**Creating a Cleaner Home: Simple Swaps and Rules to Get You Started**

When it comes to creating a cleaner home, it's all about making small swaps and implementing simple rules that can have a significant impact on our mental state and overall well-being. For me, one of the most important places to start is in the kitchen, specifically my kitchen island. It's become a magnet for clutter, but I've implemented a zero-tolerance policy unless we're eating or cooking. This means that anything left out on the counter or island will be picked up and put away immediately.

I want my kitchen island to be a visual representation of my mental state - clean, clear, and stress-free. By making this rule a hard and fast one in our household, everyone has been more conscious about not just coming in and dumping their stuff. This simple change has made a huge difference in the overall tidiness of our home.

In addition to the kitchen island, I've implemented other small rules that have helped create a cleaner and healthier home. One of my favorite is "cleaning as you cook." It's a good reminder to take care of one chore at a time, rather than letting messes pile up. Putting away laundry immediately after it's dry has also become a daily habit for me. If I leave it overnight, even if it's just sitting in a pile, it can be overwhelming and stressful.

Another big swap that I've made is switching out chemical-based cleaning products for non-toxic ones. Chemical-based cleaners are not only bad for our health, but they're also contributing to indoor air pollution. By using natural and plant-based alternatives, we're creating a safer and healthier home environment. I love making my own DIY cleaners using ingredients like distilled white vinegar, which is perfect for cleaning and disinfecting without harsh chemicals.

**Using Non-Toxic Cleaning Products**

I've switched out all of our chemical-based cleaning products for non-toxic ones, including laundry detergent. Using laundry detergents that are specifically designed to be gentle on skin can make a huge difference when it comes to allergies and sensitivities. By choosing plant-based and non-toxic options, we're reducing the amount of harsh chemicals in our home.

When it comes to air fresheners, I've also made the switch to less toxic alternatives. Instead of paraffin wax candles, which are often made with chemical-based fragrances, I opt for beeswax or soy wax candles with natural essential oils. These options not only reduce indoor air pollution but also create a pleasant and inviting atmosphere.

**Washing Fruit and Vegetables**

Another simple swap that can make a big difference is learning how to properly wash our fruit and vegetables. By removing pesticides and other chemicals, we're eating healthier and reducing our exposure to toxins. I've started experimenting with different methods for washing berries, including using distilled white vinegar and a special fruit and veggie wash.

While the fruit and veggie wash has been effective in removing dirt and bacteria, I'm curious to see which method works best. To do this, I've set up a simple experiment where I'll soak my berries in both the vinegar solution and the special wash for five minutes, then inspect the water to see which one comes out on top.

**Making Healthy Swaps Easier**

One of the easiest ways to make healthy swaps is by becoming a member of Thrive Market. This online marketplace offers a vast selection of natural and non-toxic products that have already been vetted for quality and safety. As a member, I've saved money on household essentials while also reducing my exposure to harsh chemicals.

In addition to the benefits of Thrive Market, members can take advantage of exclusive discounts and free shipping. And, with the ability to save up to 60% on purchases, it's easy to stock up on healthy cleaning supplies and other essentials without breaking the bank.

**Conclusion**

Creating a cleaner home doesn't have to be overwhelming or expensive. By implementing simple swaps like these, we can create a healthier and more stress-free environment for ourselves and our families. Whether it's switching out chemical-based cleaners for non-toxic ones, learning how to properly wash fruit and vegetables, or becoming a member of Thrive Market, there are countless ways to make healthy swaps that will benefit us in the long run.

