A lot of modern-day health issues arise from toxic products that we use, especially cleaning products in our home. In addition, we also need to think about the damage being done to our bodies by using so many industrial chemicals in and around us. Toxins can have a lot of terrible effects on our bodies. This post is about non-toxic home cleaning products, and about detoxing by removing toxic cleaners and switching over to non-toxic cleaning products in our home.
Now, this is a bit more complicated than switching up personal care products or our personal clothing items. We share our homes with others. And while they undoubtedly would like to not be poisoned by the cleaning potions and may agree to go along with your plan to detox, the logistics of switching is not going to be easy. Plus, if there are other adults in your home, who grew up in different households, there’s going to be a lot of opinions flying about regarding the best way to go about this.
Our Attitude to Cleaning Products
Because this one’s a doozy. We – most of us – like clean homes, and have a habit of getting the strongest and most potent cleaner, in the misguided belief that the stronger it is, the cleaner it will make your floors, clothes and dishes.
So, first, we need to get on the same page regarding all this. For example, I grew up believing that in order to get rid of gunk, you needed to go to war with it. Short of knocking yourself out with the pungent fumes of a powerful cleaner, you had to throw everything at the dirt. Only then would your home be “clean”. When not in use, these strong chemicals were stored separately, away from the kids and pets. And when they were used at home, you had to leave the room or cover up your nose and mouth to avoid breathing in the fumes.
Wow, that actually was how we cleaned our home growing up. With phenyl disinfectants for the floors and acids for cleaning the loo. Our home smelled wonderful after it all, thanks to the added synthetic lemony fragrance overpowering everything else, but I don’t want to think of all the toxins that entered into all of us. Or maybe things weren’t so poisonous back then?
Our Attitude to Dirt
My position on gunk has since evolved. I know now is that household gunk isn’t something to be feared. And you and your housemates need to know that, too. You don’t need to nuke it out, you don’t have to “erase all traces of it” (if that were even possible), and you certainly do not have to treat your home with acid every two weeks.
Relax.
This gunk is all a part of life. It’s your filth, after all – how bad can it be?;) We spend an extraordinary amount of time, effort and resources to clean ourselves every now and then. Hand sanitizer, disinfectants, acids, etc. We obsess over them. But in our bid to be ‘clean’, are we overdoing it? In any case, an indisputable fact is that these cleaning agents have tons of terrible ingredients. My aim is not to say Don’t Clean! My aim is to change the formulations that we use to clean our homes. So that we get a clean home and healthy inhabitants of that clean home. Win-win.
TOXIC INGREDIENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR
Use The Environmental Working Group website to learn more about the ingredients contained in any product you are thinking of buying. Here’s a helpful table on toxic ingredients to look out for in your cleaning products.
| Ingredient | Associated Health Effects |
|---|---|
| 2-Butoxyethanol | skin, throat, and eye irritant, damage to blood, kidney toxicity |
| Ammonia | respiratory issues and skin irritation |
| Chlorine | respiratory irritation, destruction of gut bacteria, and thyroid disruption |
| DEA (diethanolamine), TEA (triethanolamine) and MEA (monoethanolamine) | hormone disruptor, carcinogen, and organ toxicity |
| DEHP & Phthalates | major endocrine disruptors and linked to reproductive toxicity |
| Ethanolamines, Phosphoric Acid, Chloric Acid | can burn eyes, skin and lungs; respiratory irritant |
| Ethoxylated Surfactants, 1,4-Dioxane, Ethylene Oxide | can react to form formaldehyde, a known carcinogen |
| Formaldehyde | allergies, irritation to the skin, eyes, nose and throat; carcinogen |
| Fragrance/Parfum | carcinogens, hormone disruptors, neurotoxins, skin and respiratory irritants |
| Perchloroethylene (PERC) | neurotoxicity |
| Quats (Quaternary Ammonium Compounds), Glutaral, and Sodium Hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) | allergies, asthma, birth defects, and fertility issues |
| Sodium Hydroxide and Potassium Hydroxide | burn the eyes, skin and lungs and is a respiratory irritant |
| Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate | skin & eye irritation, organ toxicity, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption & ecotoxicology |
| Triclosan | skin irritation, liver damage, hormone disruption, and antibiotic resistance |
Non-Toxic Cleaning Products – Doing It Yourself
When it comes to “greening” your home, the DIY route works best (apart from the very useful advantage of being less expensive). You can easily make cleaning products at home with a few basic ingredients:
Lemon
Its citric acid works well against most household bacteria, making it one of the best natural cleaners. Plus, it smells great!
Oil (olive or coconut)
To sanitize, clean and condition wood, leather (if you have any) and metal items.
100% White Vinegar Concentration
Its acetic acid helps remove stains, mildew, and grease. It’s a super versatile item to keep in your kitchen, since it can be used to clean almost every surface in your home.
Natural Dish Soap
Such as Dr. Bronner’s Castile Liquid Soap. It does the actual cleaning of the dirt, and is super multi-purpose.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Used as a bleaching and disinfecting agent. (Household hydrogen peroxide is at 3% concentration and not generally dangerous. It can cause irritation to the eyes and skin, so proceed and use with caution.)
