Non toxic burning candle

Candles

Non toxic burning candle

It’s that time of the year when we’re getting all cozied up, maybe lighting the fireplace, pouring a cup of tea and lighting our favorite candle… the smell of petroleum sludge is just the perfect scent for the holidays. Wait what? Before you strike that match, listen to this episode.

 

Episodes Mentioned

Listen to the FRAGRANCE episode here.

Sources

https://nepis.epa.gov

http://www.scsu.edu

https://www.greenamerica.org

https://drhyman.com

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Transcript

It’s that time of the year when we’re getting all cozied up, maybe lighting the fireplace, pouring a cup of tea and lighting our favorite candle… the smell of petroleum sludge is just the perfect scent for the holidays. Wait what? Did I just say that out loud? Before you strike that match, listen to this episode.

I love a cinnamon scented candle just as much as the rest of ‘em. But according to the Environmental Protection Agency, paraffin wax candles are a leading cause of indoor air pollution. The majority of candles today are made from paraffin wax. 

Paraffin wax is part of the organic material in the petroleum sludge left over from oil and gas production. The wax is treated, bleached and processed into a solid and used to make a variety of things, for both cosmetic and therapeutic uses.

The primary health issue with paraffin wax is when it’s scented and you burn it or melt it down, in the case of a candle.

The burning of a conventional candle creates highly toxic benzene and toluene, which are both known carcinogens. In fact, the toxins released from paraffin candles are the same as those found in diesel fuel fumes and are linked to asthma and lung cancer. Burning scented candles can also release volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde that may increase your cancer risk. 

Researchers say that natural candle options release the least amount of potentially dangerous chemicals, but burning almost anything has the potential to release chemicals that may harm your health. Those natural candle waxes are coconut, beeswax and soy.

Of course, there isn’t any regulation or third-party monitoring system when it comes to candles so if you do use natural candles then you have to look closely at the label. Here are a few things to look for:

  1. First, you want the label to say 100% coconut or 100% beeswax to help ensure there aren’t any chemical additives or phthalates in the case of fragrances. I made this mistake last year when I bought a pine-scented soy candle. When writing this episode I looked back at the label and realized it said “soy blend.” I can most definitely assume it’s soy blended with paraffin. 
  2. Look at the wick: Choose a 100% cotton wick or look for a wick made of wood, like cherrywood, that doesn’t create soot and residue inside the container or surrounding walls.
  3. Fragrance: I talked about fragrances in a previous episode so if you missed that one make sure to go review at cleanlivingpodcast./fragrance. In the case of candles, look for products that specify that they’ve used 100% naturally derived essential oils, are phthalate-free, or further explain the “fragrance” to be natural and nontoxic. Not just unscented.

Because of the soot and smoke that releases into your home when burning even a natural candle, and because of the hefty price tag that comes with natural candles, here are my suggestions for this episode’s “This for That” segment:

  1. Essential oil diffuser – this is what we use instead of candles and it creates a really nice atmosphere in our home in addition to the scent. You just have to be careful about which essential oils you’re sourcing (but I’ll save that for a different episode)
  2. Simmer spices – place spices such as cinnamon sticks, cloves and nutmeg in a pot of water and let it simmer on the stove. This is definitely the cheapest, easiest and healthiest way to create that holiday candle smell in your home.

I’m sure there are some of you thinking, candles?! Seriously, Shannon, you’ve gone too far. What’s the harm in burning a candle every once in a while? It’s not going to kill me.

And you would be right — if we were living back in the 1700s. Because here’s the truth, our modern-day world is a toxic one. It’s not about burning a candle once and it not killing you, it’s about the toxic load that our bodies are enduring every day. From the polluted air we breathe, to the polluted water we drink to the pesticides in our food to the toxins in our personal care products. Most doctors, herbalists, scientists, naturopaths will all agree that our rate of exposure to these toxins is more than our body is capable of detoxing on its own. That means these toxins are being stored in our fat cells, our livers, our kidneys and yes, our brains.

So, as with anything I mention in this podcast, it’s not about telling you not to do something. It’s about finding other alternatives that produce a similar result for you — without taking on that added toxic burden.

Because there’s almost always a healthier option.