By taking these small steps, we can create a home that not only looks its best but also feels its best. So, let's get started on our journey to creating a cleaner, healthier home - one simple swap at a time!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhello and welcome back to my Channel or welcome if you are new here my name is Brittany and today I'm going to be sharing with you some habits for both a cleaner and overall healthier less toxic home because the only thing toxic I want in my home is the 2003 Britney Spears Banger if you are new here don't forget to subscribe follow me before you go and with all of that said let's get started with our first clean Healthy Home habit and that is make your bed every morning now I know you've heard this a million times before but I can tell you if there is one thing you do it sets your day on the right path you make your bed in the morning you know what that gives you momentum accomplishment right when you wake up and here's a couple things I do to make it easier for myself because it is warmer now I take my big heavy duvet and throw blankets and I just fold them up on the top of the bed in the evening so in the morning when it comes time to making my bed I really just have to straighten out the sheets put my pillows back on and then I fold back over that duvet on top and boom my room is put back together and also if you have not yet switched over to Bamboo bedding I am telling you it is life-changing and not only is it so much softer and smoother and buttery on your skin at night it is hypoallergenic and absorbs far less odor bacteria mites and things that cotton bedding does so I actually have my own line of organic bamboo bedding but even if you don't get mine I highly recommend switching over to Bamboo because it is one of the best things I've ever done rule number two is no shoes in the house now my International followers watching this are probably appalled like what people actually wear their outside shoes in the home well yes here in the U.S it is fairly common a lot of us are just not thinking about or fully aware of everything that's on the bottom of our shoes that we are then tracking in so an easy swap here is to just have house slippers I live in my house slippers you can also also do grippy socks that's what I do for the kids so they're not sliding around on the wood or tile flooring not related to that is at least four times a year if not more you want to do a deep clean of your floor what you want to do is get a brush and you want to scrub and see how much more comes out because between the cracks is hard for a mop to get to even a steam mop does not get in between those cracks like a brush does and if you do this you will be shocked probably appalled probably disgusted by all the dirt that is still remaining even after you've mopped it's like one of those things that's gross yet very satisfying next thing you're going to want to do at least three to four times a year is do a full Pantry clear out not only take out those foods that are expired that are old that are hanging out in the back of your pantry that you have long forgotten about but also make it a point to remove the jump junk items the less healthy items because if you don't even have them in your house they're not going to be tempting you to eat and in this household we get all of our healthier snack food items household items from the Thrive Market because not only do I save money is it delivered to my door they only have healthier fully vetted items on their entire website so you can't go wrong I have worked with Thrive market for years they are very kindly sponsoring this portion of today's video I cannot convey this enough it is a no-brainer because Thrive Market has all healthier for you items across all categories in the home and you save money my gigantic box just arrived and just on this order I saved 38.27 just on this one order it really adds up it really makes a difference and best part of all I don't even have to leave my house I do all of my shopping on the app most of my favorite items are on auto ship and when you do auto-ship you get even more of a discount and Thrive makes it so easy to shop you can filter and Shop based on 90 different categories whether it be food allergies dietary restrictions and just sort through the store that way so our pantry is stock we are dialed in with all of the healthier for you stack for example instead of candy when I'm craving something sweet I go for the organic dried mango this is like nature's candy I've got the kids now eating these seaweed snacks instead of like chips or something junky other hot tip is Thrive Market has the best organic pesticide free why if you want to sign up if you have not yet become a member you can save 30 on your first order and get a free gift that's an up to 60 dollar value so stock up like this is the time get all of your snacks coming up for the next few months or load up on your organic wines look at their site they have so much stuff on there and you can save if you use my code and my link down below I I will have all the information for you down in the description box and another related little snack hack that I started doing is I put out what I call grazing platters snack platters where I put out an assortment and I do a mix of things I know they love and then some more experimental healthier items and I put them there all in the same Level Playing Field there is no pressure and I'm telling you serving it this way they