The first 5 things I changed when I started my low-tox journey

If you've downloaded my free guide, you'll know I'm a big believer that low-tox living isn't about perfection. It's about reducing your overall toxic load, one small change at a time.

When people first discover the low-tox world, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. I know I did. There are endless lists telling you to throw everything away and replace your entire house overnight.

That isn't what I did.

My journey started back in 2013, and it's taken years to get to where I am today. Some swaps happened quickly, while others took me a long time. Every change happened when it felt right for our family and our budget.

These are the first five swaps I made, and they're still the ones I'd recommend to anyone just getting started.

1. Water

This was the easiest swap to make, and arguably the most important.

Water is involved in almost every process in our body. It helps transport nutrients, regulate temperature and remove waste, so it makes sense to think about the quality of the water we're drinking every day.

Our bodies are made up of around 50–75% water, and we lose roughly 2.5 litres over a 24-hour period through breathing, sweating and going to the toilet. We need to replace that water throughout the day.

UK tap water is treated but it still contains substances such as chlorine by-products, microplastics and trace residues from pharmaceuticals that many standard jug filters don't remove. In many areas in the UK it also contains fluoride, which has been proven to be a neurotoxin (but that's a conversation for another day).

When I first started, I swapped tap water for bottled water. The more I researched, though, the more I realised bottled water wasn't the answer either.

Eventually, we installed a Water2 under-sink filter with the additional fluoride filter, and I honestly haven't looked back.

If an under-sink system isn't practical for you, I'd recommend looking at a good quality countertop reverse osmosis system that removes contaminants before remineralising the water. When travelling around the UK I bring The Watery, and honestly I love it.

2. Kitchen swaps

Next came the kitchen.

We slowly replaced our non-stick cookware with stainless steel, cast iron and glass alternatives.

Replacing everything at once can be expensive, so we simply started with the pans we used most often and built up from there.

We also swapped our plastic food containers for glass.

We don't own a microwave, but if you do, one simple habit can make a difference: avoid heating food in plastic containers, and allow hot food to cool before storing it in plastic.

This wasn't an overnight transformation. It happened gradually, and I genuinely think that's why it stuck.

You don't need to throw everything away or put yourself into debt trying to live a healthier lifestyle.

3. Laundry detergent

This was one I hadn't really thought about before.

Your clothes, bedding and towels sit against your skin every single day. Whatever you're washing them in stays on those fabrics.

At first, I switched to products I could find in the supermarket, like Ecover. While they were a step in the right direction, many still contained added fragrance, so I kept looking.

Eventually I found Miniml, and I've never looked back.

Their products are plant-based, refillable, made in Yorkshire and incredibly affordable, especially when bought in bulk. The natural scents are lovely, and everything I've tried works really well.

These days I also use their toilet cleaner, washing-up liquid and liquid hand wash.

4. Cleaning sprays

Once I'd changed the laundry products, cleaning sprays were the next obvious step.

Many conventional cleaning products rely heavily on synthetic fragrances.

For everyday cleaning, I often use simple ingredients like white vinegar with a few drops of essential oil, and bicarbonate of soda for scrubbing. Use them separately though: mixed together they cancel each other out.

If you'd rather buy ready-made products, there are now some fantastic refillable low-tox options available.

One of my favourites is Purdy & Figg.

5. Anything labelled "fragrance"

This ended up being one of the biggest changes I made.

On ingredients lists, you'll often see the words "fragrance" or "parfum." These terms can represent a mixture of many different ingredients because fragrance formulations are protected as trade secrets.

If the label just says "fragrance", the honest translation is "we're not telling you what's in it."

That made me start looking more closely at everything from perfumes and body sprays to lotions and air fresheners.

Over time, I replaced my toiletries with gentler alternatives.

For the last couple of years, my favourite skincare brand has been Fierce Nature. I love their Lux Face Balm, Vanilla Bean Nourish Balm and their unscented Multi-Use Tallow Bar, which I use for washing and shaving. Their Sun Balm is another favourite, and although their Healing Balm isn't the nicest smelling product in the world, it's brilliant.

(If you'd like to try them, you can use my code JASMINE15 for 15% off.)

The most recent change I made was giving away my perfume.

It had been sitting untouched in the cupboard for over a year, and eventually I realised I simply didn't miss it.

It was never overnight

People often assume I transformed everything at once.

I didn't.

My journey began back in 2013 with filtered water, fluoride-free toothpaste and replacing our non-stick cookware.

When I had my first daughter in 2017, I became much more conscious of the products we were bringing into our home.

Then in 2020, I really went down the rabbit hole and started researching ingredients, household products and everyday exposures in much more depth.

Every stage built on the last.

The mindset that makes it stick

If there's one thing I'd love you to take away from this article, it's this:

Low-tox living is a direction, not a destination.

You don't need to be perfect.

You don't need to replace everything overnight.

And you certainly don't need to feel guilty because there's still a bottle of conventional shampoo in your bathroom.

Every swap you make helps reduce your overall toxic load.

Small, consistent changes are what create lasting habits, and those habits are what make this lifestyle sustainable.

Start with one thing.

Then another.

Before you know it, you'll look back and realise just how far you've come.