Thanks so much for listening to this episode of The Clean Living Podcast — I’m your host Shannon Lohr. If you learned something today please share with a friend — maybe the person who you know loves her Yankee Candle collection. Here’s to creating a cleaner, more sustainable world for all of us.

Glass of filtered water

Water

Glass of filtered water

When I first found out that our Brita water filter wasn’t removing nearly as many contaminants as I thought it was, I went down a deep rabbit hole to find the best water filter at an affordable price. Turns out, the research wasn’t nearly as straightforward as I was hoping it would be. So in this episode, I’m going to share what I’ve learned about tap water with some suggestions for the best filters…

 

Product List

Water Pitcher Filter:

Under the Sink Filter:

Sources

https://www.ewg.org

https://abcnews.go.com

https://www.pbs.org

https://www.ewg.org

https://www.ewg.org

https://www.ewg.org

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Transcript

When I first found out that our Brita water filter wasn’t removing nearly as many contaminants as I thought it was, I went down a deep rabbit hole to find the best water filter at an affordable price. Turns out, the research wasn’t nearly as straightforward as I was hoping it would be. So in this episode, I’m going to share what I’ve learned about tap water with some suggestions for the best filters.

What is the health advice that we hear over and over and over again? “Drink plenty of water!” Water is quite literally the giver of life and is essential for proper organ function, cell function and detoxification, proper digestion, healthy skin and hair and the list goes on. But the focus primarily falls on the quantity of water we should be drinking — how often have we heard, “Make sure you’re drinking 5-8 glasses of water per day?”

And while yes, the daily quantity of water you’re drinking is important, it’s also important to consider the quality of that water. Because there’s so much more that comes out of the faucet than we even know.

A 2017 EWG investigation of drinking water data found more than 250 chemicals in U.S. public water systems. More than half of these chemicals are not regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency and are not subject to any safety standards.

So when you drink a glass of water, you’re not just drinking hydrogen and oxygen. Because of the common water treatments used to clean water (and at times, their ineffectiveness), you’re also drinking: chlorine, heavy metals, fluoride, pharmaceuticals, disinfectant byproducts, arsenic, VOCs, pathogenic bacteria, inorganic materials and more.

In fact, in researching this episode, I went to the EWG’s website where you can search your specific town or city to find out how good or bad your water quality is. The results of the search for my city’s water source detected 18 total contaminants — 8 of which exceed EWG heaLth guidelines. The database was last updated in 2019 with the average data available from 2012-2017. 

And while, yes, my city meets the legal requirements for clean drinking water, the EWG explains, “Legal does not necessarily equal safe. Getting a passing grade from the federal government does not mean the water meets the latest health guidelines.”

Because the thing is, legal limits for contaminants in tap water have not been updated in almost 20 years.

I’ll also just add, I live in a city where people love to say how great our public water system is. I grew up hearing that Boston has some of the best drinking water of any city in the country.

So, I went ahead and searched some other cities to gauge a comparison:

  • New York City’s water has 16 total contaminants with 9 exceeding EWG’s health guidelines
  • San Diego’s water has 26 total contaminants with 13 exceeding EWG’s health guidelines
  • The water in Austin, Texas has 22 total contaminants with 10 exceeding health guidelines
  • You can then compare these city numbers to a mountain town like Evergreen, Colorado where 8 total contaminants were found with 3 exceeding the health guidelines set by the EWG. 

I’ll link to the EWG’s search database in the show notes so you can research your own city — just go to cleanlivingpodcast.com/water.

So, what should we do? 

If you’re thinking you’re safe because you only drink bottled water, think again…

Bottled water isn’t safer or cleaner or purer than tap water and in some cases, is even worse.

Not only have leading bottled water brands like Aquafina and Dasani been caught in the past bottling tap water and selling it, it also uses plastic.

Storing liquid in plastic creates a health risk in itself. For one, most plastic is made with bisphenol-A (BPA and even BPS if it’s “BPA-Free” bottles) and phthalates, both of which are hormone disruptors. These materials have been linked to various health concerns including early onset of puberty in girls, infertility in men and women, and neurological problems.

That’s not to mention the massive amount of plastic water bottles that end up in landfills.

And if you’re thinking you’re in the clear because you use well water, the quality really depends on what’s around your water source — for example, if you live near a large dump site or a lot of animal agriculture. In the past, there have been elevated levels of chromium-6 (which may sound familiar from the Erin Brockovich movie) found in private well water sources.

