin removing plastic items from your home. The easiest place to start is in your kitchen. Replace kitchen storage containers with glass storage containers. My family uses glass canning jars for packing a salad, storing food and freezing food. Homemade storage bags work great to replace plastic sandwich bags. Pyrex Simply Store Glass Rectangular and Round Food Container Set (18-Piece, BPA-free)
Third, when possible remove carpet and replace it with hardwood flooring or ceramic tile. Wash small area rugs on a regular basis. I know this one isn’t going to happen overnight. One suggestion is to set a goal for replacing those carpets with an alternative flooring.
Fourth, toss any artificial scents in your homes. This would include petroleum based scented candles, plug-in scents, and artificial scented sprays. Opt for natural smells like diffusing essential oils or opening a window. Mop your kitchen/bedroom floors with a few drops of lemon essential oil it; it leaves your house smelling fresh! (After peeling fresh ginger root, we place the peels in a pot of water on the stove top, and it fills the house with the pleasant aroma of ginger.)
CLEAN AIR
The Quest to Breathe in Clean Air. The common misconception is that outdoor pollution is our main source of unclean air. It’s true that breathing in clean outdoor air is easier depending on your location. Rural homes away from buildings and traffic are going to have cleaner air.
Let’s looks at the air we breathe indoors. It is astonishing that indoor pollution is two to five times greater then outdoor pollution! Crazy! However, for most of us we do have more control of the air pollution we allow in our homes then in our environment.
What kind of toxins might be found in our home?
Formaldehyde is found in kitchen cabinets, furniture, mattresses, bedding, and even our clothing. Mold can creep into the cleanest of homes around windows and doors. Natural gases can come from our heating and cooking systems. The dangers of using non-stick cookware is disconcerting. Check out the health risks of using Teflon. Radon is found in soil that surrounds our home and can be detected in our home air.
Solution
In a quest for cleaning living; what are the probable solutions to making the air within our home cleaner.
Begin with removing the mold, call a professional if needed. Ventilate your house everyday, crack a window when possible. Clean the air ducts, heating filters, and air conditioners. Check your heating systems to make sure their are no leaks.
One solution that improves your indoor air is adding Himalayan salt lamps to your home. They add a beautiful ambiance to your home AND naturally purify the air. Himalayan Pink Crystal Salt Lamp, (8-11 Lbs)
Another solution is own house plants. Aloe vera plants are easy to care for and maintain. Ferns, peace lily and small palm plants all purify the air. I found this article helpful: Plant Power! 10 Plants to Detoxify Your Home.
Personally, I love using essential oils in my home. They deodorize my washing machine, dishwasher, floors, and the air I breathe! Essential oils are healthy for my skin too. Find more information on how to purchase quality essential oils at wholesale prices here.
Quest for Clean Living
It is impossible to live a life without chemicals. However, we can do our part to minimize their affects, by the food we eat, the products that enter our home, and the air we breathe.
- Chose foods from the clean 15 and buy organic when affordable.
- Eat real food and less refined foods.
- Start with a simple cleaning solution for your home.
- Use essential oils for cleaning and adding positive scents to the air you breathe.
- Purify your home with a salt lamp.
- Own plants; they naturally detox.
On your quest for clean living, take one step at a time. When you make a conscience decision to adapt a clean living lifestyle, you will gradually move towards cleaning up different areas in your life.
The Best Reward: improved health for you and your family!
We are a community of health-minded people. Your comments are appreciated and helpful to other readers. Any clean living tips you found helpful?
Pursing Better Health Together,