Is Your Home Making You Sick? How to Reduce Toxins at Home

Reducing our toxic load is at the heart of what we do at Candle Stork. Home is where you spend most of your time and where you have the most control over what you bring into your space. Yet deciphering “safe” versus “toxic” products can feel overwhelming.

The good news? You don’t need a doctorate in toxicology to make impactful changes. Start by prioritizing the things you can control. Here are five easy swaps to help you detox your nest—and breathe easier every day.

1. Cook From Scratch & Upgrade Your Cookware

Preparing meals at home gives you complete control over ingredients—and over your exposure to hidden chemicals.

-Choose whole foods and quality cuts of meat. Obviously, certified organic labels are great, but start with the basics by eating less processed and prepackaged "food-like" options.

-Master a handful of go-to recipes for quick, nourishing meals that don't feel overwhelming. 

-Swap out nonstick pots and pans for cast iron or stainless steel to avoid PFOA and PTFE coatings. These low tox options can often be found at secondhand shops and Facebook marketplace to save money.

-Ditch plastic utensils and cutting boards in favor of solid wood or metal to reduce consumption of plastic shavings.

-Choose glass storage containers and never put hot food/drinks into plastic to avoid leaching. 

Every stir, sear, and simmer becomes a non-toxic ritual that nourishes both body and home with the right tools. 

2. Filter Your Water & Air

-Tap water and indoor air can carry contaminants—everything from chlorine byproducts and medications, to VOCs. Filtering both ensures you’re drinking and breathing the cleanest version of home.

-Install a countertop or under-sink water filter (e.g., activated carbon, or reverse osmosis). Don't forget to filter your bathroom faucets (sink, shower, tub) as well. 

-Add air-purifying houseplants like spider plants, peace lilies (not safe for cat households), and pothos to naturally absorb toxins. 

-Consider a HEPA air purifier in high-traffic rooms to capture dust, mold spores, and pet dander. Good air filters can be expensive--I definitely recommend getting them on sale to save $$. 

-Open windows often. Fresh air is great for our lungs and circulating healthy air throughout our homes. This should be done year-round for a few minutes each day. 

Clean water and fresh air set the foundation for a healthier indoor environment.

 

3. Swap Synthetic Fragrances for Beeswax Candles & Natural Oils

-The word “fragrance” on a label can mask thousands of unregulated chemicals linked to respiratory irritation. endocrine issues, headaches, and cancers.

-Burn beeswax candles—ours at Candle Stork are handcrafted for a soot-free glow with Michigan single-filtered beeswax, organic essential oils, and unbleached cotton wicks. Explore Our Shop.

-Ditch synthetic perfumes and try our aromatherapy rollers. Organic, aromatherapy grade essential oils and plant extracts formulated to uplift your mood and help you smell great, naturally.

-Skip plug-ins, wax melts, and air fresheners loaded with toxic synthetic fragrances and chemically processed wax blends. They don't clean your air, they pollute it.

Natural beeswax candles, beeswax melts, and aromatherapy rollers can help you keep your scent rituals without compromising indoor air quality.

 

4. Choose Natural Cleaning Products

-Many commercial cleaners rely on harsh chemicals that linger on surfaces and in your lungs.

-Use baking soda, white vinegar, and citrus peels for multi-surface cleaning—our DIY Cleaning Recipes make it easy.

-If you need store-bought, choose brands like Branch Basics, Truly Free Home, or Blueland with full ingredient labels and no synthetics.

-Keep cotton cloths and reusable mop pads on hand to reduce waste and chemical residue.

A clean home shouldn’t cost you your health.

5. Declutter & Reduce Electromagnetic Radiation

-A cluttered space adds hidden stress, and constant tech use can expose you to low-level EMR (electromagnetic radiation).

-Simplify your environment: donate unused items, organize closets, and create clear surfaces.

-Practice good phone hygiene: sleep with your device on airplane mode, hold calls with the speakerphone on instead of near your head, and swap Bluetooth earbuds for wired options.

-Establish tech-free zones or times to minimize overall exposure and promote restful sleep.

Clearing clutter and EMR frees both your mind and your body.

 

 

Every small swap compounds into a more mindful, non-toxic home. Start with one change today—maybe lighting a Candle Stork beeswax candle instead of your old paraffin one—and build from there. Your home can be your sanctuary, not a source of hidden toxins.

Ready to make your nest safer? Explore our clean-burn candle collections and join our health-conscious community.