Okay, so if bottled water isn’t an option and well water isn’t an option for most, what’s the solution?

A really good water filter.

I will preface this by saying, I have been on a long personal journey to find the right water filter for my family. My ideal scenario is to have a whole house filter that essentially filters all of the water running through your house (from your kitchen sink to your shower to your bathroom sink) but whole house reverse osmosis filtration systems waste a large amount of water AND since these systems also remove chlorine, it may introduce the additional risk of harmful bacterial growth in plumbing.

For most of us, the most realistic and cheapest solution is a carbon filter (if you have a Brita then you already have one in your home) but as I’m about to share, not all carbon filter systems are created equal.

According to the EWG, there are some activated carbon filters that are certified only to reduce chlorine and improve the taste of the water. Others can reduce the levels of contaminants such as asbestos, lead, mercury and volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. In most cases, activated carbon filters do not remove common inorganic pollutants such as arsenic, fluoride, chromium and nitrate.

So in today’s “this for that” segment, I’m going to encourage you to research your current water filter and suggest switching to a better option if needed. I’ll link to my suggestions for the best water pitchers in the show notes at cleanlivingpodcast.com/water. The Brita isn’t on there only because there are other pitcher options that filter more than the Brita does. If you’re currently using a Brita, that’s okay — when it comes time to replace it then you can look into some other options.

We use the Aquagear water filter pitcher in our house and will most likely upgrade to an under sink water filter in the coming months. I’ll link to two of the under-the-sink filters I’m deciding between, if you’re also feeling ambitious. This will not only help to filter your drinking water but also the water you wash your dishes with.

Okay, so let’s end on a high note, even if it is a silver lining: On April 1, 2020, House leaders said they would make drinking water pollution a priority for the COVID stimulus bill. They proposed to spend more than 75 billion dollars on water infrastructure.

The bill will also establish a new Low-Income Household Drinking Water and Wastewater Assistance program to assist low-income households in paying their drinking water and wastewater utility bills during public health emergencies. And the bill will fund new, modern clean water and wastewater infrastructure by investing $40 billion in the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.

Here’s hoping it happens. 

Thanks so much for listening to this episode of The Clean Living Podcast — I’m your host Shannon Lohr. If you learned something today make sure to subscribe on the podcast platform of your choice, so you don’t miss an episode. Here’s to creating a cleaner, more sustainable world for all of us.

Blades of green grass

Grass

Blades of green grass

I was thinking that maybe this topic is outdated, no longer relevant and I could skip it, but then I Googled: “Is glyphosate still used on grass?” And I saw the first search result to appear on my screen…

 

Sources

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

https://www.ers.usda.gov

https://www.npr.org

https://www.iarc.fr

https://www.baumhedlundlaw.com

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Transcript

When we bought our house in California we inherited the 80 year old landscaper who had been maintaining the yard for the past 15 years. Upon our first meeting, my husband told him we had a toddler and didn’t want to use any weed killer or Roundup. The landscaper’s  response was, “Then your grass is going to look like shit.” In this episode, we’re talking about glyphosate.

I remember as a kid, coming home from school, and seeing little yellow flags in the corners of our yard. If you weren’t a kid who grew up in the suburbs, you may have no idea what I’m talking about but those little yellow flags had a cartoon outline of a dog, an adult and a kid standing on spikey grass. And then a circle and a line drawn through them. The words on the flag read: Caution. Pesticide Application. Keep off. And then in small print, it said: “Customer: Please remove after 48 hours.”

I also remember as a kid, my dad telling me not to walk on the grass.

As an adult, I don’t see those little flags in yards anymore so when I started researching this episode I googled: “Is glyphosate still used?” Glyphosate is a herbicide sprayed in lawns and gardens — you may also know it by the brand name Roundup.

I was thinking that maybe this is topic is outdated, no longer relevant and I could skip it, but then I read the first search result to come up on Google:

[quote] “Glyphosate is by far the most widely used herbicide in the United States, and probably worldwide. It is used on nearly every acre of corn, cotton and soybean grown in the U.S. You may have sprayed it on your lawn or garden.”

