We have many people come to us for advice on how to choose the best products for a healthy home and body. This includes cleaning products, natural foods, baby products, personal care products, gardening products, water filters, air purifiers, building materials, etc. And we love to arm readers with the information they need to make […]
For most of us, toilet paper is as common in our daily lives as breathing. We can’t imagine life without it! With unlimited options in thickness, plushness, patterns, colors and even fragrance–conventional toilet paper is full of toxic chemicals that can be detrimental to our health. According to Google, “Americans use about 50 lbs annually […]
If you’ve been following us for a while, you know we’re not big on “sanitizer” or “disinfectant” cleaning products. We consider these words red flags on labels as they typically indicate the product contains an EPA-registered pesticide, which is designed to kill, and has been shown to encourage the proliferation of superbugs. Given this new […]
Now that you have a great quality wooden or bamboo cutting board (see our previous article here), we want to teach you how to clean, sanitize, and care for your new cutting board. Keep in mind, wood and bamboo cutting boards do require a bit more maintenance and hand-washing than plastic, but when properly cared […]
If you clicked to read the article, bravo! because the topic of whether to use a microwave oven is a highly controversial and loaded one. On the one hand, nearly every home in America (90% according to the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics[1]has one.) They’re super convenient, we’re told they’re safe, and […]
Nearly everyone has experienced the plight of mold and mildew build-up on tile grout. It’s particularly common in showers and tubs where the combination of soap scum and moist warm air create the perfect breeding ground. And nearly everyone follows the “standard procedure” for removal: spray the area with a harsh bleach-based solution, wait several […]
While many health experts focus on the importance of nutrition or exercise, we tend to get passionate about some of the more under appreciated aspects of well-being…like clean air. You may have heard that the average person spends about 90% of their time indoors, and the problem with this—apart from a lack of natural sunlight, […]
Spring is finally upon us (or very close at hand for those of you up North—hang in there!). With the warmer weather, cheerful blossoms, and chirping birds comes a natural surge in energy and motivation to clear out the old and welcome the new. This is true for our homes, minds, and bodies. For example, […]
Front loading washers have experienced a surge in popularity in North America over the last ten years. They use less detergent, take up less space due to stackability, and are more efficient (cut energy consumption by 25% and water consumption by 33%) than their top-loading cousins. But, they do have a big disadvantage over top […]
Few things are more fundamental to creating a healthy home and body than pure, toxin-free water. Unfortunately, despite federal regulations contained within “The Clean Water Act”, there is no such thing as pure contaminant-free water anymore. Yes, in the United States we are fortunate to have measures in place to prevent deadly water borne illnesses common in […]
Home is where you’re supposed to feel the most safe. However, when your living spaces are filled with pollutants, you can find threats in every nook and cranny. As part of our Home Cleanse series, we’re going over step-by-step how to detox your home and turn it into your safest space. WHY THE HOME ENVIRONMENT […]
At Branch Basics, safety was always our number one priority when it came to the creation of our formula. We are passionate about leading the cleaning industry to a higher standard by empowering consumers with transparency and an open door policy when it comes to information on the safety of the products they use in […]
We spend about one-third of our lives in bed! So needless to say, sleep is important. In fact, it is much more important than we probably realize. The quality and duration of our sleep schedules affect how we live out the other two-thirds of our day. Quality of sleep translates to quality of life. And […]
For some people, even the title of this post incites a little bit of angst. Some healthy changes are easier than others, but sugar seems to be one of those things that everyone can agree on– it’s hard to resist. For starters, refined sugar is in most processed foods making it difficult to avoid when […]
Eczema can be a challenging skin condition that is not only uncomfortable (hello, itchy!!) but can also be a window into the body’s elimination process. Did you know that the skin is a primary elimination system of the body and is sometimes called the third kidney? Eczema usually indicates that there is a toxic backup […]
Gear Up for School Start with Safe School Supplies Most kids love getting back to school supplies! The new school year provides a perfect opportunity to check out the many safe “attractive to kids” school supply options that are widely available today. This was not always true. Parents in the recent past had no idea […]
The use of sanitizers and disinfectants is a current hot topic for the following reasons: To be classified as a sanitizer or disinfectant the product must contain an EPA registered pesticide or a high percentage of alcohol – at least 62%. The use of sanitizers with EPA registered pesticides have been shown to contribute to […]
Why Wool Dryer Balls? Decrease your exposure to chemicals Save money Save time Decrease your energy bill Reduce your carbon footprint Our wool dryer balls are an economical and sustainable answer to the extreme toxicity of dryer sheets and fabric softeners. Get Started with dryer balls: Add 3 of our wool dryer balls to your […]
Over the years in my consulting work, I have had people contact me because they were getting sick from new car smells, used cars that had been detailed, used cars with car air fresheners, and used cars with smoke smells. Most of my clients react to the concentrated chemicals in the small enclosed space in […]
If you have been using conventional laundry care products that contain toxic chemicals, it is highly likely that the air quality in your home is being affected. Decontaminating these chemicals from your laundry room is a big step in improving your entire home’s air quality. The toxic volatiles incorporate into the surfaces that they come in contact with. In some instances, the minute you walk into a laundry room, you immediately …
After years of working with clients and experiencing my own healing, I truly believe in the power that we all have to transform our health. It starts by making everyday choices to help us thrive. There is so much needless suffering today, and we are in the midst of a national healthcare crisis of unprecedented […]