are so much more likely to try new things next on to more of a clean home habit is set up some kind of a cleaning schedule in your home my tip here is to go onto Google and search for cleaning schedule click on images and you will see a bunch of different pre-made cleaning schedules look through them and see which one seems realistic for you and your household that you feel you can stick to there tends to be two main types one is doing a little bit every day so like one room a day so things don't build up or what I tend to to do is a smaller daily cleaning checklist and then a larger clean on Sundays so this is the cleaning schedule that I follow I will link it down below if you're interested but go on there and look for something that resonates and would work with your household a big clean home rule that I've recently implemented as recently as three weeks ago is the no countertop clutter rule something about kitchen islands it is such a magnet for clutter now I have a zero tolerance policy unless we are eating or cooking I don't want anything on the kitchen island the kitchen island is a visual representation of my mental state and it's got to be clean clear and stress-free and once I made this a hard and fast rule in the household everyone has been more conscious about not just coming in and dumping their stuff my other little rules that I try my very best to stick to is cleaning as I cook you've probably heard this before but it's a good reminder and that same rule applies putting my laundry away the day that I do if I leave it even overnight that clean laundry sits in a pile and I don't get to it obviously I have young kids so I don't always do it but I'm trying this next one is one of the biggest household swaps you could make to a cleaner healthier home and that is switching out your chemical based cleaning products for non-toxic cleaning products and I know some people are really holding on for dear life to their bleach and they think there's no other way for their home to get clean but what a lot of people don't realize is that these chemical based cleaning products are endocrine disruptors so they can disrupt your hormonal balance when you're using them in the home it pollutes the air it's indoor air pollution from volatile organic compounds which when you're breathing that in can lead to a host of bad things like you can make your own DIY cleaners in fact I just did a whole video of my last video on ways to use distilled white vinegar around the home to clean and disinfect so check that out for some specific recipes I now use all non-toxic laundry detergents with laundry detergent you're putting on your clothes you're then wearing those clothes so any chemicals in the laundry detergent isn't touching your skin and you are wearing it and you're sweating and all that so I would just prefer to be on the safe side and use something plant-based and non-toxic with no harsh chemicals kind of related to that another thing to pay attention to and very easy swap in the home is your home fragrances look for those less toxic non-toxic chemical free home fragrances so for example instead of paraffin wax look for beeswax or soy wax candles this one I just got also from Thrive and it is made with beeswax and all natural essential oils and it still smells amazing and I am not putting those toxic chemicals into the air which my family is then breathing in next one is learn how to properly wash your fruit and vegetables to not only remove all those pesticides but they're going to last longer and this one I'm doing a fun little experiment okay I have three different methods for washing our berries and we're going to see which of these works best the first is going to be by making a diluted vinegar mix and letting our berries soak the second is going to be using this fruit and veggie wash I got from Thrive that says it removes dirt soil bacteria pesticides chemical wax and heavy metals and helps keep your produce fresh up to five times longer and then I also got this gadget because I saw it going viral on Tick Tock that you could put in with your produce but it is expensive so I just want to do a little side by side and see how our water is looking after soaking these for five minutes so stay tuned and I will let you know the verdict so these have all been sitting here for about 10 minutes now I'm going to remove the berries out and we're going to inspect the water now that the berries are removed we can look at the water that's left over to see what is the most opaque what looks like it got the most stuff off and honestly just eyeballing it it's between the distilled white vinegar and the fruit and veggie wash like look how much more stuff came off versus that fancy machine here they are from this angle leave your votes down in the comments which one do you think did the best job but regardless take that extra time and really do a deep clean of your fruit and vegetables just rinsing them off with water is not enough a lot of them are just covered in waxes and pesticides and things you don't want to think about that you are eating so take the time and then by doing that they're going to last longer the easiest way to make those healthier for you home swaps is to become a member of Thrive Market because everything on their site has already been vetted for you you can save a lot of money versus shopping anywhere else and you can save an additional 30 and get a free gift up to 60 value so definitely take advantage of that if you have not