It went on to further say, glyphosate is in our food and water, as well as the dust and air we breathe.

Bayer, the company that sells Roundup, and Monsanto, the company that originally developed Roundup later selling it to Bayer, have both spent decades and put millions of dollars into research showing that glyphosate is safe for humans and only dangerous to plants.

But third-party studies, that aren’t funded by Bayer or Monsanto, beg to differ. In fact, these studies have found that glyphosate causes Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a cancer that starts in the lymphatic system.

And as of June 2020, Bayer will pay more than $10 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits filed over its Roundup weedkiller.

The plaintiffs in these lawsuits are claiming that the active ingredient — glyphosate — caused them to develop cancer. This is five years after the World Health Organization classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans.” 

So yes, victims are being paid out — and in the meantime, everyone here in the United States is still eating and drinking it in our food and water, even if we’re not using it on our own lawns.

If you think this may be an overreaction, 22 other countries have banned the use of glyphosate. And here we are, in the U.S. not only using it but using it more than any other herbicide.

There is a playground and park near where we live in San Diego and it’s labeled as an organic park that doesn’t spray pesticides and herbicides on the grass. Unfortunately, you can’t assume that your local park is doing the same.

I talked about this a bit in the cleaning supplies episode, but this is another instance where there’s opportunity to create a movement. All it takes is yourself and a few other parents, calling your town or city and asking if they spray pesticides or herbicides at your local park. What if all of us were doing that? 

Sure, we’d still have to buy organic food and a heavy duty water filter, but at least we wouldn’t have to worry about our kids playing in the grass (which in theory, should be a great and very healthy thing for them to be doing.)

So, instead of a “This for That” segment, I’m going to give you one call to action. Call your town or city. Ask about the maintenance plan for your playground or nearby park. And then ask a friend to do the same. If that feels weird, then just send them a link to this episode. And it probably goes without saying, but if you are still treating your yard with Roundup or a similar weed killer, then I urge you to consider stopping altogether or at least switching to some of the organic options.

Thanks so much for listening to this episode of The Clean Living Podcast — I’m your host Shannon Lohr. If you learned something today please share with a friend — maybe one who loves to garden. Here’s to creating a cleaner, more sustainable world for all of us.

Cute black dog wrapped in a white sheet

Dogs & Gut Health

Cute black dog wrapped in a white sheet

I’ve got something uplifting and helpful for you, especially if you’re trying to convince your partner to get a dog. If you’re already a puppy owner, give that pooch a big kiss on the mouth because this episode is for you.

 

Sources

https://www.nytimes.com

https://royalsocietypublishing.org

https://microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com

https://coach.nine.com.au

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Transcript

Okay, no bad news today — I’ve got something uplifting and helpful for you, especially if you’re trying to convince your partner to get a dog. If you’re already a puppy owner, give that pooch a big kiss on the mouth because this episode is for you.

There is growing concern among doctors and scientists that we have all become too sanitized for our own good. This, of course, was being more popularly discussed before the pandemic hit but the fact remains, we’re banishing bacteria from our homes that is both useful and important to our gut health. Basically, we run the risk of disinfecting, vacuuming and scrubbing out the mix of microscopic bacteria that our immune system needs to develop properly.

This oversantization was one of my main concerns when the pandemic first hit — I talked about this in the cleaning supplies episode. Because yes, it’s important to stop the spread of germs causing COVID-19 but the excessive use of hand sanitizer and bleach is deteriorating our own immune response and natural defense mechanisms.

A healthy gut microbiome, which essentially dictates our health as a whole, is dependent on good bacteria which we’re wiping out.

But for people with dogs, and even outdoor cats, it’s not as much of a problem.

In fact, research is showing that the countless germs and microbes that dogs track into the home from outside, may be working to keep their humans healthy. Studies also show that children who grow up in households with dogs have a lower risk for developing asthma, allergies and other autoimmune illnesses. 

Another study from the University of Alberta was especially mind-blowing, pregnant women who are around a dog three months before they give birth improves a baby’s immunity even before they’re born.

The study also determined that exposure to pets up to three months after birth increases the number of two specific bacteria that are linked to reduced childhood allergies and obesity.

