A new year triggers fresh ideas and new routines. Today we’re helping you discover revamping your home routines to reduce chemicals harmful to your family and hard on the earth.
Our day-to-day cleaning supplies are a great place to start, and the good news is we have some easy, eco-friendly cleaner swaps here. As a bonus, you can make these at home if you like which can save money and bring peace of mind. Do you feel me on liking to know what’s in your products?
Do Natural Cleaners Work?
In a word, yes.
Natural ingredients such as vinegar, lemon, vodka, and hydrogen peroxide tackle everyday grime and can keep your home spick and span by killing bacteria, disinfecting, and removing mold and mildew. Natural cleaners often work better than or just as well as the harsh chemicals type of cleaning products.
It is important to understand that the sanitizing and degreasing abilities of a natural product depend on its ingredients. For example, baking soda works as a natural degreaser. I love using this in my sink to gently but effectively remove grime. But, baking soda will not disinfect a surface like other natural ingredients like citric acid. And, yes, citric acid is a fancy way of saying the good stuff you find in citrus like lemons.
Easy rules of thumb- vinegar or lemon juice can clean surfaces and act as a good multi-purpose cleaner. Baking soda works as a degreaser and odor reducer. Rubbing alcohol (same as isopropyl alcohol but slightly watered down) has anti-bacterial properties. And, hydrogen peroxide is another option for a sanitizer.
DIY Eco-Friendly Multi-Purpose Cleaner
Making your own multi-purpose is simple. You should feel good about knowing what’s actually in your cleaner and being able to pronounce all the words on the ingredient list.
Here is a simple recipe for an all-purpose cleaner that you can make at home:
Ingredients:
2 cups water
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda
2 tablespoons lemon juice
20 drops essential oil (optional)
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake well to mix.
Instead of using lemon juice I used some old rinds for the same effect. In this case, let the vinegar and lemons sit for a few weeks and then strain out the liquid. You’ll want to add water to cut the vinegar and lemon. Check out a quick tutorial below:
Use as you would any commercial all-purpose cleaner.
This cleaner effectively cuts through grease and dirt and can be used on various surfaces, including counters, appliances, and tiles. The essential oil adds a pleasant scent, but it is optional. You can use any essential oil that you like or omit it altogether.
It’s that simple. It’s affordable and convenient, and I bet you have all of this in your kitchen right now. Just grab an empty spray bottle and get to work.
Highly Recommended Non-Toxic Cleaning Brands
Let’s face it. Some of us were not made for the DIY life. If mixing your own multi-purpose cleaner isn’t your thing, not to fear; there are lots of other good options on the market.
Sal Suds is like the Dionne Sanders of cleaning; it does everything. I dilute it with water to wash dishes in the sink. Check out how easy it is below. You can also dilute it in a spray bottle to use as a multi-purpose cleaner or use it to wash clothing. It’s the real MVP!
Castile soap is similar to Sal Suds. It is made from olive oil and named after the Spanish province where it was invented. Castile soap is typically diluted depending on the purpose and works by binding itself to dirt, germs, and grease. Castile soap is an example of a natural ingredient that is as effective as its chemical counterparts. And, while Sal Suds is not something you can/are recommended to use on the body, Castile soap can be used as a body/face/hair wash (hello olive oil). It works on animals too! People love how gentle Castile Soap is on the skin.
Here are a few other options for companies that have done their research. Non-toxic cleaners and lovely packaging. These brands hit all the high notes for those who love aesthetically pleasing products that work:
Bottle Refill Option & Eco-Friendly Cleaner
One small way to reduce single-use plastics in your home is by investing in glass or sturdy plastic bottles to refill. Along those lines, if you missed our Sustainable Swaps: Kitchen edition, check it out here. These brands provide multi-purpose cleaning refills that are effective and sustainable:
Using sustainable cleaning products has always been important to me, but with a little one running around putting his mouth on, well, everything, it’s become more important than ever.
I’d love to hear other non-toxic cleaning supply recipes. Do you have one to share?
the home sustainable 