yet become a member to thrive it is the best thank you as always so much for watching and I will see you soon with a new video byehello and welcome back to my Channel or welcome if you are new here my name is Brittany and today I'm going to be sharing with you some habits for both a cleaner and overall healthier less toxic home because the only thing toxic I want in my home is the 2003 Britney Spears Banger if you are new here don't forget to subscribe follow me before you go and with all of that said let's get started with our first clean Healthy Home habit and that is make your bed every morning now I know you've heard this a million times before but I can tell you if there is one thing you do it sets your day on the right path you make your bed in the morning you know what that gives you momentum accomplishment right when you wake up and here's a couple things I do to make it easier for myself because it is warmer now I take my big heavy duvet and throw blankets and I just fold them up on the top of the bed in the evening so in the morning when it comes time to making my bed I really just have to straighten out the sheets put my pillows back on and then I fold back over that duvet on top and boom my room is put back together and also if you have not yet switched over to Bamboo bedding I am telling you it is life-changing and not only is it so much softer and smoother and buttery on your skin at night it is hypoallergenic and absorbs far less odor bacteria mites and things that cotton bedding does so I actually have my own line of organic bamboo bedding but even if you don't get mine I highly recommend switching over to Bamboo because it is one of the best things I've ever done rule number two is no shoes in the house now my International followers watching this are probably appalled like what people actually wear their outside shoes in the home well yes here in the U.S it is fairly common a lot of us are just not thinking about or fully aware of everything that's on the bottom of our shoes that we are then tracking in so an easy swap here is to just have house slippers I live in my house slippers you can also also do grippy socks that's what I do for the kids so they're not sliding around on the wood or tile flooring not related to that is at least four times a year if not more you want to do a deep clean of your floor what you want to do is get a brush and you want to scrub and see how much more comes out because between the cracks is hard for a mop to get to even a steam mop does not get in between those cracks like a brush does and if you do this you will be shocked probably appalled probably disgusted by all the dirt that is still remaining even after you've mopped it's like one of those things that's gross yet very satisfying next thing you're going to want to do at least three to four times a year is do a full Pantry clear out not only take out those foods that are expired that are old that are hanging out in the back of your pantry that you have long forgotten about but also make it a point to remove the jump junk items the less healthy items because if you don't even have them in your house they're not going to be tempting you to eat and in this household we get all of our healthier snack food items household items from the Thrive Market because not only do I save money is it delivered to my door they only have healthier fully vetted items on their entire website so you can't go wrong I have worked with Thrive market for years they are very kindly sponsoring this portion of today's video I cannot convey this enough it is a no-brainer because Thrive Market has all healthier for you items across all categories in the home and you save money my gigantic box just arrived and just on this order I saved 38.27 just on this one order it really adds up it really makes a difference and best part of all I don't even have to leave my house I do all of my shopping on the app most of my favorite items are on auto ship and when you do auto-ship you get even more of a discount and Thrive makes it so easy to shop you can filter and Shop based on 90 different categories whether it be food allergies dietary restrictions and just sort through the store that way so our pantry is stock we are dialed in with all of the healthier for you stack for example instead of candy when I'm craving something sweet I go for the organic dried mango this is like nature's candy I've got the kids now eating these seaweed snacks instead of like chips or something junky other hot tip is Thrive Market has the best organic pesticide free why if you want to sign up if you have not yet become a member you can save 30 on your first order and get a free gift that's an up to 60 dollar value so stock up like this is the time get all of your snacks coming up for the next few months or load up on your organic wines look at their site they have so much stuff on there and you can save if you use my code and my link down below I I will have all the information for you down in the description box and another related little snack hack that I started doing is I put out what I call grazing platters snack platters where I put out an assortment and I do a mix of things I know they love and then some more experimental healthier items and I put them there all in the same Level Playing Field there is no pressure and I'm telling you serving it this way they are so much more likely to try new things next on to more of a clean home habit is set up some kind of a cleaning schedule in your