Transforming your bedroom into a toxin-free space is essential for deep, restorative sleep and overall well-being. This is the space where your body works its magic, repairing and rejuvenating itself, making it crucial to prioritize a clean, healthy environment. The choices we make for this room play a significant role in reducing your daily toxic load and supporting optimal health.
Let's have a look at what changes you can make in 2025 to make sure that while you sleep, you're giving your body the best environment to recover.
This blog post is adapted from our Low-Tox Home Guide, which covers simple, low-tox swaps for every room in the house. If you find this helpful, don’t forget to grab the full guide to create a healthier home, room by room!
Watch Out for These 🚩
Bedding 🛏️
Your bedding has a direct impact on your sleep and skin health. Polyester sheets, made from petroleum-based synthetic fibers, can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, potentially irritating your skin and disrupting comfort. Plus, bedding washed with conventional laundry detergents may harbor residues of harsh chemicals. Opt for natural fibers like organic cotton or linen, and wash them with non-toxic, eco-friendly detergents to create a cleaner, healthier sleep environment.
Make it low-tox: Choose bed sheets made from organic cotton, bamboo or linen. Use a natural laundry detergent to ensure your skin is not absorbing harmful chemicals as a result of residue from conventional laundry detergents.
Flooring 🌿
Synthetic carpets, often made with materials like nylon or polyester, can off-gas VOCs and other harmful chemicals into your bedroom air. These emissions contribute to indoor air pollution, which can affect your long-term health. Choosing natural fiber rugs or hard flooring made from sustainable materials is a healthier, eco-friendly alternative.
Make it low-tox: Choose carpets made from natural materials such as wool or jute. Maintain them with regular vacuuming using a vacuum with a HEPA filter to reduce allergens and dust. To remove carpet odours, rub some baking soda on it, leave it for 15-30 minutes and vacuum as usual.
Indoor Air Quality 🌬️
The air you breathe in your bedroom matters, as we spend countless hours there—whether sleeping, relaxing, or working. Poor indoor air quality can trigger respiratory issues, allergies, and other health concerns. Introducing air-purifying plants, investing in a quality air purifier, or simply ensuring proper ventilation can make a big difference.
Make it low-tox: Using an air purifier in the bedroom can significantly improve indoor air quality by removing various pollutants and allergens. Look for air purifiers with a HEPA Filter to ensure efficient removal of small particles, and an activated carbon filter to help in removing odors and VOCs.
EMFs (Electromagnetic Fields) 📱
Our tech-heavy lives often bring devices into the bedroom that emit high levels of electromagnetic fields (EMFs). This "electro-pollution" may impact our cellular well-being, especially as we sleep. Reduce exposure by unplugging unnecessary electronics, switching to airplane mode on devices, or placing them outside the sleeping area.
Make it low-tox: Don’t sleep with the phone charging on your bedside table - both phone and charger emit high EMF disturbing cell recovery. Put your phone on flight mode while you sleep and make sure bluetooth is switched off too. Keep WiFi routers out of the bedroom.
Sleepwear 🛌
Many pajamas and underwear are made from synthetic materials like polyester or nylon, which can trap heat, irritate the skin, and even disrupt your body’s natural temperature regulation while you sleep. These synthetic fibers are often treated with chemicals, such as flame retardants or dyes, that can leach onto your skin, especially when your body warms up at night.
Make it low-tox: Choose sleepwear and underwear made from natural, breathable fibers like organic cotton, bamboo, or silk. These materials are free from harmful chemicals, allow your skin to breathe, and help regulate body temperature, promoting a more restful sleep. Organic options are also gentler on sensitive skin, making them ideal for those prone to irritation or allergies.
Lighting 💡
Bright, artificial lighting in the evening—particularly from LED bulbs or blue-light-emitting screens—can interfere with your body’s production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep. Exposure to such lighting can make it harder to fall asleep and impact the quality of your rest.
Make it low-tox: Use warm, dim lighting in the evening to signal your body that it’s time to wind down. Use bulbs with lower color temperatures (under 3000K) or consider Himalayan salt lamps for a natural, soft glow. Additionally, try limiting screen time at least an hour before bed or use blue light-blocking glasses to minimize exposure.
Laundry Detergent 🧺
Conventional laundry detergents often contain harsh chemicals like synthetic fragrances, dyes, and surfactants that can linger on your bedding and sleepwear. As you sleep, your skin—your body’s largest organ—comes into direct contact with these residues, potentially absorbing harmful substances. This exposure can irritate sensitive skin, disrupt your natural microbiome, and even contribute to long-term health concerns.
Make it low-tox: Switch to non-toxic laundry detergents made with plant-based ingredients and free from synthetic fragrances, dyes, and harmful chemicals. These options are gentle on your skin and the environment, leaving your bedding clean and safe for nightly use. Pair this with a natural laundry booster for an extra fresh and toxin-free clean.