How I converted my home into a non-toxic, clean haven
Start by investing in products that are powered by natural, hypoallergenic ingredients
In an alternate universe, I’m growing my own organic veggies on a sun-drenched terrace, cycling everywhere and generally glowing like a lightbulb thanks to my guilt-free non-toxic lifestyle. Reality check: I’m still in yesterday’s pyjamas, eating cereal out of a box to avoid letting the pile of plates in my kitchen sink qualify as the eight manmade Wonder of the World.
Somewhere between that adulting vision board and adulting in real life, my best intentions didn’t manage to convert into actions.
I’m not alone: most women I know want to embrace a non-toxic lifestyle, reduce the number of chemicals in their food, skincare and cleaning products, and avoid adding to plastic clogging up our oceans and landfills. Along with the ever-growing list of chores we’re juggling now that WFH has become a permanent fixture, we have to worry about exposing our kids and pets to allergen-causing cleaners. No wonder Indian women report feeling overwhelmed and stressed.
The whole process of converting to a non-toxic, natural lifestyle can seem daunting, so I began with baby steps. First— hunt down a reliable, well-reviewed natural cleaner for my home. I knew it needed to be powerful, smell pleasant and have minimal plastic packaging, which led me to Koparo.
The brand claims their products are devoid of ammonia, acid, bleach, brightly coloured dyes and allergens, even giving a list of all the nature-powered ingredients they rely on. The Koparo floor cleaner is a pleasant mix of derivatives from coconut, sugarcane, tea tree oil, lemongrass oil and citric acid.
Online reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with one user declaring “it works very well and manages to dislodge even stubborn mud and dust in the corners”, and a mom of a six-month-old declaring “I tried the Koparo floor cleaner with 2 capfuls in my bucket as directed. The aroma was so good, I kind of enjoyed mopping the floor.”
After adding to cart, I checked out the other products in the Koparo range. Their lavender and vetiver handwash (a favourite scent combo) claims to not over-dry hands which helps when you’re washing your mitts 10 times a day.
After reading Delhi blogger Jhilmil Bhansali’s review on the Koparo dishwashing liquid — “It’s quite effective on greasy utensils, no toxic residue”, I was convinced to pick one for myself.
Koparo uses 35% recycled plastic to make their bottles and also delivers products in low waste packaging if you buy directly from their website.
I could just smell my karmic brownie points adding up as I took my first steps towards a nature-positive, carbon-negative lifestyle.