home my tip here is to go onto Google and search for cleaning schedule click on images and you will see a bunch of different pre-made cleaning schedules look through them and see which one seems realistic for you and your household that you feel you can stick to there tends to be two main types one is doing a little bit every day so like one room a day so things don't build up or what I tend to to do is a smaller daily cleaning checklist and then a larger clean on Sundays so this is the cleaning schedule that I follow I will link it down below if you're interested but go on there and look for something that resonates and would work with your household a big clean home rule that I've recently implemented as recently as three weeks ago is the no countertop clutter rule something about kitchen islands it is such a magnet for clutter now I have a zero tolerance policy unless we are eating or cooking I don't want anything on the kitchen island the kitchen island is a visual representation of my mental state and it's got to be clean clear and stress-free and once I made this a hard and fast rule in the household everyone has been more conscious about not just coming in and dumping their stuff my other little rules that I try my very best to stick to is cleaning as I cook you've probably heard this before but it's a good reminder and that same rule applies putting my laundry away the day that I do if I leave it even overnight that clean laundry sits in a pile and I don't get to it obviously I have young kids so I don't always do it but I'm trying this next one is one of the biggest household swaps you could make to a cleaner healthier home and that is switching out your chemical based cleaning products for non-toxic cleaning products and I know some people are really holding on for dear life to their bleach and they think there's no other way for their home to get clean but what a lot of people don't realize is that these chemical based cleaning products are endocrine disruptors so they can disrupt your hormonal balance when you're using them in the home it pollutes the air it's indoor air pollution from volatile organic compounds which when you're breathing that in can lead to a host of bad things like you can make your own DIY cleaners in fact I just did a whole video of my last video on ways to use distilled white vinegar around the home to clean and disinfect so check that out for some specific recipes I now use all non-toxic laundry detergents with laundry detergent you're putting on your clothes you're then wearing those clothes so any chemicals in the laundry detergent isn't touching your skin and you are wearing it and you're sweating and all that so I would just prefer to be on the safe side and use something plant-based and non-toxic with no harsh chemicals kind of related to that another thing to pay attention to and very easy swap in the home is your home fragrances look for those less toxic non-toxic chemical free home fragrances so for example instead of paraffin wax look for beeswax or soy wax candles this one I just got also from Thrive and it is made with beeswax and all natural essential oils and it still smells amazing and I am not putting those toxic chemicals into the air which my family is then breathing in next one is learn how to properly wash your fruit and vegetables to not only remove all those pesticides but they're going to last longer and this one I'm doing a fun little experiment okay I have three different methods for washing our berries and we're going to see which of these works best the first is going to be by making a diluted vinegar mix and letting our berries soak the second is going to be using this fruit and veggie wash I got from Thrive that says it removes dirt soil bacteria pesticides chemical wax and heavy metals and helps keep your produce fresh up to five times longer and then I also got this gadget because I saw it going viral on Tick Tock that you could put in with your produce but it is expensive so I just want to do a little side by side and see how our water is looking after soaking these for five minutes so stay tuned and I will let you know the verdict so these have all been sitting here for about 10 minutes now I'm going to remove the berries out and we're going to inspect the water now that the berries are removed we can look at the water that's left over to see what is the most opaque what looks like it got the most stuff off and honestly just eyeballing it it's between the distilled white vinegar and the fruit and veggie wash like look how much more stuff came off versus that fancy machine here they are from this angle leave your votes down in the comments which one do you think did the best job but regardless take that extra time and really do a deep clean of your fruit and vegetables just rinsing them off with water is not enough a lot of them are just covered in waxes and pesticides and things you don't want to think about that you are eating so take the time and then by doing that they're going to last longer the easiest way to make those healthier for you home swaps is to become a member of Thrive Market because everything on their site has already been vetted for you you can save a lot of money versus shopping anywhere else and you can save an additional 30 and get a free gift up to 60 value so definitely take advantage of that if you have not yet become a member to thrive it is the best thank you as always so much for watching and I will see you soon with a new video bye\n"