In our efforts to teach our children a better way to walk in our world, we were checking out the various (and ingenious) ways that folks have found to replace the chemical soup that we might currently be using to clean our homes. These chemicals can be toxic and should especially be avoided by children and expectant mothers. These cleaning products, that we routinely rub all over our kitchens, are so dangerous that they have to be locked up to avoid poisoning our children. We were wondering if there were any alternative eco-friendly products that might even be safe enough to be ingested, accidentally or otherwise.
If you still need convincing that natural, organic cleaners are the way to go, you should know that by making your own cleaners at home you will save on packaging costs which will save you money in the long run. They also smell better and clean just as well as the (much higher priced) brand name cleaning solutions. What convinced us was the comparison between the effects of these toxic cleaners (vs the natural, homemade cleaners) on the health of our children.
To get started, here are some supplies you will want to stock up on:
- Salt
- Baking Soda
- Fresh Lemons
- Distilled White Vinegar
- Liquid Castile Soap
These inexpensive, natural and simple ingredients can be combined to create effective alternatives to the typical, store bought, toxic kitchen cleaners.
Here are a few recipes:
Glass: 3 tablespoons of vinegar mixed with 2 cups of water can be sprayed directly on to your glass, windows or mirrors. If you hate the smell, you can use plain club soda and crumpled newspaper to achieve the same results.
Disinfectant: An effective disinfectant can be made with a few drops of castile soap, a couple of cups of water, and about 10 drops of tea tree and lavender essential oils. This solution is safe enough to spray on any surface, even cutting boards and changing tables, but not glass, as it will streak.
Toilet Cleaner: Add a few tablespoons of vinegar and lemon juice to your toilet bowl and spray your disinfectant on the toilet's hard surfaces. Let it sit for a bit, then scrub. This is also awesome on bathtubs and sinks.
Microwave: To clean an especially nasty microwave, spray the inside with lemon juice, let sit, and wipe clean with a mixture of baking soda and water.
Oven: To clean your oven naturally, sprinkle salt right away to spills then when the oven cools the spill will wipe right up.
Mold/Mildew: Since mold and mildew have been shown to be of special concern a homemade solution can be put together with 2 cups of water and 4 drops of pure tea tree oil. Spray this mixture on walls and wipe dry. The natural antiseptic qualities of tea tree oil will fight mold and mildew.
If you have an old family recipe for a natural cleaner, share them below. Together we can find healthier ways to handle everyday tasks while also being environmentally responsible.
(If making homemade cleaners is not for you, check out our nice selection of TerraCycle - eco-friendly and upcycled! - products here.)
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2 Responses
A lot of cleaning products that still continue to dominate the market can actually cause quite a lot of damage to your health. It’s always worthwhile checking out the alternatives that don’t cause as much damage.
October 2, 2012 at 4:54 pm
The above products stated are actually one of the best house hold products that can be used for cleaning purposes. Still, vinegar, baking soda, soaps should be kept away from the use of children. They can be harmful for them. Moreover, one could think upon calling the professionals as they use eco-friendly products to clean the house or they can even supply the cleaning products.
November 12, 2012 at 7:07 am