💚 YOUR FAMILY'S DETOX ACTION PLAN 💚

Simple Steps, Real Hope

The Truth: Our children are being born with 200+ chemicals in their bodies. (and only more are being added to the environment, until more people require it)

The Good News: YOU have the power to change this. Today. Right now. In your home.

Every single change you make reduces your family's toxic load. You don't need to be perfect—you just need to start.

🌟 START HERE: THE BIG 5 (Do These First!)

1. FILTER YOUR WATER 💧

Why: Water touches everything—drinking, cooking, washing produce, bathing What to Get:

BEST: Reverse Osmosis (removes 95-100% of PFAS)

AquaTru Countertop ($300-400) - plug & play, no installation
Waterdrop G3 P800 Under-Sink ($300-400) - tested 100% PFAS removal
Clearly Filtered 3-Stage Under-Sink ($300+) - certified 100% PFAS removal

GOOD: Pitcher Filters (removes 66-100% of PFAS)

Clearly Filtered Pitcher ($70 + $70/year filters) - 98-100% PFAS removal
Epic Water Pitcher ($60 + filters) - 100% PFAS removal, large capacity
ZeroWater Pitcher ($40 + filters) - removes nitrates & 100% PFAS

Look for certification: NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 with PFAS claims

Action: Check EWG.org/tapwater for your ZIP code, then choose filter based on budget Impact: Removes your #1 daily source of toxic exposure

2. SHOES OFF AT THE DOOR 👟

Why: Shoes track in pesticides, lead, and chemicals from everywhere you've walked Action: Buy a shoe rack today. Make it a house rule. Impact: Reduces toxic dust by 70%+ instantly

3. DAMP DUST & WET MOP 🧹

Why: House dust contains lead, flame retardants, pesticides What to Get:

HEPA Vacuums (look for "sealed HEPA system"):

Budget: Shark Navigator Professional NV360 ($100-150) - excellent performance
Mid-Range: Shark Stratos Upright AX3000 ($300-400) - sealed HEPA, converts to handheld
Premium: Miele Complete C3 ($400-1000) - certified AirClean sealed system
Best Value: Any Miele with AirClean Sealed System or Shark Apex Powered Lift-Away

Key: Must be "sealed HEPA system" - regular HEPA filter alone still leaks dust back into air

Action:

Use HEPA vacuum 2x/week minimum
Damp cloth for surfaces (not dry dusting which spreads toxins)
Wet mop floors (no dry sweeping) Impact: Removes settled toxins instead of spreading them around

4. THROW OUT NONSTICK COOKWARE 🍳

Why: Teflon releases PFAS "forever chemicals" when heated Action: Replace with cast iron ($20-30) or stainless steel Impact: Eliminates daily PFAS exposure from every meal

5. ELIMINATE ALL "FRAGRANCE" 🚫🌸

Why: "Fragrance" hides hundreds of untested chemicals including hormone disruptors Action:

Toss ALL air fresheners (today!)
Buy "fragrance-free" (NOT "unscented") cleaners, detergents, soaps
Open windows instead Impact: Removes phthalates and endocrine disruptors from daily air

🥗 FOOD & PRODUCE

Organic Food Strategy:

Priority Order (if budget is tight):

Water filter FIRST (biggest impact)
Organic "Dirty Dozen" produce (highest pesticides)
Organic dairy & meat (animals bioaccumulate toxins)
Everything else when possible

Baking Soda Wash (Even for Organic!) 🧂

Recipe:

1 teaspoon baking soda per 2 cups water (or 3-4 tablespoons per sinkful)
Soak produce for 12-15 minutes
Swish or scrub gently during soak
Rinse thoroughly with clean water

Why it works: Alkaline pH breaks down pesticides on surface

Important:

12-15 minutes removes surface pesticides most effectively
Can't remove pesticides that penetrated into produce
Wash ALL produce (even organic has dust, bacteria, handling)

Know Your Stores:

Trader Joe's & Sprouts: Do NOT use chemical wash on produce ✓
Whole Foods: DOES use chemical wash on produce ✗

👶 BABIES & KIDS: SPECIAL ACTIONS

For Newborns & Babies:

🛏️ MATTRESS:

Buy organic crib mattress (no flame retardants)
Standard mattresses off-gas for years
This is where baby spends 12-16 hours/day

👕 CLOTHING:

Buy used/secondhand for babies & kids (already washed multiple times)
Avoid new clothes (flame retardants, formaldehyde, chemicals)
ALL new clothes need 6-7 washes before wearing
Focus on underwear especially (direct skin contact all day)

Why? Flame retardant chemicals dissipate over time with washing. One company states fabrics treated with fire retardant are usually certified for one year, and chemicals dissipate with washing

Wash NEW clothes 6-7 times minimum:

Use hot water
Regular detergent (no fabric softener)
High heat dryer
This removes most surface flame retardants

🪑 FURNITURE:

Avoid new IKEA furniture in nursery (particle board off-gasses formaldehyde)
Buy solid wood or secondhand furniture (already off-gassed)
No stain-protection treatments

🎨 NURSERY:

NO painting unless zero-VOC paint only
If you must paint: do it 3+ months before baby arrives, ventilate constantly
Better: don't paint at all or use secondhand furniture

🧸 TOYS:

Wood, stainless steel, silicone only
NO plastic toys in sunlight/heat (leaches chemicals faster)
There is NO safe plastic in the sun

🏠 HOME CHANGES (Low/No Cost)

Kitchen:

✓ NO microwaving plastic (ever!)
✓ Glass food storage instead of plastic
✓ Transfer takeout to glass before reheating
✓ Stainless steel or glass water bottles
✓ Dishwasher: Use powder detergent (never single-use plastic pods)
- Tip: Mix powder in warm water first to dissolve, then it works great!

