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3 Things to Consider for a Healthy Renovation

Our homes have the ability to nurture our health or harm it. A healthy environment is just as important as drinking clean water, eating healthy, clean food, moving our bodies, getting sunshine, laughing, and taking care of our mental and emotional health. Here’s 5 main things to consider on an upcoming renovation to make sure your home is supporting your wellbeing.

Non-toxic Materials

Many building materials contain chemicals that can wreak havoc on our systems. You may have heard of the term VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) which are the chemical compounds that “off gas” at room temperature. When this offgassing takes place, it contributes to poor indoor air quality and we are now inhaling all of the toxins that are releasing from products like paint, flooring, drywall, cabinetry, adhesives, doors, windows, hardware, plumbing fixtures and furniture. Selecting materials that are as close to nature as possible is a great way to start when selecting materials. Look for materials that are Red List Free, Greenguard Gold Certified, and CARB II compliant.

Appliances

Believe it or not, our appliance selections can make a huge impact on the health of our home. One of the biggest things to look out for are Smart Appliances. Although a smart appliance may seem more attractive up front, they’re actually emitting a constant radiofrequency signal. Research shows that long term exposure to these frequencies can impact our health negatively. Gas appliances can impact indoor air quality and release many different chemicals into our homes. If you’re opting for a gas range, it’s extremely important to consider how wide and low the rangehood is to allow for proper ventilation. Alternatively, many people are opting for induction ranges these days, however the magnets in these create extremely high Electromagnetic Fields when in operation. These fields could be 15 milligauss or more when all of the burners are in use.

Moisture Management

This may be arguably the most important consideration in a healthy renovation. Managing moisture is how we are going to prevent mold. Mold toxicity has created a health epidemic with the surge of energy efficient buildings. Don’t get me wrong, we want our buildings to be energy efficient, but what has happened is that now all of the toxins that are in our home, including mycotoxins from mold, have no way of flushing out the home. A good place to start managing moisture is by monitoring the relative humidity within the home and keeping the levels below 45%. If the levels are higher than that, it would be wise to invest in a dehumidifier to help you control the levels. Additionally, we want to keep an eye on all of the wet locations in the home for leaks. Slow leaks happen all of the time and it doesn’t take long (24-48 hours) before the water damages a surface and mold begins to grow. Investing in a good leak protection device is a great way to stop the water in the event of a leak.

We understand that renovating and building a home is complicated and there’s a lot of moving pieces, especially when you want to do it the healthy way. That’s why we specialize in helping people make healthy decisions early on. Awakening Spaces works directly with your team of designers and builders to help guide your project in a healthy way. We believe that what goes in your walls is just as important as what goes on your walls.

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Why You Should Ditch Bleach

Your shower area is smelling a little musty and you think you might have a little mold on the tile and grout. What do you do? The first thing most people think about doing is grabbing the bleach and dousing the shower to get it clean.

I’m here to tell you “STOP RIGHT THERE!” Put down the bleach—actually get rid of that bottle of bleach all together—because there are much safer alternatives that clean and disinfect just as well.

BLEACH DOES NOT KILL MOLD. That’s right. This is outdated information and bleach does not actually kill mold.

My own family members told me to use bleach when I found mold in my own home. I can’t blame them for not knowing, as it was once a recommendation from OSHA and the EPA. It’s hard for people to keep up with all of the changes and new science that comes out. Agencies like the EPA were only telling us the best thing that they knew at the time, but we know better now. So let’s discuss.

Reasons Why Bleach is Not an Acceptable Treatment for Mold

  1. The mold senses the pH of the bleach and starts to release spores in hopes to find a new place to live.

  2. Bleach will only kill the mold on the surface of non-porous surfaces. It will not kill mold on anything porous, and can penetrate the porous surface making it an even more ideal, wet climate for the mold to thrive.

  3. Bleach is a dangerous chemical and should be avoided if possible. It can cause respiratory issues which only make health symptoms, caused by mold, worse.

  4. Spraying bleach on any porous surface will penetrate the surface and the surface will slowly release the emissions back into the air in which you breathe.

Safer Alternatives to Bleach

Force of Nature Clean is a non-toxic bleach alternative.

Beware of any mold inspector using bleach containing solutions. The object of mold remediation is to get the roots (mycelia) and stop the problem. Mold is a huge issue and should really be handled by a professional. The extent of mold illness can be devastating and take years to overcome. When searching for a professional, make sure you find someone who understands this. The mold industry can be slimy, because of how much misinformation is out there. Be an informed consumer. Understanding this information will keep your and your family safe! 

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What to Look for in a Non-Toxic Christmas Tree

I promise I’m not trying to be the grinch here, but when it comes to creating a healthy non-toxic home it doesn’t stop during the holidays! Christmas trees (Artificial and Real) both pose certain positive and negative attributes when it comes to a safe, healthy home.

Real Christmas Trees

Pros

  • Has the scent of Christmas.

  • Better for the environment than artificial trees.

Cons

  • You can bring unwanted mold spores into the home.

  • Sap and pollen can also cause allergic reactions (when considering cutting a tree down in the forest).

  • If it’s not organic, it might be covered in pesticides from the farm.

What You can Do

  • Spray the tree down with a hose, EC3 (mold solution), and let it dry in the sun before bringing it into the house.

  • Buy an organic tree to avoid pesticides, this still doesn’t help with the mold issue.

  • Run an air purifier in the house near the tree to keep the air clean in that area.

  • Opt for a smaller tree and only keep the tree in the home for 4-7 days max to minimize mold growth and exposure.

