About Nora

Hi, I'm Nora. I write LivingToxFree for people who want a healthier home without fear, without perfection, and without spending a fortune. Everything here comes from careful research and from what has actually worked, and not worked, in my own family since 2018.

How it started

In 2018 my back was not getting better. Losing a little weight was supposed to help, but the weight would not move either. So I tried a lot of different things to feel better. While reading about one of them, I stumbled onto how many questionable ingredients were sitting in my home and in the products I put on my skin every day. That is where my low-tox quest began.

To be clear: this is my story, not a medical claim. I am not saying anything in my home caused my back problem or my weight, and I am not a doctor. I simply decided to live as low-tox as reasonably possible, and I have kept learning ever since.

What I changed, and in what order

I started with everything that touches my skin. I used to wear a lot of makeup, so that was first, then body wash, shampoo and toothpaste. At the same time I moved our food toward whole, less processed and, where it makes sense, organic. Then came drinking water: an under-sink filter and a pitcher filter, plus a filter on the shower line. Cleaning products and the kitchen followed gradually, as I found alternatives that actually work.

That is how I did it, not how you have to. Your order depends on what you use most, your budget and who you live with. If you are not sure where to begin, start with how to start non-toxic living without going broke.

Where I am today, honestly

My own personal care products are essentially all swapped, except mascara: every natural one I tried smudged or flaked. Home cleaning is about 90% there. The dishwasher tablets are my unsolved one, because the clean ones I tried left the dishes cloudy. Clothing is the area with the most room to improve. And I still miss that "freshly washed" laundry smell, so I use a little essential oil instead.

My biggest early mistake was trying to replace everything at once. It got expensive fast, and in a family you cannot just throw out other people's favorite things. Today I change what is mine and let everyone else choose. You cannot remove every exposure unless you live alone in a forest and grow all your own food. Every change in a healthier direction counts.

How LivingToxFree works

• Calm facts, strong opinions. I tell you plainly what I would buy, what I would skip and what is marketing, and I link the research behind it. I do not do fear.
• One swap beats none. Use up what you have, then replace it with something better. You do not need to overhaul your home this weekend.
• Honest product picks. When I recommend a product, I explain why. I only say I use something when I actually do; the rest are researched picks, not things I have tested.
• Affiliate links. Some links earn us a small commission at no cost to you. It never decides what we recommend. See our affiliate disclosure.
• How articles are made. Our articles are drafted with AI assistance and reviewed before they go live. The research is linked in each article, and the experiences, mistakes and opinions in them are mine.

Say hello

LivingToxFree is an online community, and your questions shape what I write next. Send me a message, or start with the chemicals worth knowing about.