Cleaning Supplies:

Best All-Purpose forPurchase: Branch Basics

One concentrate does EVERYTHING: dishes, laundry, floors, hand soap, glass, bathrooms
Fragrance-free, non-toxic, actually works
Cost-effective: dilute concentrate for different uses
Available at: branchbasics.com

DIY Alternative (costs pennies):

All-purpose cleaner: Vinegar + water in spray bottle
Scrubbing: Baking soda paste

Laundry:

✓ Fragrance-free detergent
✓ NO fabric softener (coats fabric, toxic)
✓ NO dryer sheets
✓ Wash new clothes 6-7 times before wearing (if not organic)
✓ Wool dryer balls are perfectly safe and highly recommended! They're a non-toxic, reusable alternative to dryer sheets and fabric softeners.
Why Wool Dryer Balls Are Great:
- 100% natural - just felted wool, no chemicals
- Reduce drying time by 25-40% (saves energy & money)
- Soften clothes naturally through mechanical action
- Last for years (1000+ loads)
- No synthetic fragrances or fabric softener residue
- Cost-effective - $15-25 for a set that lasts years

Bathroom:

✓ Fragrance-free everything
✓ Simple ingredients (if you can't pronounce it, research it)
✓ NO antibacterial soap (regular soap works fine)
✓ NO bleach, unless absolutely necessary, and totally ventilated with fans

General House:

✓ Open windows daily (flush out indoor air)
✓ NO air fresheners or plugins
✓ Wash hands before every meal (especially kids)
✓ Change out of work clothes before holding kids

🚫 WHAT TO AVOID

NEVER:

Microwave plastic
Use nonstick cookware
Buy products with "fragrance"
Use pesticides/herbicides on lawn (especially Roundup!)
Let kids hold receipts (BPA)
Put plastic in sun/heat
Use fabric softener or dryer sheets
Paint nursery (unless zero-VOC, done months in advance)

📦 SMART SHOPPING

Read Labels - Avoid:

"Fragrance" or "Parfum"
BPA, BPS (plastics)
Phthalates (DBP, DEP, DEHP)
Parabens
"Antibacterial" (unless truly necessary)
Flame retardant treatments

Look For:

"Fragrance-free" (not "unscented")
Glass, stainless steel, cast iron
Organic
Secondhand (for kids' clothes, furniture)
Simple ingredient lists

💪 REPLACE GRADUALLY (One Month at a Time)

Month 1: Water filter + shoes off + fragrance-free basics
Month 2: Replace nonstick cookware (one pan at a time)
Month 3: Glass food storage (2-3 pieces per paycheck)
Month 4: Organic "Dirty Dozen" produce + HEPA vacuum
Month 5: Replace vinyl shower curtain, plastic water bottles
Month 6: Continue replacing plastic with glass/steel as you can afford it

Remember: Every swap matters. Progress, not perfection.

🌱 THE HOPE

Your Body CAN Detoxify:

Switch to organic food → 70% less glyphosate in 6 days
Filter water → removes daily toxic exposure
Remove sources → your body starts healing

Your Kids ARE Resilient:

Younger = more ability to heal
Removing exposure NOW prevents future damage
Every year of reduced exposure = healthier development

You ARE Making a Difference:

Each change reduces total toxic load
5-10 major swaps = 50-70% less exposure
You're protecting the most vulnerable: your children

🎯 THE 80/20 RULE

80% of your family's toxic exposure comes from:

Water (filter it)
Indoor dust (shoes off + damp clean)
Food (wash produce, buy organic when possible)
Personal care products (fragrance-free)
Cookware (no nonstick)

Focus here first. These changes are cheap or free and create massive impact.

🧪 DIY CLEANING RECIPES (Costs Pennies!)

All-Purpose Cleaner

1 part white vinegar
1 part water
Pour into spray bottle
Uses: Counters, sinks, surfaces (avoid stone/marble)

Heavy-Duty Scrub

Baking soda + a little water to make paste
Uses: Tubs, sinks, stubborn stains, burnt pans

Window/Glass Cleaner

1 part white vinegar
1 part water
Spray and wipe with newspaper or microfiber cloth
Result: Streak-free shine!

Floor Cleaner

1/2 cup white vinegar
1 gallon warm water
Uses: All hard floors (tile, linoleum, sealed wood)

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Sprinkle baking soda inside bowl
Pour 1 cup vinegar over it
Let fizz for 10 minutes
Scrub and flush

Disinfecting Spray (when you need it)

1 cup water
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl)
10-15 drops tea tree oil (natural antimicrobial)

💡 Important Notes:

Never mix vinegar + baking soda for storage (they neutralize each other). Use separately or mix fresh each time.
Vinegar smell dissipates as it dries—it won't linger
Label everything clearly so family knows what's what
Keep simple: You only need vinegar, baking soda, and water for 90% of cleaning

These DIY recipes work just as well as toxic cleaners, cost almost nothing, and eliminate hundreds of harmful chemicals from your home immediately!