Home is where the heart is. It's our safe haven, and the space we spend the most time in. In fact, the EPA reports that Americans spend 90% of their time indoors.
The truth is, the space we call home and spend the most time in can really influence our health – including the air we breathe and the products we use.
That's why creating a healthier, non-toxic home has become a priority for many people. But where does one even start?
Here's the good news: a healthier home doesn't require perfection, spending a lot of money or making any drastic changes. It's small, simple, consistent habits we can incorporate every day that can make a big difference.
Below are five realistic daily habits that can help you create a healthier home environment, and convert to a truly non-toxic living space — without the stress, guilt, or overwhelm.
1) Take off your shoes when you enter your home.
Every step outdoors picks up more than just dirt. Pavement and soil carry an invisible mix of allergens, traces of motor oil, heavy metals, microplastics, and even harmful bacteria like E. coli. Shoes can also pick up traces of herbicides, pesticides, pet waste, and mold spores.1
Wearing shoes inside can transfer these particles to the same floors we walk barefoot, children crawl, and pets rest. Over time, these outdoor allergens can pollute the air we're breathing indoors.
Leaving your shoes at the door is a simple habit that creates a barrier between the outside world and your home. It helps keep floors cleaner, reduces pollutants, and supports a healthier and cleaner environment for everyone in your household.
2) Use Toxic-Free Products to Clean
The products we use to clean our homes can have a bigger impact on our health than we might realize.
Many conventional cleaning products contain harsh chemicals and synthetic fragrances that can irritate skin, eyes, and respiratory system.2 Even small amounts of these substances can linger on surfaces or become part of household dust, quietly making their way into our lungs.
Switching to toxic-free or plant-based cleaning products is an easy way to reduce exposure to these harsh chemicals. Look for products labeled free from ammonia, bleach, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances. Another great option is natural alternatives like vinegar, baking soda, or dish soap for your everyday cleaning.
It's important to keep in mind that you don't have to overhaul your entire cleaning routine at once. Start with the products you use most frequently, like kitchen or bathroom cleaners, and gradually replace the others over time. Even small swaps can make a huge difference in reducing your home's exposure to chemicals.
3) Check and Swap Household Products
Even beyond cleaning products, many everyday items in your home can quietly expose you and your family to harmful chemicals. Things like air fresheners, scented candles, laundry detergents, cosmetics, and even bedding or furniture can contain particles that linger in the air.
Many of us use these products daily without realizing the cumulative effect they can have over time.
As mentioned above, you don't have to overhaul everything at once. Here are five common items you can start with:
Air fresheners: Many of them contain synthetic fragrances that can release hidden chemicals into your home. Consider unscented options or natural alternatives like essential oil diffusers.
Scented candles: Traditional candles may contain paraffin and synthetic fragrances. Beeswax or soy candles without added scents are safer alternatives.
Laundry detergents: Conventional detergents and fabric softeners often contain fragrances and harsh chemicals. Choose fragrance-free or plant-based detergents for both your clothes and your home environment.
Mattresses: New mattresses can release volatile organic compounds (a process known as off-gassing) that may continue for a few days up to a month. To minimize exposure, choose mattresses labeled "free from flame retardants" and made from natural fibers. If you're unboxing a new mattress, give it time to air out in a garage or keep windows open to help reduce exposure.
Upholstered furniture: Foam, fabric treatments, and finishes may contain chemicals that linger indoors. Choosing pieces labeled low-VOC (volatile organic compounds), non-toxic, or free from flame retardants help minimize long-term exposure.
4) Open Windows and Let Fresh Air In
Your indoor air can contain a mixture of dust, chemicals, and allergens released through everyday activities like cleaning and cooking. According to the EPA, indoor air can be up to 100 times more polluted than outdoor air.3 Simply cracking a window can help fresh air circulate, reducing buildup, and making your home feel lighter and cleaner.
But, you don't need to keep windows open all day. Just a few minutes or when the weather is mild can go a long way. Opening windows while cooking or after cleaning can help move stale air out and balance humidity, keeping your space from feeling stuffy.
5) Invest in an Air Purifier
Fresh air is an important part of maintaining a clean, non-toxic home, but relying on open windows alone isn't enough. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from everyday indoor activities, as mentioned above, constantly introduce particles into your home, many of which linger long after they are released into the air.4
Plus outdoor pollution, like smoke, dust, pollen, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide (from cars) also find their way inside. In fact, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), improving indoor air quality and reducing exposure to indoor allergens is essential to managing asthma and allergies at home.5
Thankfully, a high-quality air purifier, like AirDoctor, can help ensure your indoor space is consistently clean and healthy.
Watch Dr. Rutland explain why every home should have an air purifier and how everyday activities can introduce allergens and chemicals into your indoor air.
AirDoctor air purifiers utilize an UltraHEPA™ filter to capture up to 99.99% of airborne particles (like pet dander, dust, mold spores, wildfire smoke, bacteria, and viruses) at 0.003 microns – 100 times smaller than the HEPA standard.
But it doesn't stop there. AirDoctor's Premium Carbon/VOC filter captures odors, smoke, and toxic gases before they circulate into your indoor air and lungs.
In a recent survey of AirDoctor customers:
- 98% said their home's air feels cleaner, safer, and healthier.
- Over 93% they've noticed less allergy-related symptoms, including less congestion, stuffy noses, and itchy eyes.
- Over 93% said they've noticed reduced odors, and their homes smell better overall.
As we ring in the new year, there couldn't be a more perfect time to make simple but impactful changes to achieve a healthier and cleaner home year-round. Remember, you don't have to do everything at once. With each change, you're creating a home that supports your family's health and well-being for years to come.
In a recent survey of AirDoctor customers:
- Small, consistent habits make a difference. Simple changes like removing shoes, ventilating your space, and choosing safer products can meaningfully reduce toxins at home.
- Progress beats perfection. Creating a non-toxic home doesn’t require an overhaul; starting with the products you use often.
- Cleaner air supports better health. Improving indoor air quality can help reduce allergens, odors, & everyday chemical exposure.
CITATIONS
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/wearing-shoes-in-the-house-is-a-bad-idea
- https://www.lung.org/clean-air/indoor-air
- https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq
- https://www.iqair.com/us/newsroom/how-does-outdoor-air-pollution-affect-my-indoor-air-quality
- https://aafa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/aafa-2025-allergy-capitals-report.pdf
