Swap of the Month: Air Detox

Because you shouldn’t need a hazmat suit just to breathe at home.

This post is part of my Back to Basics: A Lifestyle Renovation series — a season of clearing out, leveling up, and living well.

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Let’s be real for a minute…

You’ve swapped your cookware. You’re sipping from glass. AND you ditched the plastic cutting boards. (I see you!)

But what about the air you’re breathing while you meal prep that clean girl salmon and brown rice bowl?

Here’s the truth:

Indoor air can be up to 5x more polluted than outdoor air.

And no — cracking a window while you spray bleach on the counters doesn’t count as “ventilation.”

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What’s really in the air?

Toxins. VOCs. Mold spores. Formaldehyde. Synthetic fragrance.

And what exactly are these chemicals doing to our bodies, you ask?

Messing with our hormones, wrecking our sleep, inflaming our lungs, triggering allergies, weakening our immune system — and possibly even contributing to chronic illness and disease.

And who’s got time for that? I know I don’t.

Let’s name a few of the usual suspects:

• Plug-ins and candles with synthetic fragrance

• Conventional cleaning products

• Flame-retardant furniture and rugs

• Pet dander, dust mites, mold spores

• Gas stoves with poor ventilation

• Microplastics from cleaning scrubbers and synthetic fabrics

• And yes… that scented spray you love might be working against your lungs

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Swap This…

Simple changes that clear the air

Instead of:

🚫 Plug-ins and aerosol sprays

🚫 Synthetic candles

🚫 Bleach-heavy cleaners

🚫 Old HVAC filters

🚫 Dryer sheets

Try this:

✅ HEPA air purifier (Levoit, Mila, Dyson — take your pick)

✅ Beeswax or coconut wax candles (no paraffin, no headaches)

✅ Salt lamps — calming and cleansing

✅ Houseplants — start with a snake plant, pothos, or peace lily

✅ Diffusers + essential oils — lavender, eucalyptus, lemon

✅ Non-toxic cleaning swaps — vinegar, castile soap, baking soda (more on that next month…)

✅ Open windows — yes, even in winter

✅ Wool dryer balls — add a drop of essential oil and skip the chemicals

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But let me keep it all the way real…

I love a good smelling candle. Always have. But I’m not too busy to search for the ones that won’t mess with my hormones, my air, or my grandchildren’s lungs.

Clean doesn’t have to mean scentless — it just means being more intentional.

✨ Catch me on Instagram this week — I’ll be sharing my favorite non-toxic candle brands so you can swap your faves for something that smells good and burns clean without missing a beat.

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This one’s personal.

When you’ve got a grandson with respiratory issues, clean air hits different.

This isn’t just about aesthetics — it’s about making sure our homes are safe places to breathe. You already take care of what’s on your plate… Now it’s time to think about what’s in the air around it.

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You deserve to breathe clean.

Your lungs shouldn’t have to filter out your home.

Your kids shouldn’t be inhaling toxins just by sitting on the couch.

And your candles shouldn’t come with a side of soot and synthetic nonsense.

This is your permission to make the invisible visible.

To take a few small steps that protect your peace, your people, and your planet.

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Coming Next:

The Dirty Truth About Cleaning Products

What those “fresh” scents are actually doing to your hormones, lungs, and long-term health.

(Hint: It ain’t giving spring breeze.)

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With love & clarity,

Ramona

Founder of Onarays Wellness

Live Well, Age Well

✨ Back to Basics: A Lifestyle Renovation ✨

Simple swaps. Lasting change.

Follow along for more ways to create a lighter, cleaner, more intentional lifestyle.