Dogs and cats have shown to improve human health at any stage of life, so even if you missed the pregnancy to three month old infant range, there are still many benefits for your gut microbiome when it comes to having pets in the home. The last link in the show notes under sources explains all of those various benefits. You can find it at cleanlivingpodcast.com/dogs

We don’t have any pets, but the health benefits for kids are enough to honestly tempt me. 

Thanks so much for listening to this episode of The Clean Living Podcast — I’m your host Shannon Lohr. If you learned something today please share with a friend who loves dogs and babies. Here’s to creating a cleaner, more sustainable world for all of us.

Cleaning kitchen counter with eco friendly cleaner

Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning kitchen counter with eco friendly cleaner

Have you ever thought about the ingredients in your household cleaning products? You may be surprised to learn that some of the most popular cleaning supplies can actually cause respiratory problems, cancer, neurotoxicity, asthma and a whole slew of health problems. In the episode, I’m sharing some of the top reasons to switch to non-toxic cleaners and the ones I recommend.

 

Product Recommendations

Branch Basics (use code FRIEND-CL7MHTK for $10 off)

Biokleen

Clean Mama (use code CLP for 15% off)

The Green Laundress

Branch Basics School Tool Kit

Sources

https://www.thoracic.org

https://www.ewg.org

https://www.ewg.org

https://www.cbsnews.com

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Transcript

When my son started back at daycare I was freaking out. There’s obviously a pandemic happening, so that in itself is anxiety provoking but honestly, I was just as worried about the oversanitazation that would be happening within the school and the cleaning products that they were using. In today’s episode, we’re going to detox your cleaning supplies… 

I know this sounds crazy, because obviously it’s important to stop the spread of germs but it was the potential use of bleach, Clorox and traditional cleaners that were scarier to me.

Because here’s the thing: most of the most popular cleaning products contain ingredients that have been shown to cause cancer, allergic reactions, asthma, organ system toxicity, endocrine disruption, and other very scary health risks. Unfortunately, there is also a lot of greenwashing happening in this industry so even so-called “natural” brands have these ingredients in them. 

There was actually a study that I’ll link to in the show notes that found that ongoing use of traditional household cleaners can have the same effect on women’s lungs as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day! Which is just insane and infuriating and especially concerning for women who make their living as cleaning professionals. 

So, most of us assume cleaning products are safe since their only job is to be clean… But the fact is, many popular household cleaners are dangerously toxic.

I’m not going to go through a list of all of the toxic chemicals in traditional cleaners because that’s honestly something you can just google. But I am going to tell you the cleaning products I use and then share some of the cleaning products to stay away from.

The great thing about non-toxic cleaning is that it’s one of those things that doesn’t have to cost more — an 8 oz. box of baking soda costs less than $4, a bottle of distilled vinegar costs less than two dollars and a lemon costs less than a buck. Simply combining those ingredients will create a great non-toxic cleaner.

My best friend uses The Clean Mama blog to create all of her own cleaning supplies which leaves me feeling very envious — she has all of these cute little spray bottles and labels on everything and unfortunately, I’m not as great of a DIY’er as she is. So if you’re like me and resort to buying your household cleaners then here are the brands I personally use and recommend

Branch Basics (similar to Dr. Bonner’s as it’s a concentrate that you dilute — lasts a long time)

Biokleen

Another cheap and great alternative to bleach is Hydrogen Peroxide. Back to the situation with my daycare, I ended up donating a bottle of Branch Basics and a bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide and will continue to donate those supplies when they run out or don’t want to purchase on their own.

There’s no pressure to take my recommendations but the next time you’re shopping for cleaning supplies, there are a few things to take note of that you’ll want to avoid. I’m going to link to the Environmental Working Groups resource for ingredients and things to avoid in the show notes. 

Before I close out the episode, I will also just say this. Think of the cleaning brands Method, Mrs. Meyers and Simple Green? They’re sold in Whole Foods so they’re non-toxic cleaners, right?

Unfortunately not, Mrs. Meyers cleaning products are owned by SC Johnson and include 6 ingredients rate by the EWG with a C or D rating)

Method contains fragrances, colorants and surfactants that are toxic

Simple Green has the word “green” in its name and yet it contains chemicals that are banned in Europe. 