Artificial Christmas Trees

Pros

  • Less risk for mold and allergies.

  • Easy to buy once and have for years to come.

Cons

  • They contain toxins like PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), lead, phthalates, and flame retardants. These chemicals can offgas, meaning the chemical is reactive in normal temperatures and turns to a gas that infiltrates our indoor air and we inhale the toxins and they can release SVOCs which are heavier than VOCs and end up as particulate in our dust that we then run the risk of ingesting or absorbing through our skin.

  • Many PVC trees have been replaced with PET, and PEVA, but these are still not great for the environment.

  • It can be REALLY hard to find a toxin-free Christmas tree. There’s not a lot of companies thinking about this.

  • They can get really dusty when you store them, this can also cause allergies and mold spores can live in our dust.

  • These chemicals can cause endocrine disruption and specifically thyroid issues. Phthalates are also known as “forever chemicals” because they stick around in our system and don’t break down.

What You can Do

  • Look for more realistic, artificial trees. This is how you can tell the tree hasn’t been made with PVC.

  • Wipe down your tree really well with soap and water every year to clean off any dust build up and wipe down any SVOCs that might have degraded over the last year in storage.

  • Make sure you’re storing it in a climate controlled area in an airtight container, not cardboard. The cardboard runs the risk of growing mold which can contaminate the tree.

  • Run an air purifier in the house near the tree to keep the air clean in that area.

  • Keep your home clean to limit the amount of SVOCs in your dust.

  • Wash your hands after handling the tree to make sure you’re not absorbing any of the toxins through your skin or touching your mouth and accidentally ingesting them.

  • Buy a tree from IKEA or look for a PVC free tree. If you want to avoid toxins altogether, you might even consider an “alternative tree.” When googled, you can find some amazing DIY ideas for Alternative Christmas Trees.

  • Use a good cleaner, like Force of Nature Clean to wipe down and disinfect your tree, you can use code ‘Bundlesave30’ in December to save 30% off bundles.

Now, this doesn’t mean your Christmas tree is going to cause you issues! This is just to note that there are risks with both real and fake trees when we’re considering making swaps to a more non-toxic living space. 

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Navigating Non-Toxic Cookware

The holidays are right around the corner and along with that are lots of delicious home-cooked meals, slowing down a bit, and spending time with family and friends. As we give thanks for our health and the health of others, it only seems fitting to talk about how the cookware we are using to create these meals may be contributing to our toxin load. The idea of non-toxic cookware seems tabu, but if you think about it, the materials used to make our cookware are coming in very close contact with the food that we are ingesting. So for this holiday season, we want to educate you on what types of toxins are commonly found in our cookware and what cookware we can use to know that we’re safe.

Common Toxins in Kitchen Pans and Cookware

Let’s take a closer look at some of the toxins that might be lurking in your cookware. Keep in mind, this post is meant to highlight cooking pots, pans, and baking sheets. There are other toxins lurking in water bottles, Tupperware, take home containers, etc. but for the purpose of simplicity, we will save those for another post.

Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAs)

Known as ‘forever chemicals’ because they build up in your body and never break down in the environment (yikes!). This class of polymers gives cookware it’s non-stick coating. You may have heard about these popular PFAs below, but these are only 2 of thousands of PFAs that are still used as non-stick coatings. Not only is it important to avoid the chemicals listed below, but it’s also important to head caution when buying anything labeled as “non-stick” as it might contain another type of PFA not listed here, which is still as toxic to our health. These chemicals are labeled as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The EWG has some great information to learn more about PFAs.

  • Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Also trademarked as “Teflon”, this chemical gives cookware a non-stick coating. One of the main concerns with this compound is that when it heats up, we inhale the toxic fumes during cooking. Teflon is possibly carcinogenic and should be avoided in cookware.

  • Until 2013, Perfluorooctanoic Acids (PFOAs) were used as a non-stick coating. They are resistant to water and lipids which make them a frequently used option on various types of cookware. This chemical is linked to cancer, can cause endocrine disruption leading to infertility and weight gain, as well as mental health issues and problems with the liver.

Although these two chemicals have been mostly phased out, most non-stick cookware will still use some type of PFA to achieve that non-stick coating.

If you have non-stick pans now, practice using them safely. Never use metal utensils on them as the coating is more likely to scratch off and be ingested. Store them properly so that the coating doesn’t scratch from rubbing on another pan. Only use it when you’re cooking things on low heat and make sure to run the kitchen exhaust every time you cook.

Aluminum and Copper

Both aluminum and copper can build up in our bodies and create toxicity. The jury is still out as to how bad aluminum and copper are in cookware and how much we’re actually consuming, but we tend to lean toward precautionary principle, which means if it’s not proven safe—it’s best to avoid it. Avoid cooking your turkey in an aluminum pan and opt for a stainless steel pan instead.

  • When we use anodized aluminum or aluminum foil with anything acidic, the aluminum can leach into our food and we can consume it. Aluminum has been linked to neurological disorders, specifically Alzheimers and could be worse for people who may have kidney issues, as they are less likely to process the aluminum.

  • Some copper can be good for us, but if you’re using copper, avoid cooking anything acidic in it, as that has the highest potential for leaching into whatever you are cooking and high levels of copper in the body can cause toxicity.

Lead and Cadmium

Lead and cadmium can be in the coatings of ceramic cookware and should definitely be considered when purchasing glass or enamel products. Both lead and cadmium have been limited in dish-ware but are not very regulated. To avoid these metals in your kitchenware, look for California Prop 65 warnings and avoid buying dish-ware with this warning.

