Charlie's Ultimate Guide to Clean Living

food · health & wellness · skincare

by Charles Razook |Jan 22, 2023

Charlie's Ultimate Guide to Clean Living

Hi, pals! Charlie here, the founder of Jackfir. After a leukemia diagnosis in June 2018, I became obsessed with clean living. I scoured the internet for ways to make swaps for daily products and activities that could be affecting my health. The more I dug, the more I was surprised. For example, who knew that indoor air pollution is worse for you than outdoor air pollution?

Living in the modern world comes with an unavoidable toxic burden. Progress comes with caveats. People are living longer, but chronic disease is more prevalent. Chemicals abound, and we all need to be thoughtful of these interactions. I know I’ve beaten a dead horse with my whole chemical spiel, but I like to stress how preventative we can be with disease instead of reactive—the latter a precarious situation to be in.

I am going to share my learnings so you don’t have to dig obsessively like I did, like a chipmunk burying a nut.

Organic always! I hate that eating healthily comes with a price tag (disparity, anyone?), but it is one of the most worthwhile expenditures you can make. This goes for skincare. Jackfir is 70%+ organic. If you aren’t going to eat pesticides, why rub them all over your body’s biggest organ? Shop local when you can, but two good, more commercial options are Whole Foods and Thrive Market.
Your water matters! Water is one of the most obvious interactions with chemicals we have. They say, “Your tap water is safe!” But think about it. Pesticides and fertilizers run off into our streams, medicine is dumped into the toilet or landfill, and general pollution interacts with our natural water sources. Invest in a household filtration system or glass bottle water delivery. I like Mountain Valley Spring.
Vacuum often! Indoor air pollution is said to be worse than outdoor air pollution. Dust is filled with chemicals such as flame retardants from furniture and phthalates. (FYI—Jackfir is phthalate free). Also, buy an air filtration device to reduce airborne dust. I like Molekule.
Swap out your shower curtain! Many shower curtains and liners are made with toxic plastic like polyvinyl chloride (PVC). There are washable cotton and linen liners, but they can be a nuisance. I use a PEVA shower curtain—a safer alternative, though still needs replacing over time.
No non-stick pans! Non-stick pans have forever chemicals like PFAS, which are linked to various health issues. Many companies have swapped these chemicals out with alternatives that haven’t been fully studied. Avoid them and stick with stainless steel! I like All-Clad and Cuisinart.
Look at ingredients in your household products! We’ve removed the need to scrutinize skincare ingredients at Jackfir with our clean certifications like EWG Verified. But do you know what’s in your laundry detergent, dishwasher soap, or floor cleaner? Common ingredients like ammonia, phthalates, triclosan, and PERCs are possible carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. These chemicals also leach into the environment. Below are some safer alternatives: