After reading about the chemicals lurking in my home and their effects on health, the first thing I did was to replace my household cleaners. In terms of air quality and household pollution, it’s the most bang for your buck and is far easier to do then say, replacing your carpet with a non toxic option.
The best and most economical option is to make your own. This will require purchasing some ingredients (like white vinegar, baking soda, essential oils, and containers) and following a couple recipes. It’s quite easy to do and crazy cheap.
You can google homemade cleaning recipes or use the below books. I have been following both Karen Logan and Annie Bond’s recipes with great success since 2007.
- Better Basics for the Home: Simple Solutions for Less Toxic Living by Annie Berthold-Bond
- Clean House Clean Planet by Karen Logan
- Home Enlightenment: Create a Nurturing, Healthy, and Toxin-Free Home by Annie Berthold-Bond
However, there are times when a full-time career, writing an unrelated blog, and raising kids is too much and I have to just buy things. It’s still far far better then poisoning my house with Pledge.
The key to natural, non toxic cleaning is to keep it simple. You don’t need 50 different cleaners. I use an all purpose concentrated cleaner for surfaces, toilets, wood floors, etc., a glass cleaner (because the general ones usually streak), a scrubby (ie soft scrub like) cleaner, a disinfectant for toys and after my kids get sick, and a wood polish. The wood polish I always make because its so easy (I’m including a good furniture polish in case you can’t find the time). Here’s what works for me.
Most products are under $5. I use drugstore.com but you can get great deals on 6 or 12 bottles or subscribe and save from amazon.com as well.
Wood Polish (Recipe borrowed gratefully from Crunchy Betty)
Easy-Peasy Homemade Wood Polish Recipe
2 Tbsp finely grated beeswax or beeswax beads
6-8 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil (6 if you want a firmer polish, 8 if you want your polish to be a little squishier)
10-15 drops of a lemon, tea tree, or pine essential oil
10-15 drops of a lemon, tea tree, or pine essential oil
Heat a double boiler and add the beeswax. Once melted, add the olive oil. Remove from heat when melted throughout. Allow to cool slightly and add essential oils. Stir well. Pour into a clean container (sterilize by misting with rubbing alcohol and wiping out). Leave alone to cool and set.
Odds and Ends:
If You Care Gloves are made from natural rubber sourced from a responsibly managed plantation. Available in three sizes – Small, Medium and Large. $3.10
Dishes
Steam Carpet Cleaner $8.00
Haven Household cleaners are wonderful smelling and very effective.
Method Laundry Soap is SUPER concentrated…A small bottle really makes 50 loads. $15.
