PART 3: Non-Toxic Home Cleaning Products

A lot of modern-day health issues arise from toxic products that we use, especially cleaning products in our home. In fact, the latest EarthTalk post was about something closely related: whether we’re using too much sanitizer and not allowing our natural immunity to get stronger. 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.

Alright, so let’s get started!

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE DETAILS.

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, here’s a handy list of completely safe, non-toxic (and vegan and cruelty-free, of course) household cleaning products:

LAUNDRY

1. ZUM Eucalyptus Laundry Soap | Shop 

2. Eco-Me Natural Concentrated Liquid Laundry Detergent | Shop

3. Dr. Bronner’s Castile Liquid Soaps | Shop

4. Sonett Laundry Liquid Detergent | Shop  

5. ATTITUDE Little Ones Laundry Detergent | Shop

6. Puracy Natural Laundry Stain Remover | Shop

Or, try Nellie’s Perfect Starter Kit for all your Laundry Needs , Combo Set | Shop

For more options, click here.

KITCHEN

1. Citra Solv Natural Cleaner & Degreaser| Shop
2. Citra Clear Natural Window and Glass Cleaner | Shop
3. Earth Friendly Products Wave Auto Dishwasher Gel | Shop

BATHROOM

1. Nellie’s All-Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner | Shop
2. Eco-Me Natural Powerful Toilet Bowl Cleaner | Shop
3. Greenshield Organic Toilet Bowl Cleaner | Shop
4. 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

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:

Have you read the other posts in this series?

1. Non-Toxic Personal Care & Beauty Products
2. Non-Toxic Clothing, Shoes & Accessories (Check out this list of 27 Organic Clothing Brands for Women)
3. Home Cleaning Products
4. Home furnishings & textiles
5. Pet care
6. Garden care

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THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE DETAILS.