So, now we’re going to do a segment of “This for That:” If you’re using conventional cleaning supplies like Dawn, Windex, Mr. Clean or even so-called “natural cleaners” my best recommendation is to either DIY your own with baking soda & vinegar or purchase the concentrate from Branch Basics. I’ll link to a DIY recipes as well as Branch Basics in the show notes at cleanlivingpodcast.com/cleaning

When I talk about creating a movement with this podcast, I think this episode in particular is an example of what that could mean. That movement could be as simple as also asking questions about the cleaning supplies your school is using. What if there wasn’t just one parent asking and suggesting non-toxic alternatives, but five parents or 10 parents? If you feel encouraged to bring it up to your teachers, I’m going to link to a resource that helps you talk to your school about switching their cleaning supplies. It’s in the show notes at cleanlivingpodcast.com/cleaning 

Thanks so much for listening to this episode of The Clean Living Podcast — I’m your host Shannon Lohr. If you learned something today and can leave a positive review, it will not only make my day but it will help more people find out about the podcast. Here’s to creating a cleaner, more sustainable world for all of us.

White eco-friendly bags on counter top

Trash Bags

White eco-friendly bags on counter top

What’s one common item in your home that could be causing allergies and making you sick? In this episode, I’m sharing one simple change that will make a big difference in the air quality of your house.

 

Product Recommendations

EcoSmart Plastics biodegradable trash bags

UNNI compostable trash bags 

Biodegradable trash bags via Target

Unscented trash bags via Whole Foods

Sources

https://cehn.org

http://www.thedoctorwillseeyounow.com

https://www.washington.edu

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Transcript

My husband brought a banned substance into our house last week — and it wasn’t the fun kind. In his defense, it was an accident — he just didn’t look at the label close enough. But when I opened the box, and I took a whiff, I knew instantly… in today’s episode, we’re talking about can you guess? That’s right, scented trash bags.

In theory, it makes sense. Garbage is smelly, so scented trash bags will help cover the smell. Companies like Glad offer trash bags with odors like lavender or citrus or “fresh” scent. And maybe you don’t think anything of it — lavender on top of garbage still smells better than straight garbage, right?

But those scented trash bags could be giving you allergies and making you sick. If they don’t have a noticeable effect on your family’s health, you still don’t want them in your home. 

In a study released from the University of Washington, scented products require the use of a cocktail of chemicals, classed as toxic under at least one federal law. The thing is, none of these chemicals are listed on the product label. 

Whereas the FDA requires companies to list all ingredients, including chemicals and potential toxins, in our food — it’s not required in household products like, for example, trash bags.

And fragrances are a problem for our health.

Many synthetic chemicals in fragrances are derived from petrochemicals, which means they’re petroleum-based, and can be harmful to human health. Chemicals found in man-made fragrances include phthalates, which are endocrine disruptors, as well as a slew of known carcinogens.

And while I’m talking specifically about scented trash bags in this episode, artificial fragrances are also found in laundry detergents, soaps, air fresheners and just about anything else that is artificially scented.

So, every time you open the trash can or you open the door where your trash can is stored, you’re releasing VOCs (volatile organic compounds) into the air that are neurotoxic, carcinogenic and allergenic. Those toxins then enter the air supply in your house.

One of my favorite things I’ve read about fragrances is, “Clean doesn’t have a smell.” If you really think about it, what makes a smell like citrus or pine associated with cleanliness? And the answer is marketing.

So, what can we do? Unfortunately, “unscented” doesn’t always mean that there aren’t fragrance chemicals being used. What you want to look for is “fragrance-free” and remember that most chemical ingredients (besides ethanol) won’t be disclosed on any label.

The good news is that my hunch says you’re not overly committed to the trash bags you’re currently using. That’s not something we typically have strong opinions about : ) So, if you are using scented trash bags right now, you can make an easy switch that will have a big impact on the air quality in your home. The other bonus is that this one change can have a big impact on the health of your home without spending more money.

I’ll share a list of my favorite fragrance-free trash bags in the show notes at cleanlivingpodcast.com/trash And just a quick reminder, my source list is also available in the show notes for each episode.

Thanks so much for listening to this episode of The Clean Living Podcast — I’m your host Shannon Lohr. If you learned something today and can leave a positive review, it will not only make my day but it will help more people find out about the podcast. Here’s to creating a cleaner, more sustainable world for all of us.