With Earth Day right around the corner, I tend to do a mental audit of how environmentally conscious I have been during the previous year. Since last year was the year of the lockdown, a lot of the conscious choices I always leaned into were a bit restricted.
For example, we did not have the option to utilize reusable grocery bags at some supermarkets. I thought it was a bit extreme as groceries are the only items that enter these bags, but the choice was removed. I cringed at the idea of using the plastic bags every week so we opted for paper bags. The supermarket employees usually had a slightly negative reaction every time I asked for paper. I don’t think they much enjoy bagging in paper and I would imagine it is because the plastic option is quicker.
That is one of our biggest problems, convenience. So many of our items we use on a regular basis are chosen out of our own convenience and nearly all of them are not convenient for our planet. I’ve talked to many people about becoming more sustainable and I am met with a variety of responses. What I have found is that people seem to be unaware of what sustainability truly means.
For me, sustainable means being able to use what I already have in new and exciting ways. The idea of sustainability is not to go zero-waste or change your whole life immediately but being more conscious of your choices for now and the future. The whole journey is a mindset shift. Once you start looking around to see what you find value in or start thinking, “how can I reuse that?” — then a whole world starts to open up.
All restrictions aside, reusable shopping bags are the best way to eliminate plastic single use bags. Americans, on average, use 1,500 plastic shopping bags per year and sadly only 1% are returned to the stores for recycling. Nearly all recycling facilities are unable to recycle these as it is difficult and costly. Reusable bags come in all shapes, sizes and colors. I think it’s a great way to show off you care in style!
Stopping for a quick cup of coffee or grabbing a bottle of water is the most convenient option, but it is not the most eco-friendly. Sometimes making better choices can take some effort, but once you get in the habit of bringing your favorite coffee mug or water bottle, it becomes easier. Not to mention you would be saving 80% of waste from entering landfills between coffee cups and water bottles. This also will help keep microplastics out of our oceans and from our soil.
My husband is the chef in the family and we are big fans of buying in bulk and freezing what we won’t use for the week. We often will freeze entire meals. Stasher bags are a fantastic alternative to plastic freezer bags. Stasher bags come in different sizes to fit your needs. You can use them for snacks, everyday use for lunches or use them for leftovers and of course freezing!
This one is my all time favorite. I am a big fan of going to thrift stores not just for clothes but for coffee mugs, baskets, lampshades and more. I typically head to thrift stores during the holiday season to find those one-of-a-kind mugs for gifts or that silly something for a white elephant. Going to thrift stores or even RE-stores or the scratch and dents places is a great alternative to buying brand new because it not only gives appliances or the like new homes, but it keeps items out of our landfills.
Many people don’t realize the aroma from your regular household cleaning products can be as dangerous as smoking 20 cigarettes (each time you clean!). That is because what is inside is pretty dangerous to you and the environment. In fact, 80% of cleaners or laundry detergent is comprised of water. You are essentially paying for plastic and water and of course those harmful cleaners. Stay away from any with a -thylene, -hyde, -bens or -phates suffix, and definitely stay away from anything with ammonia and chlorine. I use Eco Sense products because they are plant based and come in concentrated bottles. I reuse the one plastic spray bottle, add my concentrate and the rest is my own filtered water. I like this concept because the concentrate bottles are much smaller so there is less plastic and one bottle of concentrate usually lasts me 4-6 spray bottles worth!
If you are looking to make some smarter choices for you and the environment these 5 ideas are great starting points. My family has been implementing these changes over the past several years and I can confidently say that it has improved our health, our mindset and helped our budget! It takes some time and some minor mindset adjustments to move away from convenience, but the end result will leave you and our planet feeling pretty great.
For almost a year I watched my best friend struggle with mystery symptoms that paralyzed her ability to live her life. She went from doctor to doctor trying to find answers. No one was able to figure out the root of her symptoms.
After months and months of searching for answers she finally pinpointed the root of her problems located in the walls of the studio she was working out of. It was behind those walls that she found Stachybotrys and Chaetomium, two species of very toxic mold. Seeing her health decline, I recognized that our environment can play a very important role in our health. I also realized that mold is still a very unrecognized environmental threat.
Many people don’t believe mold can make a person so sick — and before seeing this happen to my best friend, I didn’t know the extent at which mold could hurt someone either. This is why I decided to start studying Building Biology and redirect my interior design business to focus solely on creating healthy homes that prevent mold, chemical, and EMF (Electromagnetic Frequency) exposure and also why I want to share with you some ways you can avoid mold in your own home.
Mold isn’t the only toxin in our homes, but it is certainly one of the major players and unfortunately, the way we build our homes today encourages mold growth so we have to be pay special attention to how we create moisture in our home so we don’t wind up with thousands in hospital bills, remediation, and remodeling fees.
This is absolutely not true. I have seen many cases of mold in dry climates and it’s because mold only needs three things to grow and survive:
This means, if we’re not managing our dust and our moisture, we are providing mold with all of the things it needs to survive in our environment.
First of all, if you are someone who might be experiencing mystery symptoms of your own, don’t rule out mold. Consider if there has ever been a water event that might have caused previous damage to the home. This could be a flood or it could be something as simple as a slow leak from under your sink. If these water events weren’t handled properly from the get go, you may be dealing with a mold problem before even moving into the home.
You might be able to tell if there was a water event prior to you moving in by noticing any water damaged materials in the home.
Are there warped looking walls or wood?
If you notice this, you may consider testing the home for mold and working with a functional diagnostic practitioner to test your body for mycotoxins (toxins created from mold). Testing your body and your home helps you to mirror what might be going on.
A wet room is any room in the home that we have a water supply to:
Kitchens
Laundry rooms
It’s crucial to keep an eye on these rooms often and make sure there’s no standing water or water leaks in these areas.
