Over the years, I’ve slowly made more intentional swaps around our home — not all at once, and definitely not perfectly. With kids (and now a baby), I’ve found that focusing on everyday essentials makes the biggest impact. These are the items we use constantly, so choosing cleaner, non-toxic options felt like a natural place to start.
This list is a mix of kitchen basics, cleaning staples, and a few bedroom upgrades — many of which I’ve shared before and others that have quietly become everyday favorites. Think of this less as a checklist and more as a guide you can come back to as you make changes over time.
Kitchen Swaps
Cutting boards: One of the easiest changes we made was swapping plastic cutting boards for silicone cutting boards. Silicone is non-porous, dishwasher-safe, and doesn’t hold onto odors the way plastic can, which makes it an easy win.
Cooking utensils: For cooking utensils, I stick to a mix of silicone utensils and wood utensils. They’re gentle on cookware, hold up beautifully over time, and don’t shed the way some plastic utensils can.
Cookie sheets: When it comes to bakeware, I use stainless steel instead of traditional nonstick.
Air Fryer: For the air fryer, we use this Breville air fryer and keep things simple! The airfyer has been a game changer for easy dinners, toasting, and baking!
Sponges & Dish Soap: At the sink, we’ve switched to compostable cellulose sponges, paired with a plant-based dish soap that cleans well without harsh ingredients. To cut back on paper towels, we rely heavily on washable dish towels and cleaning cloths — having plenty on hand makes this swap much easier to stick with.
Kids & On The Go
Baby Bottles: This time around, I opted for baby bottles with silicone sleeves. They’re easy to sanitize well and are easy to clean
Lunch Boxes: For school days and travel, PlanetBox stainless steel lunch boxes have held up incredibly well and have been a great alternative to plastic.
Waterbottles: For everyday hydration, we use stainless steel water bottles — Owala bottles are our favorite for both kids and adults. They’re durable, easy to clean, and actually get used.
Disposable Cups & Paper Products: or mornings on the go or chilly baseball games, I keep compostable disposable cups on hand. They’re an easy alternative to plastic when reusables aren’t realistic.
Cleaning & Laundry
Everyday Cleaner: For everyday messes, we use a non-toxic multi-surface cleaner for counters, tables, and quick wipe-downs. Keeping one reliable option on hand makes cleaning feel much less overwhelming.
All Cleaner: Branch Basics concentrate has been a staple in our home for years. One bottle works for surfaces, floors, and even laundry pre-treating, which keeps our cleaning routine streamlined and simple.
Bleach Alternative: Instead of traditional bleach, we use this oxygen-based bleach alternative for stains and whites — it’s effective without the harsh chemicals.
Laundry Detergent: For everyday laundry, Molly’s Suds is what we use. It’s simple, effective, and gentle enough for the whole family. We also swapped to a cleaner dishwasher detergent once I found one that actually works.
Floor Cleaner: For floors, we use our Tineco floor cleaner with diluted Branch Basics concentrate. It’s one of those routines that makes weekly cleaning faster and far more manageable.
Paper Towels: We still use paper towels occasionally, but far less than we used to. When we do buy them, I look for recycled or bamboo paper towels and rely more on reusable cloths day to day.
Bedroom & Bath
Bath towels: Not everything has to be niche — these Nordstrom organic cotton bath towels have been a reliable, easy upgrade for us.
Mattress: We’ve also prioritized non-toxic materials where we sleep. Our Avocado mattress paired with the Avocado mattress pad has been a worthwhile investment and something we use every single night.
Bedding: For sheets, Boll & Branch organic sheets are soft, durable, and hold up beautifully over time. They feel like a true upgrade without being fussy.
Kids Shampoo & Conditioner: For bath time, I stick with a gentle, fragrance-free baby shampoo with simple ingredients. This is one area where less really is more.
This list wasn’t built overnight. These are swaps we’ve made gradually, focusing on the items we use the most. If you’re just starting, pick one category and go from there — even a few small changes can make a meaningful difference.