  • There is no safe level of lead and it can cause neurological issues, especially in children who are still developing. Look for options that are “certified lead free” and unglazed—and keep in mind where they are being manufactured. Some countries have stricter lead regulations, where places like China and Mexico do not. An amazing resource to learn about lead in your cookware, dishes, and toys is Lead Safe Mama.

  • Cadmium is a natural metal found in nature and can also be found in the pigments of certain glazes on ceramic dish-ware to create an orange or red pigmentation. Exposure to cadmium can lead to certain neurological disorders and is best avoided.

What to Look for in Safe Kitchen Pans and Cookware

  • Be wary of non-stick pans labeled as “PFOA Free” or free of one of the above chemicals may actually have been replaced with something similar in toxicity, so beware.

  • Consider what the raw material is of the pan. Does this cause harm to your health?

  • Does the pan contain a glaze or enamel? If so, be wary and make sure it doesn’t have a California Prop 65 warning.

  • Is the pan durable? How long will it last? Consider the environment and your pocket book by investing in lifetime pieces as opposed to ones that will end up in the landfill.

Stainless Steel = Safe!

Stainless steel is my top choice for healthy cookware. Not only is it non-toxic, it’s going to last a lifetime. The main concern with stainless steel is clean-ability and the best way to clean your stainless pieces is to use Baking Soda to clean it. Your pans will sparkle like new forever with the right care and maintenance. Also, these pans can become incredibly non-stick with the right oil. My favorite oil to use, specifically when cooking eggs, is coconut oil. Coconut oil creates a nice layer to keep those eggs from sticking to the pan.

Pictured: All-Clad Stainless Steel cookware

Cast Iron and Enameled Cast Iron = Safe!

Cast iron is another great option for cooking! It distributes heat evenly and can be used on both the stove and oven, it’s inexpensive, and when seasoned and maintained properly it is non-stick. It’s best used with non-acidic meals, as the acidity can leach some iron into your food. This can be good or bad depending on your current iron levels. If you’re worried about leaching, enameled cast iron can be a great option as it has all of the same great qualities of cast iron. Pay attention to make sure there’s not a California Prop 65 warning, so you can avoid high levels of lead or cadmium that might be in the glaze and pigmentation of enameled cookware.

Pictured: Lodge cookware

Ceramic Cookware = Safe!

Through body ceramic cookware can be a healthy option as well and works great for many people. Ceramic offers great heat conduction for a nice even cook. Similar to cast iron, it can be used on both the stove and the over. Because it is through-body there is no concern of the coating peeling off over the life of using the product. It does not leach into your food and works well with acidic dishes!

Pictured: Xtrema cookware

Be Cautious of "Green" Cookware and Ceramic Coatings

  • Be wary of companies claiming to be green or “non-toxic”. Alternatives used in replace of the chemicals above don’t always mean “non-toxic”; they might be just as toxic but not have mainstream awareness yet.

  • Ceramic coatings on cookware can wear off easily and only last a couple of years. You may end up buying multiple pans when you could have just invested in one of the high quality options above that will last you a lifetime.

We’re a fan of slowly swapping out our products over time so it’s not as big of an investment to swap to cleaner products for our home. Many of these companies will be having Black Friday sales, so take advantage of those while you can! We wish you a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season!

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3 Things to Consider for a Healthier Bed

Our bedrooms are the place where we rest and repair each night. Every day, we encounter things in the world that put stress on our bodies. Our bodies are under constant attack from a variety of stressors from environmental pollutants and chemicals to emotional stress that is caused from different aspects of living our lives. At night, when we lay down to go to bed, we give our bodies the chance to repair our cells so we can wake up and start anew. It’s honestly such a gift and it’s why it’s so important to offer ourselves the best fighting chance to repair each night. This is why here at Awakening Spaces we would argue that our beds are the most important piece of furniture in the entire house.

3 Considerations for a Healthier Bed

The Bed Frame

It all starts with the bed frame. It’s important to lift our beds up off of the ground and allow air movement to penetrate below the mattress and frame. In Feng Shui, they describe that allowing air to flow below your bed is a sign that things will flow easily in your life. In Building Biology, we learn the importance of allowing the mattress to breathe so we can prevent moisture from becoming trapped.

Here a few things to look for when shopping for a bed frame:

  • Opt for a solid wood frame over something made from particleboard or MDF. Wood composite products have a high chance of containing formaldehyde.

  • Avoid metal frames (if possible), metal can act as a conductor or antenna and act as geopathic stress disturbing the earth’s own magnetic field. This is controversial, but in Building Biology we practice the precautionary principle meaning if it hasn’t been proven 100% safe we avoid it all together.

  • Be cautious of stains and sealers used on a bed frame as these may be petroleum based products. Always ask the company what they use.

The Mattress

When we sleep, our faces are inches away from our mattresses for 8 or so hours a night. What is the air quality in that proximity? Will you be inhaling petroleum based fumes or would you rather opt for something natural? Mattresses can contain things such as flame retardants, petroleum based polyurethane, and formaldehyde. So even though the bed might initially be “comfortable” just think of how uncomfortable you will be after years of inhaling these nasty chemicals. Our vote is to go natural whenever possible.

Here a few things to look for when shopping for a mattress:

  • Buy something made of natural materials like organic cotton, organic wool, and natural latex.

  • Look for the GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) and OEKO-Tex (non-organic latex) certifications.

  • Avoid Metal coils. Metal coils can act as an antenna if there are Electromagnetic fields in the room as well as geopathic stress and disturbance of the earth’s magnetic field. As mentioned above, this is controversial as well, but because of the precautionary principle, we choose to avoid it.

