We get a surprising number of inquiries on how to choose a quality, non-toxic cutting board and keep it clean and sanitized without harmful chemicals. And considering we all use cutting boards to prepare food every single day, this is an important issue to address when creating a healthy home. Choosing The Best Cutting Board […]
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 […]
You’ve spent years curating the perfect collection of personal care products to keep around your house. Cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, makeup, skincare, it’s all there and it’s all important, right? Most of us choose our go-to products based on online reviews, word of mouth or a strict set of quality standards that we adhere to […]
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, […]
When I brought my new puppy, Arlo, home I knew it was going to be a real life adjustment, but little did I know just how much my new companion would change my life—mostly for the better! Bringing a new dog into the home is such a fun and exciting time, but it’s also worth […]
I know what you’re thinking…keeping a clean house can be such a big job. Especially if you have a full-time job, kids, a life, or don’t particularly love cleaning. I get it. Just because I started a natural cleaning products company doesn’t mean I love spending my whole day cleaning! But, the more we learn […]
Have you noticed a sharp increase in food safety recalls this year? According to Food Safety Magazine, there were at least 382 food product recalls in 2018 alone. Enter 2019, and the same trend seems to be repeating; from the romaine lettuce fiasco—which sent caesar salad lovers and health nuts across the country into a […]
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 […]
What we put on our skin and around our bodies everyday adds up, so it is so important to know what’s in your products. According to the Environmental Working Group, “One of every five adults are potentially exposed every day to all of the top seven carcinogenic impurities common to personal care product ingredients — hydroquinone, […]
Preparing for a baby is so exciting but can also be quite overwhelming. With so many products on the market and a million different opinions, making a baby registry quickly becomes a little stressful. We all just want the best for our new baby, but how do you navigate the sea of options. People regularly […]
Sadly, many people are wearing clothing that has been washed with toxic laundry soaps and fabric softeners. After repeated washings our clothes become incorporated with the chemicals and dyes from the detergents. Since toxins can enter the body not only by inhalation through the respiratory tract, but also by absorption through the skin our bodies receive a double dose from these scented toxic…
It’s the holiday season. By this point, many of you have selected the crown jewel of your home for the holidays – your beloved Christmas tree. Whether yours was packaged in a questionably small cardboard box or hand-picked and not-so-gracefully brought home on the top of the car, setting up the tree is undeniably one […]
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 […]
In the US cosmetics and personal care products, typically mixtures of 5-20 individual ingredients, are generally self-regulated. The United States and Food and Drug Administration’s guidance is limited to advising manufacturers that their products should be “…safe under labeled or customary conditions of use,” although no formal standard exists for this term. Products may be […]
What is PCOS? My fertility journey began early and abruptly. I had my first and only period at thirteen, so in high school, I sought the help of an OB/GYN fertility specialist. A sonogram revealed cyst-covered ovaries, one of the worst cases of PCOS my doctor had seen. Pregnancy would only be possible with the […]
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 […]
When Jules and I were co-creating the Conscious Cleanse we both had our own personal transformations – distinct but equally profound. What became crystal clear to us through our journey was the sheer truth of what’s possible for people when we commit to a process of slowing down and healing ourselves with food. That’s why […]