The many detergents, disinfectants, polishes and glass cleaners that are so heavily marketed in daytime television are actually loaded with heavy chemicals.
When we clean our homes with these products, we breathe in those toxins that can penetrate our skin and be toxic if ingested. That’s why I was looking for alternative cleaning products a few years ago. I was very careful with what I put in my body. So it made sense to clean my environment of other toxins. Now that I’ve switched to non-toxic cleaning products, I spend less money and use fewer products than before.
Here are non-toxic household products that I now use for the majority of my cleaning.
1) Baking Soda:
Baking soda is a deodorizer and a cleanser. It is ideal for scrubbing the hob, oven and sink. Sprinkle your carpets before vacuuming to deodorize them.
2) White Vinegar:
White vinegar is a disinfectant and deodorant. I mix it with water (about 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water) in a spray bottle and clean everything from the bathroom and the toilet to the wooden floors. The smell lingers only for a short time, but you can always add a few drops of essential oil to make it more pleasant.
3) Hydrogen Peroxide:
Hydrogen peroxide, which works with vinegar or is interchangeable, is another good household cleaner (less the strong odor). Use it instead of bleach to lighten your whiteness. When the brown film forms in the bottom of the bathtub, fill the bottom with water, add a good third of a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and let it stand. After a few hours, take a towel with the rest of the tub and tile and it will sparkle!
4) Lemon Juice:
After squeezing it into your tea or on a salad, run half a lemon over your counter and sink. Mince it in the garbage disposal for a quick refresher. You can also use it on your hands to eliminate the smell of onions or garlic. It is also antibacterial!
5) Microfiber Cloth:
Personally, I use Norwex microfiber products that only need water to clean almost all surfaces. They tend to be more expensive but last a long time.
6) Homemade Toilet Bowl Cleaner:
When my husband and I went shopping for a new toilet, we realized that Teflon-lined toilets would not stick to the inside. Well, I do not want to eat Teflon or poop it. Instead, the homemade toilet bowl cleaner keeps your toilet clean and fresh.
7) Naturally Stain Remover:
A simple, low-cost and chemical-free option to remove stubborn stains! Some commercially purchased natural detergent soaps just will not get as clean as you would like. Not with this detergent soap that removes grease and residue. And if you do not like lavender, try a different scent.
8) Homemade Air Freshener Spray:
I can’t stand air fresheners – they not only contain harmful VOCs, they also make the rooms smell worse in my opinion than the actual smell they try to mask. This three-ingredient air freshener spray helps remove odors and not just mask them. It also does not leave a poisonous chemical stench.
9) DIY Natural Hand Sanitizer:
We do not always have to be 100% disinfected, but clean hands are important – especially if you are not near water and soap. Ideal for car rides, hiking, camping or when you are on the move.
10) DIY All-Purpose Cleaner:
A three-component recipe that covers all basic cleaning requirements. A great trick to turn glass bottles into spray bottles!
Most household cleaning products on the shelves of hardware stores and grocery stores are really huge chemical cocktails. If you look at the ingredients, you would never think to ask for the recipe, so you can do it yourself! If you do not use non-toxic household cleaners, there is a good chance your cleaning efforts will not really “cleanse”.
