Choosing natural home care products is an easy step I can take towards removing toxins from my day-today-life. I’m choosing safer products in an effort to help my body heal. It has been a slow process as I’ve chosen to replace as I run out instead of just throwing it all out at once.
Green cleaning techniques and products should avoid the use of products which contain toxic chemicals such as ammonia, chlorine bleach, phosphates, and triclosan, some of which emit volatile organic compounds causing respiratory, dermatological and hormone conditions. According to an Environmental Working Group analysis of more than 400 cleaning products only about a quarter of them adequately disclose their ingredients. Many companies use vague terms, such as “fragrance,” “preservative” or “colorant,” instead of listing the specific chemicals they use which can mask potentially harmful, persistent chemicals. Since manufacturers of household cleaners do not disclose all ingredients, it is virtually impossible for consumers to choose safer products. This is where EWG comes in to help us identify the products we should avoid.
As with many cleaning challenges, it’s best to start with a natural, mild approach and move onto stronger methods only if necessary.
For an All Purpose Cleaner:
- 1 tsp borax
- 1/2 tsp washing soda
- 1 tsp liquid castile soap
- 4 drops lemon, 4 drops lavender and 10 drops wild orange essential oils
Combine in a glass spray bottle and add 2 cups of warm water. Distilled is best, but any water that has been boiled will work. Cover bottle and shake well.
Watch this video for more cleaning tips.
These are some of the simple products that I keep under my sink for safer cleanups.
White vinegar is a safe, natural and very effective mold and mildew killer. You can either soak a sponge in full-strength vinegar, or fill a spray bottle and thoroughly soak affected areas. The smell of the vinegar will dissipate within a few hours, but if it bothers you, you can simply add some of your favorite essential oils to the spray bottle to make it more pleasant.
Citrus Infused vinegar-Fill a jar with (organic) citrus peels and pour undiluted white vinegar over them. Leave for a few days (up to 2 weeks) and strain out the vinegar to use as a natural cleaner. It works as a window cleaner (dilute with water), for mopping floors, or for disinfecting surfaces.
Essential oils- naturally smell wonderful, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal properties. Use lemon, lime, wild orange, thyme, peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary, and cinnamon or blends Purify and On Guard. Melaleuca -Tea tree oil may just be the greatest natural mold and mildew killer of all.
Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is a highly alkaline salt with dozens of uses. It is non-toxic and Its odor absorbing properties are useful throughout the home. Baking soda is mildly abrasive, and it is capable of removing tough stains and the remnants of mildew and mold. Make a paste out of baking soda and water and simply work it into the surface with a scrub brush or sponge. Rinse with white vinegar to eliminate the white residue.
Hydrogen peroxide - is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-mold and anti-mildew. It does take time to work, so let it sit for at least ten minutes and then wipe away.
Borax - (sodium borate) is a natural mineral compound, found deep within the ground. It is used as a natural laundry booster, multipurpose cleaner, fungicide, preservative, insecticide, herbicide, disinfectant.
Washing Soda – sodium carbonate, also known as soda ash, is a chemical compound that can be used to remove stubborn stains from laundry. It is often used in commercial detergent mixtures as well to treat hard water. The washing soda binds to the minerals which make water hard and allows the detergent to be absorbed into fibers properly to clean clothes. One common source of washing soda is the ashes of burned plants.
Castile soap-Traditionally the term castile, in regard to soap, referred to a hard white soap made from olive oil. It was named for the Castile region of Spain where they made soap only using olive oil. Today it has become more loosely defined as a pure vegetable based soap (void of any animal products). Most castile soap today is actually a blend of olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, or other commonly used vegetable oil.
Microfiber cloths and mops- picks up dirt and microorganisms without a spray
Probiotic Heavy Duty Cleaner-A powerful, highly concentrated foam cleaner enriched with safe probiotic bacteria that works with enzymes to clean all the way down to the microscopic level and continue cleaning and deodorizing for up to 3 days.
Room to Room Cleaning
Bathrooms
For tile and grout: sprinkle with baking soda and then spray with hydrogen peroxide and leave for a few minutes before scrubbing and then wiping off.
Toilets
For the toilet bowl: Pour a half cup of baking soda in the toilet bowl, allow it to sit for 20-30 minutes, then spray with vinegar solution and scrub with a toilet brush. The seat and outside of the toilet can be cleaned with the all-purpose spray recipe
Floors
For laminate, ceramic, etc.: a mixture of 1 cup vinegar or citrus-infused vinegar in a gallon of water on a wet mop will clean really well. You can use the All-purpose cleaner to pre-treat any tough stains.
Natural Wood Floor Cleaner:Combine 1/2 cup white vinegar and 1 teaspoon vegetable oil. Add 1 cup of water. Mix well and rub lightly into floors to bring back shine and clean spots. Add a few drops of essential oil of choice for nice scent.
Natural Furniture Polish: Mix 1/4 cup white vinegar, lemon juice, or lemon essential oil with 1 tablespoon of oil. You can use this in a spray bottle or a small amount on a cotton rag.
Glass and Mirrors
Microfiber for Windows:It cleans without chemicals and leaves no streaks or lint.
If you don’t have microfiber, use 50% vinegar and 50% water to lightly spray the surface, then wipe clean with a dry cloth.
Fabric softeners and dryer sheets: AVOID THESE! They coat fabric with asthma-causing “quat” and secret fragrance chemicals. Instead add vinegar to rinse to prevent static and use wool dryer balls scented with essential oils.
Produce Washing: For stuff from our garden, it gets a light wash in water before use.
For store bought produce with tough skin, I soak in vinegar for about 10 minutes, and then lightly scrub with a natural bristle brush dipped in baking soda then rinse. I do this before placing them in the fridge.
Air Fresheners: AVOID THESE! They contain dozens of undisclosed and often untested chemicals. Use essential oils and soy/lead-free candles.
HAPPY CLEANING!