If you need to break out a chem book when reading the ingredients on your cleaning products, it’s time for a toxin-free treatment. Detoxes aren’t just for socialites with couture ambition, the process can work on the home. Many of our household products contain enough harmful ingredients to spawn a sci-fi nemesis but it’s hard to pass up that insta-spray and clean result. Despite living in an efficiency-motivated culture, cleaning depends on attentive care. Now that I run a household that includes future generations, an awareness of the right household cleansers is essential.
Detox the home with chemical-free cleaners.
Smart Cleaning
Putting old-fashioned elbow grease via rigorous scrubbing and a chemical-free cleanser is enough to remove harmful offenders with that sparkly clean result. More high traffic areas like the shower floor or cutting boards benefit from a more potent mix.
Simple ingredients found in your kitchen can be used to safely clean the home.
Recipe for Chemical-Free House Cleaner
Homemade doesn’t just apply to food, you can make your own all-natural cleaners. Your pantry and fridge abound with effective, all-natural ingredients.
Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 cup distilled clear vinegar
4 tbs chemical free dish soap
2 tsp baking soda
Juice of two lemons
Directions:
In a large bowl, mix ingredients. Pour into a spray bottle with a funnel. You can also create directly into a bottle to avoid having to use a funnel. I added a spritzer to a glass vinegar jar for a durable and plastic-free container.
To amp the potency, add more vinegar and less water.
Smart Products
If making your own cleansers isn’t realistic, there are effective chemical-free brands available. “These are the products you would make-if you had the time and the space to store the many safe and healthy ingredients,” says Diann Peart, PhD, Principal & Visionary, *truce* | *Safe & Simple*.
Choosing cleaners free of harmful chemicals and toxins will safeguard your home.
“Medical evidence is mounting that household chemicals are taking a significant toll on our health and the health of our pets. Your skin in the largest organ on your body and it is permeable, what you put on your skin can enter your blood stream and unfortunately, it can penetrate to the womb as well. Make the transition to safe and effective cleaning products and get the harmful chemicals out of the home,” says Diann. Detoxing your home may not have the outwardly visible effects as a week spent in a monastic spa, but the lifelong benefits will contribute to clean living.
Resources
Dish Play gloves: Fred
Natural Cleaning Products: truce
Free & Clear Dish Liquid: Seventh Generation
Pink dishtowel: Pomegranate Inc. (out of stock but shop for similar items)
Cleaning with a sense of awareness, use protective gloves–ideally ones that will make you laugh.
Jacqueline, thank you for sharing this cleaner recipe. I try to use all-natural when I can. In fact, today I used white vinegar to dissolve that icky mineral build up around the kitchen and bathroom faucets.
Blessings,
Marianne
Excellent feedback Marianne, thank you for sharing! White vinegar is a savior, add a but of baking soda for those real pesky stains and kaboom, literally. This actually saved a burnt pot of mine last week. Cooking while you’re under a deadline is not a good idea–more to report on that!