A Healthier Home

This book is an absolute game changer, to the extent that I’ve just pre-ordered a copy for my mum, who I know will love it too. I just wish I’d read it before renovating my home!

Firstly and most essentially, the information in it is life changing and potentially life saving. The author goes through every room of the house and explains the potential hazards and changes you should make to ensure your home is as healthy as it can be.

Some of these are easy to implement (taking off your shoes before you enter the house; opening the windows daily) and some are much more difficult (changing your mattress).

But the author acknowledges that the scope of the task can be daunting and overwhelming, and makes the very reasonable suggestion of using up your hazardous products, then replacing them with the healthier alternatives specified.

Secondly, this is a truly beautiful book with stunning photography and typesetting. Every home should have a copy!

Thirdly, I didn’t spot a single typo. Typos can really ruin a book for me so I appreciate the care and time that has clearly been taken in the process of proofreading the book.

Lastly, it’s an American book with plenty of American references. This didn’t put me off as the information it contains is still very sound, but a few bits of advice didn’t resonate, such as the part on air con (not something Brits generally have in our homes).

Thank you to author Shawna Holman, the designer and the publishers for producing such a helpful and aesthetically pleasing book.

Trying to clean up your environment! This is a great addition to have in your house to refer back to.
I never thought about all the "bad' stuff living in my home.
Now I have the tools to start to eliminate the toxins. It will be a slow process but a healthy one.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reader's copy. This book is going on all my gift bags this year for everyone!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was very helpful. I learned a lot about having a healthier, more non-toxic home from reading it. I also appreciated the author's relaxed attitude about people not being able to replace everything they're using all at once.

There is a ton of information in this book about how to have a healthier home. The author goes room by room and gives great tips on how to make your home safer for your family. I really appreciated that it was all done in a no-stress nonjudgemental manner. The author kept stressing to just do what you can with the budget you have.

Absolutely the most helpful book on healthy/clean living that I’ve ever had the privilege of owning!

There are a lot of harsh realities about many of the common personal care items, cleaning products, and foods found in the standard American home. I woke up to this reality several years ago, but becoming a mother has expedited my quest to minimize toxicity in our home. I started following Shawna's Instagram account ( A Little Less Toxic) about a year ago, and love the information she's sharing there, but I personally hate using social media as a primary source for learning. I was so excited to see this book come out!

It has a beautiful simple design, and the information is given bite-sized chunks. Still, the information can be overwhelming and, at times, depressing, as brokenness seems to touch everything -- even products made for babies, but Shawna encourages readers to take their time reading and try not to stress over these things. She encourages small incremental changes that can be sustained over a long period of time. Truly, that is the only way to do this, especially if you are on a limited budget!

This book is a great starting point for understanding toxic products and easy ways to shift to non-toxic options. The information within can help us become better stewards of our homes, bodies, and the planet which I believe as a Christian, is non-negotiable. For deep dives, proven research, and further speculation, you will have to look elsewhere, but this book is a great intro to a less toxic life with lots of helpful practical tips within.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Shawna for sharing your journey.

Great book! Goes into great detail about what’s bad and gives you great suggestions for replacements!

A Healthier Home by Shawna Holman is about simple lifestyle changes that will improve your home and health. The author suggests that the book does not need to be read cover to cover but to come back to various sections. The author also suggests implementing the changes as needed; not all need to be done at once. The changes are about making mindful choices of what we bring into our homes and eliminating some toxic items that could affect our health.

The information provides practical, no-pressure tips and resources. As the author states, "do what you can, with what you're able, and as it makes sense for you."

I already do 1 of the 3 things the author immediately suggested: not wearing shoes inside the house as it brings in dirt, bacteria, etc. I implemented opening the windows for 10–20 minutes a day and will slowly replace the more toxic household items with healthier products as I can afford them.

The electronic information section was interesting to read. I tend to have my iPad and iPhone at my bedside, and now I may need to rethink this. I need to remove the electronic devices from my sleeping area. I need my phone because I'm on an emergency call list, but I can remove the iPad and the Kindle, so I'm not exposed to the wi-fi or EMF exposure.

I also loved the suggestion about using a pillowcase to clean ceiling fans so the dust and particulates do not get released into the air. I was interested in the mattress section, and luckily at the back of the book is a Resources section that lists recommendations and links.

One interesting section was the mouth tape. I wear a mouth guard at night because I grind or clamp my teeth. The mouth tape is supposed to improve sleep, and she lists several benefits. I am definitely going to check that out so I can sleep better, etc.

I also found the outside section interesting will need to get peppermint essential oil and place it around areas in the backyard and near the garage door for insects and rodents. I live in a rural area where there are several rodents and critters.

The book was a good resource for making small changes and removing toxins in the house. She has a resources section at the back of the book with recommendations and links, which is perfect.

I would recommend this book. An excellent resource to have on hand.

#AHealthierHome #NetGalley @QuartoKnows