Baking Soda
This is another versatile item in our armor. Cleans a lot of things, without being a pain.
Salt
Becomes a powerful cleaner once mixed with vinegar or lemon.
Essential Oils
Can be used for various fragrances, as well as an anti-bacterial spray (mix lavender or tea tree with water to use as a spray).
Potatoes
Use raw to remove rust from baking pans. Slice a potato into two, dip the flat surface of one half in salt, and get scrubbing on the rust.
There are many sources that tell you how to mix and match the above ingredients for optimal cleaning effect. The Greatist has an awesome, comprehensive list here. Eartheasy has some more detailed formulas.
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE DETAILS.
List of Safe Cleaning Products for Your Home
If DIYing is not your thing, check out EcoRoots’ home and kitchen products. And here’s a handy list of completely safe, non-toxic (and vegan and cruelty-free, of course) household cleaning products:
LAUNDRY
ZUM Eucalyptus Laundry Soap | Shop
Eco-Me Natural Concentrated Liquid Laundry Detergent | Shop
Dr. Bronner’s Castile Liquid Soaps | Shop
Sonett Laundry Liquid Detergent | Shop
ATTITUDE Little Ones Laundry Detergent | Shop
Puracy Natural Laundry Stain Remover | Shop
Young Living Thieves Laundry Soap
Hello Bello Concentrated Laundry Detergent Organic
Dropps Stain & Odor Laundry Detergent Pods
Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater
Or, try Nellie’s Perfect Starter Kit for all your Laundry Needs | Shop
For more options, click here.
KITCHEN
Citra Solv Natural Cleaner & Degreaser| Shop
Citra Clear Natural Window and Glass Cleaner | Shop
Earth Friendly Products Wave Auto Dishwasher Gel | Shop
Supernatural Stainless Steel Cleaner
Dish Soaps
5 / Puracy Dish Soap
Dishwasher Detergents
1 / AspenClean Dishwasher Pods
2 / Better Life Dishwasher Gel
3 / Branch Basics Dishwasher Tablets
5 / Earth Friendly ECOS Wave Auto Dishwasher Gel
6 / MamaSuds Automatic Dishwasher Powder
7 / Puracy Dishwasher Detergent Packs
8 / Young Living Automatic Dishwasher Powder
Brushes for Dishes
2 / Bamboo Scrub Brush and Dispenser
3 / Long-Handled Skillet Scrubber
4 / Kitchen Dish Scrubber Brush
BATHROOM
Toilet Bowl Cleaners
Nellie’s All-Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner | Shop
Eco-Me Natural Powerful Toilet Bowl Cleaner | Shop
Greenshield Organic Toilet Bowl Cleaner | Shop
ECOS Proline Toilet Cleaner | Shop
For more options, head here.
FLOORS, WALLS, WINDOWS & CARPETS
1 / Aunt Fannie’s Floor Cleaner Vinegar Wash Concentrate | Shop
2 / Fit Organic Laundry & Carpet Stain Remover | Shop
3 / Eco-Me Natural Wood Cleaner and Polish | Shop
4 / Clean+Green Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner | Shop
5 / Green Shield Organic Glass Cleaner | Shop
6 / Wild Hare Natural Organic Wood Polish | Shop
7 / Supernatural Wood & Floors Concentrate
9 / Aunt Fannie’s Glass & Window Cleaning
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE DETAILS.
ALL-PURPOSE CLEANERS
1 / Attitude Unscented Surface Cleaner
4 /MamaSuds All-Purpose Cleaner
MISC. CLEANING ITEMS
1 / Seventh Generation Paper Towels
2 / Organic Cotton Towels (more options in this post on sustainable bath towels)
5 / Babyganics All Purpose Surface Wipes
6 / Dusting Cloth
7 / Dusting Glove
10 / Dyson Vacuum
11 / ProMist Microfiber Spray Mop
12 / E-Cloth Stainless Steel Towel
Stay Informed
As you can see, there are loads of options if you are interested in detoxing your home, and being kinder to yourself and the environment. Be sure to read the ingredients list and be comfortable with it.
And, remember: switching over to cleaner products need not happen overnight. It’s difficult to radically alter your life, especially when you live with kids or people who don’t see eye-to-eye with you regarding this. That’s ok. Just do what you can, and keep at it. Baby steps forward are better than stagnating.
If you’re keen on learning more about safe products for your home, here are some books you can check out:
If you liked this post, please share it. Thank you!<3
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE DETAILS.
Great series of very useful post. I’ve learned more about non-toxic home cleaning. Thanks to you!
Yep, we’ll all benefit from knowing more about the toxins around us.
Thanks for stopping by, and for your sweet comment:)
Today, most of the cleaning products available contain harsh chemicals and volatile organic compounds which can be harmful to your environment, health, and family. Heads up to this post very helpful
Hi!
You’re right – and we need to be super careful when shopping for our cleaning products.
Thanks for your comment. Glad you found this post helpful!:)