  • Make sure the layers of materials are stitched together and not glued together. Oftentimes companies use all healthy, non-toxic materials but they use adhesive to keep the layers from slipping past each other.

  • Be wary of foam mattresses claiming to be low-VOC and having a CertiPUR-US certification. This certification does not mean no VOC, it just means it’s slightly less toxic than a standard memory foam. It is certainly far safer than regular foam but it is only testing for the most known common offenders, who’s to say that the new chemicals they are replaced with don’t cause harm down the road? Once again, we like to follow the precautionary principle.

The Mattress Cover and Sheets

Finally, the thing we are closest to during our sleep is our mattress cover and bed sheets. Our sheets are in direct contact with our skin and have the ability to absorb any chemicals that the sheets contain. Did you know that it only takes 26 seconds for our skin to absorb things? The sad truth is, most of our cotton sheets contain high levels of pesticides. Cotton is one of the most heavily sprayed crops so we see this in conventional cotton sheets.

What to look for when shopping for a mattress cover:

  • Look for organic cotton, tencel, or wool products. These have less likely been sprayed with harmful chemicals pesticides.

  • Avoid anything that has vinyl in it.

  • Be cautious about “antibacterial” claims and remember that we are biological creatures with tons of good bacteria on our body. Anti-bacteria also harm our good bacteria.

  • Polyethylene is OK (it is one of the most inert plastics).

What to look for when shopping for a sheets:

  • Avoid anything that says “wrinkle-free” as it likely has a chemical component to make it that way.

  • Look for organic fabrics so you don’t chance sleeping up against pesticide residues.

  • Use sheets that only have natural dyes. Natural fabrics will also eliminate static electric charges created by synthetic materials.

At Awakening Spaces it’s our goal to give you the principles that make a product the MOST safe. How far you want to take it is up to you! Many people will do fine with products made from synthetic materials that are lower outgassing and only remove the biggest offending toxins, while others might need to select a bed assembly that is as pure and natural as possible. It’s also important to note that just because something is natural does not mean it will not have an odor or a smell to it, so it’s best practice to test things first if you are chemically sensitive. When you book a call with us we can help you find the perfect bed solution for your unique needs using all of the criteria outlined above. We hope this guide can help you make a healthier choice when you are selecting a new bed.

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Why You Need a HEPA Filtered Vacuum for a Cleaner Home

When the average person goes to buy a vacuum, the first thing they do is look at the reviews. The problem with this strategy, however, is that vacuums are evaluated on the power of the machine (watts, amps, voltage, water lift, horsepower, and airflow)—and not their ability to truly remove the toxins that compose our dust. To get the most out of your vacuuming, there’s a reason why we have such high standards. If you’re not using an HEPA filtered vacuum, you’re literally leaving toxins on your surfaces.

The Importance of a HEPA Filter

HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Arrestor—it’s the best when it comes to trapping particulate matter. As stated on the EPA’s website, “This type of air filter can theoretically remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns (µm)” This means vacuums with a HEPA filter are able to capture super small particles that would otherwise get missed by a non-HEPA filtered vacuum.

A vacuum with a good review might have a lot of power and seem to pick up all the grime, but if it doesn’t have a HEPA filter it might actually be recirculating the toxins back into the air…and what’s the point in that?! Non-HEPA filtered vacuums can re-circulate up to 70% of the particulate back into the air. Yikes! Not only will a HEPA filtered vacuum actually remove dirt and toxins like a pro, it will leave your air cleaner than before you vacuumed.

What to Look for When Shopping for a Quality Vacuum Cleaner

  1. HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) Filter Helps to keep indoor air clean and leaves the air cleaner after you’ve vacuumed.

  2. Completely Sealed System Help so contaminants don’t leak back into the environment.

  3. Dust Bag Without a dust bag, toxins are likely to re-enter the environment when you dump out the container.

  4. Dusting Accessories Helps you access hard to reach places and so you don’t damage your furniture/walls.

We found the best reviewed HEPA vacuums in every price range and shared them here. For the cleanest results, it’s important that your vacuum have an internal bag so that microscopic toxins aren’t released back into the air when you dump the canister into the trash, however, you may want to note that some models can be bulky. Smaller, lighter weight models are available without a bag, but with any vacuum with a true HEPA filter which will give a quality clean.

Investing in a high-quality vacuum is one of the easiest and effective ways to maintain a healthy home. We hope that this article will serve you well and help you look beyond the average consumer ratings for what it means to have a quality vacuum cleaner. Check out Awakening Spaces to learn more about our favorite vacuum cleaners.

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How to Select Low-Tox Paint for Your Home

The walls and ceilings in our homes take up a massive amount of surface area in our personal space—which means whatever we build them out of will greatly impact the overall indoor air quality of our home, so it’s no wonder that selecting a low-tox paint is at the top of my list of things you can do to improve the overall health of your home.

It’s hard to determine the long-term effects of VOC exposure and illness is usually caused from low-level exposures compounded over a long period of time. Unless you are chemically sensitive, then you will be quick to notice the chemicals you’re being exposed to.

Selecting a healthier-for-you, low-tox paint can be confusing because there’s so many manufacturers out there claiming to be low VOC, Zero VOC, natural, mineral, clay, and “Green.” Let’s dive into better understanding VOCs and see how we can be our own best detectives in selecting a healthy paint.

What is a VOC?

