A practical guide to detox your home

11 green alternatives that reduce toxin exposure and cut waste

A hundred years ago, nobody talked about green alternatives. Homes were simply filled with items made from wood, linen, wool, stone, glass, and ceramic – materials that lasted and were well understood.

Then plastics, Teflon, and synthetics entered our homes faster than we could understand the cost. Convenience replaced durability, often at the expense of health.

What we know now is simple: materials matter. Plastics shed microplastics. Non-stick coatings rely on “forever chemicals.” Synthetic textiles pollute air and water. Scientists estimate that, over the course of a year, we ingest an amount of microplastics roughly equivalent to about 50 plastic bags (Bai et al., 2022). These effects are measurable. And avoidable.

The solution doesn’t require rethinking your entire life. Often, it means returning to what worked: natural materials, products built to last. Today, we call these “green alternatives”. But in many ways, they were simply the defaults our grandparents relied on. The difference is that now, you have to seek them out.

Below are 11 simple swaps you can make at home. Each replacing a common toxic item or wasteful habit with a durable, green alternatives, made in Europe by makers who still understand natural materials deeply.

Pick one. That’s enough to start.

Synthetic cleaning sponges and microfibre cloths shed microplastics with every use and are breeding grounds for pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli and Staphylococcus. As they degrade, they also release chemicals, creating both environmental and health risks.

Swap for:

Vieböck linen cleaning cloths are woven from 100% European flax. Linen is naturally antibacterial, fast-drying, and durable. The waffle structure ensures particularly good dirt and moisture absorption. It can we washed at 60 °C and lasts for years rather than weeks.

Synthetic textiles are major indoor sources of microfiber pollution. These fibers can be inhaled, contributing to lung irritation, while those released during washing contaminate waterways and marine life.

Swap for:

Burel Factory blankets are rom 100% pure sheep’s wool from the Serra da Estrella mountains, sourced from free-grazing sheep on high plateaus, where altitude and vegetation produce softer, more durable fibres. Wool is hypoallergenic, antibacterial, and thermoregulating, keeping you warm without overheating. 

Non-stick coatings rely on PFAS (“forever chemicals”), detected in over 99% of people tested in some populations and associated with higher risks of thyroid disease, elevated cholesterol, and reduced fertility. When heated, they can also release toxic fumes and ultrafine particles that irritate the respiratory system.

Swap for:

Gmundner Keramik baking dishes are made from natural clay, fired twice at high temperatures and finished with a mineral glaze. This creates a stable, non-reactive surface, no coatings, no leaching, built for everyday cooking over generations.

Paper towels contribute to deforestation and CO₂ emissions. Some are treated with bleach or formaldehyde, which can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — chemicals that evaporate into indoor air and are linked to respiratory irritation and headaches.

Swap for:

Torres Novas cotton napkins are woven from long-staple cotton for strength and absorbency. Designed to withstand hundreds of washes, they replace thousands of disposable towels over their lifetime.

Disposable cloths create constant waste and repeated chemical exposure. Frequent replacement increases material use and environmental impact.

Swap for:

Vieböck linen tea towels are woven from certified European flax. They dry quickly, resist odour, and become more absorbent with use. Their longevity turns a daily habit into a low-waste, low-maintenance ritual.

Plastic food containers can leach BPA and phthalates, especially when heated or scratched. Chronic exposure to these chemicals has been linked to hormonal imbalance and metabolic disorders.

Swap for:

Bortolato containers are hand-carved from dense Slovenian limestone. Stone is inert, meaning it does not react with food or release chemicals. Heavy and stable, these containers keep contents uncontaminated for decades.

Plastic cutting boards release microplastic particles into food during normal chopping. Studies have found 0.03–1.2 microplastic particles per gram of food prepared on plastic boards.

Swap for:

Waga butcher blocks are carved from FSC-certified hardwood. Wood is naturally antibacterial and self-healing, meaning knife marks close over time. With proper care, the surface can be refreshed and used for generations.

Paraffin candles emit benzene, toluene, and ultrafine soot particles. These pollutants reduce indoor air quality and can aggravate asthma and respiratory conditions. Burning ten paraffin candles for two hours produces PM2.5 pollution comparable to a diesel car idling for 30 minutes.

Swap for:

Klimchi candles use natural soy wax poured into reusable Bohemian glass. They emit up to 80–90% less soot and VOCs, burn more slowly, and the vessel lives on as a drinking glass once the candle is finished.

Bottled water contains 10–1,050 microplastic particles per litre, with levels increasing when bottles are reused or exposed to heat or sunlight. Microplastics smaller than 10 μm can cross gut and lung barriers and accumulate in organs, including the liver, placenta, and brain.

Swap for:

Rückl carafes are hand-blown from lead-free crystal. Glass doesn’t leach, doesn’t degrade, and turns hydration into a lasting daily ritual instead of constant waste.

Plastic toys shed particles into household dust through abrasion, sunlight, and heat. Homes with many plastic toys can contain up to 10,000 microplastic particles per cubic metre of air, increasing exposure for children.

Swap for:

Cuboro marble runs are made from untreated Swiss beechwood. Precision-cut, endlessly expandable, and compatible across generations, they replace disposable toys with lifelong play.

PVC ornaments emit plasticisers and phthalates that accumulate in household dust. Once discarded, they persist in soil and water for decades.

Swap for:

Wendt & Kühn ornaments are hand-carved from local maple, beech, or spruce and painted with non-toxic paints. Designed to return every year and be inherited, they turn decoration into continuity rather than waste.

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Where to begin

Choose the swap that replaces something you use every day. Let it become normal. Then, if and when it feels right, add another.

If you’re looking for more ideas beyond the product swaps, our sustainable habits guide explores everyday habit changes, small, realistic shifts that actually make a difference.

That’s enough to begin.