Regular inspections around toilets, bathtubs, and showers are critical in preventing mold and noticing a problem before it starts. Look for failed caulking, discolored flooring and grout, check to make sure the toilet is fastened securely, and that the sink cabinets are not blistering.
Limit the amount of things you keep under your sinks and keep them in bins so you can easily pull them out and check your pipes is a helpful tool in keeping a close watch.
Cleaning out the drains once a month is also another helpful way to keep mold and other biofilms from growing in them.
DRAIN CLEANER RECIPE:
Pour ½ cup baking soda and 1 cup white vinegar down the drains.
After the mixture fizzes up, let it sit for 15 minutes.
Follow by pouring hot water down the drain.
Be careful not to pour boiling water down the drains in case you have PVC pipes.
Top with a home probiotic spray like Home Biotic.
We perform a variety of tasks indoors that create water in the form of vapor within the home. Ideally, you want to keep the humidity levels below 45% RH (relative humidity). This can be measured using a hygrometer that can be purchased online.
Some things that create excess water vapor in the home are showering and cooking.
It’s critical to run an exhaust fan when you’re doing either of these activities and making sure the fan is properly sized for the room. You also want to confirm that the fan is actually exhausting out of the home and isn’t just recirculating throughout the home creating excess humidity. Another option is to get a Restroom exhaust fan that comes preinstalled with a humidistat that will automatically sense the humidity in the room and run the fan until the humidity level has dropped.
Dust is food for mold. Combined with water vapor, mold can latch on and colonize and this can create a mold problem within your home. Additionally, mold spores are among some of the toxins that actually make up the composition of dust. This makes managing dust a crucial step to creating a mold free environment.
Maintain areas in the home that are often forgetting about and don’t forget hard to reach places. Especially in locations where there might be high humidity like restrooms and kitchens. For instance, the tops of our kitchen cabinets are usually very dusty and when we cook steam is released into the air causing higher levels of humidity in the room. Make sure you’re regularly checking for dust above your cabinets so you don’t find yourself with a mold issue.
This seems like a no brainer, but oftentimes we forget to clean and maintain our appliances and we run the risk of growing mold inside of them.
Let these dry out after each use and clean them regularly by running an empty load and throwing 1 cup of white vinegar in the bottom. You also want to wipe down the rubber gasket seal around the perimeter, as this can be a breeding ground for mold. Another option is to ditch this appliance all together if you don’t clean it often, because it’s super prone to cause mold growth.
Refrigerators are cold and can create condensation inside on the shelves and around the rubber seal, so oftentimes we will find mold growing along the edges. Keep these areas clean and use a nontoxic spray, like Branch Basics, to regularly wipe down the gasket and keep food particles from hanging around. If you have a water filter, you will also want to pull the fridge out and empty the drop pan to make sure there’s not water overflowing underneath or behind the appliance.
Front loader washing machines sure have a nice look, but the rubber seal around the front of the washing machine can be hard to clean. Water can get trapped and mold has been known to rear its ugly head between the seal and unit itself. Keep this area dry and wipe it down with a towel after each load. Always keep the door open so it can get plenty of airflow.
It’s easy to underestimate the toxic power of mold. It’s hard to relate our brain fog, dizziness, weight gain, or fatigue to something that you might not even be able to see with the visible eye. Additionally, this creates a huge disconnect between our health and our home. Not to mention, most of society pushes us to believe this is just a part of getting older.
We do not believe this to be true at Awakening Spaces. The steps listed above are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to prevention. If you think you might be suffering from mold illness or any of the symptoms mentioned above, it might be worth taking a closer look to see if your environment is playing a role.
We all face risks every day — especially in today’s climate. But it’s easy to forget that some of the risk you are facing is within your own home. As adults we spend roughly 90% of our time indoors; in stagnant air that can be dense with pollution, bacteria, and possibly viruses. It might not seem like something as simple as air could cause too much damage at first, put for those most ill, air quality and cleanliness can be a huge factor in recovery (or lack of).
I’ve been using essential oils for several years now and it never ceases to amaze me how helpful they can be for so many different problems. It’s common to diffuse essential oils for the scent alone — but one of my favorite ways to use them is to purify the air in my home. Depending on the oil, they can be antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral, and/or antimicrobial. It’s such a small act to implement into your daily routine that can make a really big difference.
My favorite combination might have to be eucalyptus and lemon essential oils together. Together they are incredibly fresh and energizing! And since each oil has its own different properties and benefits, I’m covering all my bases for what I’m trying to achieve (extra cleaner air).
It’s biggest defense: Antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral
Additional benefits: Promotes clear breathing and a sense of relaxation
It’s biggest defense: Antibacterial
Additional benefits: It is moisturizing for dry or irritated skin and promote deep relaxation and sleep
It’s biggest defense: Antibacterial, anti-fungal
Additional benefits: Supports a healthy immune system and can ward off nightmares
It’s biggest defense: Antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral
Additional benefits: Soothes irritated skin, acne, and works as a deodorizer
It’s biggest defense: Antibacterial, anti-fungal, antimicrobial
Additional benefits: Supports respiratory function and can aid digestion
It’s biggest defense: antibacterial, antimicrobial,
Additional benefits: Promotes clear skin and is a natural insect repellent
Make sure when choosing an essential oil brand that you research their sourcing and quality. Look closely at the ingredients for hidden synthetic fragrances or processed carrier oils that can be found in cheaper department store brands. Ensuring that the brand is reputable and ethically sourced will also increase your essential oil potency.
There are several clean brands out there, but my go-to is doTERRA. For more information about the company and why I love and trust them visit Why doTERRA.