A VOC stands for a Volatile Organic Compound. These are carbon-based solvents that are emitted as gases from a solid or liquid that are found in most building materials. Essentially, they are organic materials that turn to gas/vapor at room temperature. Don’t be fooled by the word “organic” as these gasses can have a variety of long-term and short-term health impacts.

The EPA’s “TEAM Study” shows that indoor levels of VOCs are 2-5 times higher than outdoor air in a big, polluted city. It also concluded that people can be exposed to VOCs long after the activity is completed.

Although it’s hard to determine exactly which long-term effects these chemicals can cause, we do know that exposure to these toxins are increasing our toxic load, increasing our chances for serious health effects. Click here to see some of the short-term effects that are caused from exposure to VOCs and click here to learn more about some of the common VOC types and where you can find them.

Is ZERO VOC Paint Safe?

A common misconception is that a paint that has a Zero VOC label on it means that the paint is healthy and non-toxic. This is not the case. Zero VOC was a label termed by the EPA to say that it does not contain VOCs that create ground-level ozone production (which is harmful to the environment). This does NOT mean that the paint does not contain any VOCs—it just means that the paint falls below the government’s permissible VOC levels. Paint can be labeled as ZERO VOC if it contains 5 grams of VOC per liter. Adding color to this can increase the level of VOC to about 10 grams of VOC per liter.

Zero-VOC is a legal term and only encompasses certain chemicals that have been determined to react negatively to create ozone in the atmosphere, but does not account for the other toxic ingredients that might be hiding in the can.

Other Hidden Chemicals for Concern

Below is a list of some of the other chemicals that might be found in paint that aren’t categorized under the ZERO-VOC label.

  • Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) Surfactant used in acrylic paint and can disrupt the hormone system.

  • Mildewcides

  • Additives

  • Preservatives

Considerations When Selecting Low-Tox Paint

There are so many paints on the market today and it can be very confusing to know which ones to select. Here’s some things you can look for to make sure you’re selecting a healthier option.

  1. Look for the Greenguard Gold seal. This certification certifies that the paint has very low emissions.

  2. Avoid a paint that has Mildewcides. Paints containing biocides that are meant to prevent mold are actually not great for humans either. We are living, biological organisms, just like fungus, so chemicals intended to harm fungus will likely be harmful to humans.

  3. Look into natural paint options. Mineral paints are a great option when looking to go with something more natural. There are so many brands on the market today which makes opting for something more natural much easier.

  4. Consider using a clay/lime plaster finish. Plaster is making a comeback as it rightfully should. Clay has the ability to breath and regulate the humidity within a space which makes it a wonderful finish for an interior environment.

  5. Use your nose. Sounds simple, but one of the best ways to determine the health of a paint is to smell it. If it has a strong odor, you might consider opting for something else. I always recommend testing samples prior to purchasing. We all have different tolerance levels, so it’s important to know that the paint you select works for you.

Selecting a healthy paint is one very important aspect to creating healthy indoor air quality. It’s easy to think that because it is a well known brand it means it’s safe, but the truth is these chemicals aren’t well monitored. We have to be our own best detectives when it comes to selecting health finishes for our homes. Additionally, if you ever need recommendations or want more information on the best options for paint or other finishes we offer 1×1 Strategy Sessions to help you select the best materials for you and your family. Head over to our website to learn more and book a free 20 minute Discovery Call.

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5 Ways to Improve the Health of Your Home

Having a healthy home doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, the foundation for a healthy home consists mostly of the free activities we should be doing on a regular basis in order to maintain a clean, healthy environment. Buying fancy organic bed sheets and non-toxic furniture will only get you so far if you’re not thinking about these 5 things. There’s a laundry list of items we can be purchasing to upgrade our fortress, but I’m here to remind you that a healing environment starts with you — not your wallet…for the most part.

Invest in a High Quality Water Filter

This is by far the most important thing you can do for your health today. It’s also the only item on this list that isn’t free. Far too often people tell me that they drink their tap water because it tastes good — so it must be clean. This is absolutely not the case. Our tap water is loaded with contaminants. Not to mention, we don’t know what the city pipes are made out of. Did you know there are still lead pipes installed throughout the United States that haven’t been replaced with new pipes yet? This is a huge health hazard and studies have shown that there are no safe levels of lead. Among potentially having lead in your water, some of the contaminants that are commonly found in water are bacteria, fluoride, chloroform, chlorine, pesticides, radium, pharmaceuticals like birth control, and other chemicals and solvents that have found their way into our water stream. Think about it, you are drinking this every single day. These contaminants build up over time and have a compounding effect. We know chemicals can disrupt our endocrine system and we might see things like thyroid issues.

My recommendation would be to test your water to see what contaminants are specific to your water. The water quality varies from house to house so you can’t rely on your neighbor to tell you how the water is. You can go to My Tap Score to order a test that will come to your house and walk you through how to test your own water. Once you send the test back you will get a detailed outline of hundreds of different chemicals that could be in your water. Knowing what’s in your water will help you understand which filter you want to buy. Not all filters are created equal and you want to make sure the filter you buy is actually filtering out what you need it to.

If you can only buy one thing to a healthier home, a quality water filter would be my recommendation!

Make a No Shoe Rule

A no shoe rule is so simple, yet so effective. The outside world is laden with chemicals these days, from pesticides, to motor oil, to bacteria and other biologicals that get stuck to our shoes. When we wear those same shoes into our homes we welcome these contaminants into our space. The danger really comes in when we have rugs and carpet. These surfaces can trap contaminants and hold on to them for dear life. In fact, you have to run your vacuum cleaner over a carpeted surface 10+ times in order to make a dent in what’s trapped at the bottom. This can be especially harmful to children who might be crawling around on floors and then putting their hands directly into their mouths. A no shoe rule can really help eliminate what’s being tracked in from the outside.

