It’s something we still practice today, the idea of spring cleaning our homes. Ready for a little history lesson? Spring cleaning has its roots in the ancient Jewish practice of thoroughly cleaning your home in anticipation of Passover. 1 That earliest form of spring cleaning instructed, “On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses,” (Exodus 12:15, ESV). Fast forward to today and the notion of cleaning out your garage, putting the curtains through the washing machine, and mopping up the dust on the windowsills is a yearly habit for many of us. And as we prepare to celebrate Easter and its message of new life, that message of clearing out what holds us back spiritually and physically takes on renewed importance.

Baked into that Jewish practice is something you might just miss. In removing the leaven from their homes, the yeast and the baked items that had that yeast, the ancient Hebrews were also experiencing a body reset as well. When you don’t have leavened food items around to eat, you’re giving your body a break as well from extra calories and some of the possible inflammatory effects of yeast products. 2

Today we can still clear out the garage and get those flower beds weeded and mulched, but it’s also an opportunity to clear out, to detox, what we’re putting into our bodies and what we’re using in our homes. You might think of doing a ‘detox’ as an intense, harsh cleanse, or as something that requires a whole bunch of expensive supplements or new cleaning products, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Natural detoxing is simply about creating cleaner environments for your home and your body. Check out these ideas for doing a spring cleaning detox for your health and for your house.

🌱 Detoxing the Body is about Support, Not Shock
God created the human body in such a way that we are designed to detoxify our systems each day. Our liver, skin, lungs, and kidneys all work together to get rid of toxins we’re routinely exposed to and to move waste out of the body. “Your liver metabolizes and excretes toxins efficiently—there’s no need to starve or overload it with supplements,” says Dr. Donald Hensrud, Director of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program (Mayo Clinic, 2022). In spring cleaning your body, focus on these simple areas to support the way your body naturally detoxifies itself:

  • Water, water, water: While there are plenty of good reasons to stay hydrated, when it comes to detoxifying the body, water is your best bet for helping your kidneys efficiently flush out waste.
  • Focus on fiber: “Fiber binds to toxins in the gut, helping carry them out of the body,” says Dr. Mark Hyman, author of The Blood Sugar Solution. 3 This means that when you ingest healthy forms of fiber in whole grain foods, vegetables, and fruit, you’re helping your digestive system clear toxins from your system. Some great sources of fiber you can add to your diet during this spring cleaning season are flaxseeds, berries, and leafy greens.
  • Move to move toxins out: It’s not just fitness goals you’re hitting when you make movement a priority. Your sweat from that movement helps your body naturally release toxins. According to the Journal of Environmental and Public Health, “sweat contains trace amounts of heavy metals and BPA, showing exercise supports detoxification.” 4

🏠 A Real House Cleaning
You’re working hard to detox your body. But if your home boasts lots of environmental toxins, your healthy habits toward your health will be compromised. From chemicals found in carpet, building materials, paint, cookware, cleaning supplies, and more, environmental toxins are everywhere. 5 As the EPA warns, “Indoor air pollution can be 2-5 times worse than outdoor air.” 6 The good news? When you intentionally lower your exposure to these toxins through new habits or changing out products you use, you can make a big impact on detoxifying your home.

  • Go natural: Your grandma knew what was up when it came to natural cleaning supplies that are easy on your wallet and your health. Essential oils, vinegar, and baking soda are all powerful cleaning agents and work without harmful chemicals. (Check out these simple cleaning ‘recipes’ using these items.)
  • Let in some air: Because so many of our homes use HVAC systems for climate control, we’re not in the habit of opening our windows all that often. Unfortunately, when we don’t air out our homes and office buildings, it allows indoor air pollution to increase. Simply opening your windows for a short amount of time every day can make a big difference in detoxifying the air you’re breathing. You can also add some air-purifying plants to your plant collection, like spider plants or peace lilies. Upgrading your HVAC filters to HEPA filters can also help, as can air purifier units in a few rooms of your house.
  • Purge some plastic: While the debate about microplastics in our water and diets continues, there are some simple ways to reduce your exposure. Switch out your plastic food containers for glass ones. Drink water out of glass or stainless steel water bottles. This can help reduce your exposure to BPA and phthalates, chemicals found in plastic that are linked to hormone disruption. 7

Spring cleaning your body and your home can make a big difference in your overall health. Detoxing from everyday exposure to chemicals doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming. Making just a few changes during this season can lead to cleaner habits for tomorrow. It can also be encouraging to be part of a community focused on health living practices. Be sure to check out Altrua HealthShare on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for encouragement and community in your health living goals.

1 https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/history-of-spring-cleaning#:~:text=Religious%20and%20cultural%20origins,leading%20up%20to%20the%20holiday.
2 https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/bioavailablehttps://www.livestrong.com/article/281214-what-are-the-benefits-of-unleavened-bread/
3 https://www.instagram.com/drmarkhyman/reel/C7uI7DGOzeu/?hl=en
4 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8998800/
5 https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2016/12/making-healthier-home
6 https://www.epa.gov/report-environment/indoor-air-quality#:~:text=Health%20effects%20associated%20with%20indoor%20air%20pollutants,fatigue.%20Respiratory%20diseases%2C%20heart%20disease%2C%20and%20cancer.
7 https://deohs.washington.edu/sites/default/files/documents/Plastics_Provider_Factsheet_Feb_2014.pdf