Open your Windows Often

Homes these days are tighter and tighter making it really hard for them to breathe. Studies have shown that our indoor air is actually more polluted than outdoor air, even in a dense city! One way to combat this is by opening our windows. Opening your windows and letting fresh air in is one simple way to exchange the air in our homes and allow for better indoor air quality. Ventilation is such an important factor in a home. Passive ventilation is one of the best strategies to exchange the air in the home and works best when you have two windows in a line on opposite sides of the home. This allows air to push through one window and out the other. Another easy way to get a quick fresh air is to open all of the windows in the house and then close them — this is helpful when the weather isn’t too great. The best way to do this is to start in one room and work your way room by room until all windows are open. Once all of the windows are open you go back to the first room and start closing all of the windows. This trick will give your home a quick breath of fresh air!

Wash Your Bedsheets Once a Week

Believe it or not, we’re not the only living things in our beds… Microscopic bugs like dust mites thrive in our warm, cozy sheets! They love warm environments and feed off our dead skin cells. It’s important to turn our bed sheets down in the morning to allow the sheets to cool down and create an undesirable environment for such bugs. By making our beds as soon as we wake up we’re actually creating a more desirable environment for these little critters! Try shaking your comforter when you get out of bed in the morning to air it out and open the windows to let the sun shine on the sheets. Give your sheets a good clean once a week to make sure you’re sanitizing and preventing any bedtime intruders.

Manage Your Dust

It should be no surprise that regularly cleaning your home is the most important free thing you can do to improve your home’s health. Regular vacuuming and dusting are essential to managing dust. Have you ever wondered what dust is? It’s a bunch of tiny particles that clump together and are composed of things such as pet dander, dead skin cells and hair, pesticide (start that no shoe policy!) chemicals like SVOCs from building materials, mold, textile fibers, soil, pollen, and dust mites. That is essentially what is accumulating all over our house as time passes. Regular cleaning will keep these at bay so you’re not breathing these nasty pollutants in. You can use any tools you have to vacuum and dust, but if you want to invest in some tools that will get the job done right you will want to get yourself a HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner as suggested in this article. HEPA filters actually clean the air while we vacuum, instead of allowing small particulates to recirculate in the air. We also love using microfiber cleaning cloths to dust because they capture all of the toxins. It should be regular practice to vacuum and dust your home making sure that at least once a month you’re getting to some of those hard to reach places. If this seems overwhelming, make sure to focus on your bedroom. This is where our bodies repair each night so it is considered the most important room in the home in terms of needing to be healthy.

Doing these simple things regularly will greatly improve the health of your home, which means YOUR health. There are a million things we can purchase to slowly upgrade our homes, but it’s important to remember that we don’t have to spend a lot of money to upgrade our space! When you are ready to upgrade or you want to look at some of the other ways to start building your healing sanctuary we can set up a 1×1 strategy call to determine the best place to start!

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A Comprehensive Guide to Composting at Home

So you want to start your own garden this year in hopes of eating the food you grow? That’s great! But did you know that the food you grow could be nutritiously fed with the leftover scraps of the organic matter you ate? Brilliant! This is part of the process of composting. Composting is one of the best ways to recycle, reduce trash to landfills, and create a better life for your garden plants.

What is Compost?

Compost is the breakdown of organic materials like foods or natural materials derived and grown from the earth. There are two types of composting processes: anaerobic composting which does not include the use of free flowing oxygen and aerobic composting which invites free flowing oxygen. This article will further elaborate on aerobic composting requiring access to open air. Aerobic composting is very simple to start in your garden to begin composting right away.


The final result of aerobic composting is carbon dioxide gas, water vapor liquid, and dark brown organic matter like dirt. Decaying matter like fruits and vegetables begin to wither, shrink, and release their gases, leaving behind rich nutrients as a byproduct in the dirt as they further breakdown. In the compost pile, the minerals from the organic matter’s nutrients are released into the soil to create more nutrient dense soil and ultimately make the nutrients easily acceptable to the plants when you spread it into your garden. To give you an easy visual of another example of organic matter breakdown, think of fallen leaves and dead plant matter in our yards and forests. When the leaves fall late in the year, where do the leaves go?


Dead and dying organic material begins to break down into smaller fragments and dirt or compost thanks to the natural abundance of oxygen, bacteria, fungi, and creatures in the soil of the earth. Fungi and some bacteria require oxygen to grow which is why your decaying and dead organic matter from the kitchen love the abundance of oxygen. These species will live and thrive off of this decaying matter in order to do their life’s work of further breaking substance down. In order to grow, fungi and bacteria absorb the gasses released by the organic matter and ultimately take over the material to break it down into dirt.

Rainwater & Oxygen

But first in the process as a whole, rain water and the moisture that naturally occurs in compost as a by-product of the release of gases such as oxygen and hydrogen (H2O), further dissolve some of the organic material. This is known as a process called leaching. The acidity and molecular components of water from rain is the first line of breaking down the material of the organic matter. Then, creatures of the dirt, like earthworms and insects begin to move through the soil which ignites a process called mixing. When dead and dying organic matter is placed in soil with earthworms, the earthworms move through the soil, attracted to the food, creating holes and canals which helps open the dirt where oxygen can become more present. The oxygen feeds the bacteria and fungi. These pieces of organic matter begin to break down into smaller pieces by way of oxygen exposure through contact with water and soil creatures. It then becomes easier for small spores of fungi to attach themselves to these smaller pieces and with absorption of oxygen, the fungi grow bigger to consume and decompose the remaining dead matter. After the fungus’s role is over, it too breaks down and dies. This is how we get our finest pieces of dark brown dirt. Except it’s not just any dirt.

The cellular components of organic plant matter released additional organic nutrients and molecules from the physical fruit, vegetable, or coffee, etc. These nutrients can remain in the soil over a period of time and contribute to how we get nutrient rich compost soil in assistance to feeding the plants of our gardens.

The compost soil is wet and dense with nutrients from the breakdown of the organic matter. These factors help plants and the soil around their roots to maintain moisture and absorb nutrients over extended periods. Symbiotically, due to the high density of nutrients, compost soil better retains the water, making near perfect conditions in your garden beds without having to use excess water!

Nitrogen, oxyen & magnesium

One of my favorite nutrients, dense in compost soil, is nitrogen and is provided as a by-product of one of life’s greatest pleasures, coffee. The plants of our gardens love nitrogen to create lubricated stems and leaves. Nitrogen and a small atom of magnesium make up the chlorophyll in plants. The chlorophyll is the green pigment in plants which supports the foundation of light absorption from the sun. The compost soil ultimately aids the plant in retaining water in the soil and yet also helps leaves grow to absorb more sunlight. Just a heads up, too much nitrogen in your soil will not permit the budding of flowers!

Compost is amazing for gardens in areas where there is a lot of clay soil, compost soil can be added in to break up the density and increase airflow. The amount of carbon dioxide, released by the organic matter in the broken down compost soil, aids in feeding plants because they take in carbon dioxide and exchange it for the release of oxygen. This soil support caters to healthier leaves for more oxygen to support our bodies.

In the end, we get nutrient dense soil from compost and it supports the overall health of the soil around the plant and the plant itself. In my own experience, using compost soil every 6-8 weeks has been one of the greatest ways to produce more fruits on my plants as my plants grow higher with more leaves and stems in the summer garden. At other times, I place my compost soil at the base of some of my indoor plants and they begin to sprout new leaves fairly quickly, too!

Disclaimer: the compost is not a fertilizer but compost does have fertilizer value. Fertilizer is like food for the plant to give it the proper nutrients it would need to grow. Fertilizer would contain the proper amount of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, or Potassium that is required for the plant to grow. However, if you supplement your compost pile with organic matter that can be rich in these elements, then your plant may benefit from compost alone!

Where to Keep and Build Your Compost

Before you can do anything, you’ll need a container to put your compost in to give it time to decompose.

In the Home

Before you’re ready to bring your compost outside, I like to keep my scraps in a glass container that has a lid. This is a sustainable and easy option that allows flexibility so you don’t have to run outside all day long with your scraps.

DIY Compost Bin

The best place to keep your compost is in a structure made with natural materials. This could be a bin-like structure made with wood, cinder blocks, bricks, etc. This compost plan is my top recommendation as you can keep the new dirt separated from the food that is actively decomposing.

Ready-Made Compost Bin

There are, of course, alternatives to making a bin yourself. Here are a few ready-made compost bins I recommend:

Materials to Add to Your Compost

The following is a group of lists that may guide you in composting ethically and correctly to avoid issues down the line in the garden.

Foods and their main nutrients which I love to compost with:
  • Used coffee grounds (Rich in Nitrogen, neutral pH)
  • Banana peels (Rich in Potassium, rapid breakdown)
  • Finely crushed eggs shells (Rich in Calcium)
  • Strawberries/pineapple (Sugar/rapid breakdown)
  • Leafy greens
Foods to compost with caution:
  • Tomatoes
  • Lemons
  • Limes
  • High acidity/low sugar

Sugars are great for composting as it attracts earthworms and insects to come through and facilitate more oxygen flow. High acidity materials like tomatoes can throw off the pH balance which could end up killing the good nutrients in the soil that support healthy breakdown. If this pH reaches the plant, the plant may suffer.

Compost needs additional support with carbon and oxygen

Great sources of carbon include brown, dry organic matter such as:

  • Dry leaves
  • Cardboard
  • Newspaper
  • Hay, straw
  • Sawdust
  • Cereal boxes
  • Cotton, wool
  • Hair
  • Nutshells
  • Dead houseplants

Fresh grass clippings can also be added to compost, however, they are categorized as wet organic material just as the fruits and vegetables are. So the key here is a ratio of two to one, green, wet plant matter to brown, dry matter. This is a rough estimate and can be measured by the eye.

Things to avoid adding to your compost and why:
  • Stickers from your washed fruits and veggies
  • Paper towels (contain other chemicals for absorbance which are not beneficial nutrients and could throw off the balance of the soil)
  • Cooked food (contain oils that are not able to break down in the soil)
  • Animal bones, meats (attracts pests which would contaminate the compost)
  • Micro-plastic tea bags (tea bags that are not paper will not breakdown)
  • Avocado pits (can take a long time to break down due to their density)
  • Charcoal
  • Pet waste
  • Black walnut tree leaves/twigs or yard debris treated with pesticides
  • Weeds from the garden (potential to grow back stronger and take over)

How to Compost at Home

  1. First, you’ll want to store your compost in in a dry, shady area that’s easily accessible to water.
  2. You can add any brown (dried plants, newspaper, etc.) or green matter (kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, etc.) as they are collected. Large pieces will not be able to decompose easily, so be sure to chop or shred them into smaller pieces. For best results, mix three parts brown with one part green materials.
  3. Depending on where you are and how much rainfall you get, you may need to gently moisten your newly added matter. In areas, it’s common that the atmosphere is wet enough that you may not need to add water often, or at all. Just note if your compost starts to look too wet or has a strong odor — if it does add more brown matter and stir often.
  4. Aim to stir your compost once a week to properly aerate the matter.
  5. When the matter at the bottom of your compost bin is dark, dry, and rich in color, then it’s ready to add to your garden!

Being able to treat your garden to fresh, nutrient-dense compost is such a great way to revitalize the earth and it’s fruit (or vegetables). Follow this guide to start composting at home to build a much more sustainable future for yourself and the earth.

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5 Home Office Improvements for Your Health

Do you ever feel completely drained after a long day of work sitting behind your computer? We spend hours behind our computers, next to our internet routers, with our hands on our wireless or laptop/keyboard, and cell phones close by. We wear our blue blocker glasses to protect our eyes, but there’s days where it seems like even the blue light blockers don’t stop the fatigue, headaches, and joint pain from setting in.

Personally, after years of working on my laptop, I started to notice pretty consistent joint pain and this pulsing sensation in my wrists and fingers. I had never attributed this too much until I started studying the impacts of electromagnetic radiation. It turns out, when we are near these electro-magnetic frequencies (EMFs), our own personal energy is depleted.

Let me share an example that can help you visualize this scenario. Imagine rubbing a balloon on your head and slowly pulling the balloon up and off. Notice the strands of hair rise up, stuck to the balloon and moving along with the balloon everywhere the balloon moves. The frazzled, frayed, “fly-aways” of hair are what electric fields look like if you could see them. Now, understand that we are balloons and our electronic devices are a head of hair. Everytime we walk past them, the electric fields are looking for something to connect to so they latch onto our bodies, just like the fly-away hair latches onto the balloon. This in turn, depletes us of our energy leaving us feeling completely drained and causes damage to our DNA.

Fortunately, we can make some small shifts to our office environment to prevent this type of radiation from causing long-term damage. I’m currently in the process of learning how to evaluate the levels of EMF in an office environment, but even without knowing the actual levels you’re dealing with, there’s some best practice quick fixes you can make to greatly improve your odds.

Confirm Your Computer is Plugged into a 3-Prong Grounding Plug

Are you working off of a laptop? These emit a very high level of “Electric Fields” also known as “EF.” These types of fields look like the hairs mentioned in the visualization above. Electric Fields come off of your electrical devices and create fly-aways that latch onto us, but one easy way to tame these fly away electric fields is to make sure your laptop charger has a 3-prong outlet plug, as opposed to just two flat prongs. Using a charger with a grounding pin will allow for the fly-away electric fields to return on the path of least resistance back to the earth. Please keep in mind that this only works as long as you have a working ground system in your home. You can test this using an inexpensive test plug from Amazon (just search “AC outlet ground tester”). Below is an image of our AC outlets and which holes correlate with which part of the system.

Consider Using a Grounding Mat/Indoor Earthing Pad at Your Feet

Now that we have a better understanding of a ground connection, you might consider getting an earthing pad to put at the foot of your desk or at your wrists on your desk. A working ground connection is required in order for this to work as well, but companies like earthing.com give you a free AC outlet ground tester with the purchase of your mat. Similarly to how the earth connection tames the fly away electric fields, the grounding mat also allows our own energy to connect back to the earth, all from the comfort of your home. The earth is like a giant battery and basically everything electric is plugged into it somehow (through our electrical systems which are grounded). When we stand barefoot and connect our own skin to the earth, we are charging as well. Many people have reported receiving beautiful benefits from connecting to the earth’s energy such as healing chronic pain, reduced stress, as well as better sleep and mood.

Hardwire Your Computer to Your Router

Invest in a router that allows you to turn off the wifi signal and plug into the router directly. Our wireless router puts off a type of EMF we call “Radio Frequency” also known as an “RF” signal. These types of signals are like small invisible pings that happen every few seconds. These devices are constantly searching for any wireless device that’s connected to it. Unfortunately, for humans, being exposed to these constant pings is one of the worst types of exposure we can have to EMF. The more we can limit this exposure from cell phones and wifi when we have control over it, the better.

Get Wired

This one is going to be hard for people, at least it was for me, because I hate the mess that wires create, however using a wired mouse and keyboard has been a game changer for me. After switching to both wired keyboard and mouse I noticed my joints no longer hurt after long hours on my computer. Going wired allows you to turn off the bluetooth setting on your computer which is one less form of radiation hitting you while you work. There are some solutions out there that help alleviate the mess that wires can create, so depending on your setup you might be able to find something that works well for you and helps the mess disappear.

Invest in a Quality Desk

Consider opting for a desk and chair without metal legs. Metal can act as a conductor and amplify the electric and magnetic fields in the room. Going with a solid wood desk with a Zero VOC sealer is a good clean option. If you’re not selecting solid wood avoid desks that use particleboard and plywood since they contain glues that will offgas. Some glues might even contain urea-formaldehyde which will offgas for the life of the product. Avoiding toxic chemicals around your workspace is crucial to creating a healthy workplace.

Given the amount of time we spend in our work spaces, it’s no wonder we feel so terrible after a long day of work! Making these simple shifts can greatly improve how we feel after a long day. When thinking about creating a healthy home, the bedroom and the office are the two places the majority of people spend most of their time, which is why I feel like they are the most important rooms to start revamping into healthier spaces.

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