Household cleaning products are one of the first places you should look if you’re trying to eliminate or reduce the number of chemicals and toxins in your home.
The cleaning aisle at your local supermarket can be a staggering place.
Not only are there an overwhelming number of options to choose from, but the price of most household cleaners can be just as dizzying.
Not to mention, these aisles are packed full of harmful chemicals and breathtaking fumes.
So rather than spending a small fortune on dangerous cleaning products, why not try tackling your household cleaning duties with natural products that you might already have around the house.
In fact, many of the items you like already keep in your pantry, like vinegar and baking soda, are extremely effective cleaners and disinfectants. And, they’re also significantly cheaper than most common household cleaning products.
So the next time you run into a big mess, try using one of the following cleaners or throwing together one of the following homemade cleaning products instead.
Learn more natural cleaning tips here.
But Before You Do - Safety Tip
Although natural cleaning products are completely safe to use, it’s important to never mix cleaners that contain ammonia with chlorine bleach or any cleaning products that contain bleach, such as dishwasher detergent.
In some cases, you may be able to find a naturally derived non-chlorine bleach. Although it may be a safer and eco-friendly bleach alternative, non-chlorine bleach could still cause a reaction when mixed with ammonia-based cleaners.
But before mixing any two products together, make sure to read their labels and check to see if it’s safe to do so.
If you’re not sure, it’s better to avoid doing it, just in case.
Also, make sure to label any bottles or containers of DIY cleaning products. This not only makes it easier to know which product is in which container, but it also keeps other people from mistaking it from something else.
Cleaning Product Ingredients
Baking soda is a completely safe-to-use cleaning ingredient that you probably already have in the fridge or pantry. It’s both an extremely versatile and inexpensive product that you can use to tackle all sorts of messes, dirt, and grime around the house.
Plus, you can usually buy baking soda for just a few dollars per pound. When you compare this to the cost of buying common household cleaners, the savings can really start to add up.
Distilled White Vinegar is another excellent addition to your mess-disposal tool kit. And on top of being both versatile and inexpensive, vinegar also works as a powerful non-toxic disinfectant.
And one other less-often thought of cleaner is cheap vodka or rubbing alcohol.
In fact, inexpensive vodka makes a great cleaner and disinfectant. Plus, you can even enjoy a celebratory drink after you’ve cleaned up your mess.
Or, if you don’t feel comfortable keeping or using vodka as a household cleaner, you can also substitute rubbing alcohol, which is also an extremely powerful disinfectant.
So how can you use these natural, non-toxic cleaning ingredients around the house?
DIY All-Purpose Household Cleaner
Ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp baking soda
- ½ a cup of distilled white vinegar
- The essential oil of your choice (lavender, tea tree or lemon essential oil smell great)
Note: Be cautious when using essential oils. Some may be dangerous for pets. So to keep them safe, make sure to avoid using it them on any surfaces that your pet might come into contact with.)
Before mixing the baking soda and vinegar, you’ll need to dilute the vinegar so it won’t cause a reaction and make even more of a mess for you to clean up.
Simply add a small amount of water to the vinegar, pour the solution into an empty spray bottle, add the baking soda, and finish it off with a few drops of essential oil for fragrance.
Then gently shake the bottle to mix the ingredients, spray-on tough messes, wipe clean and allow to dry.
You’ll be left with a bright and shiny, clean surface. Not to mention, a wonderful smell in the air.
DIY Disinfectant Wipes
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup of distilled white vinegar
- 1 cup of water
- About a dozen drops of essential oil
- An empty baby wipes container (or a similar re-sealable plastic container)
- About a dozen square cloths (think old cut up t-shirts or dish towels instead of throwing them out)
Fold and place the cloth into the empty container and put it aside for now.
Mix the water, vinegar, and essential oil of your choice in a large mixing bowl, stirring to ensure the solution is properly mixed. Again, ensure that you’re choosing an essential oil that is safe for pets.
Pour the solution into the container with the cloth, let soak, and your DIY disinfectant wipes are ready to use.
The best part of these wipes is that you can simply toss them in the wash to clean them and reuse them for as long as the material holds up!
Learn more all-natural cleaning tips and tricks here: https://www.moneycrashers.com/homemade-natural-cleaning-products-diy-recipes/
Non-Toxic DIY Laundry Detergent
Ingredients:
- 4 cups washing soda
- ½ cup Borax (optional)
- 200 g grated bar soap (I prefer coconut oil soap, but any pure soap will do)
- Empty container
I use my food processor to grate the soap. Cut the bars into small pieces and add them to the food processor, along with some of the washing soda. Cover your food processor with a towel to keep the dust down.
Mix everything well and pour it into an empty container. I add the Borax only for heavily soiled loads.
This formula is low-sudsing and safe for HE washing machines; only 2 to 3 tablespoons per load is required. Use ¼ cup for standard washers.
Another great eco-friendly and sustainable tip for laundry is the use of wool dryer balls. They’re fragrance-free, and not to mention that they can reduce drying times, soften clothing, eliminate static and last 1,000+ loads.
Adding a few drops of essential oils to the dryer balls will make your clothes smell heavenly.
You can get handcrafted wool dryer balls for a great price by sending a message to https://www.facebook.com/ccolotelo/.
Natural Household Cleaners
While these are just a few natural cleaning ideas, there are plenty of other ways that you can reduce and eliminate the use of toxins around the home.
Simply being more conscious of the products we buy and the foods we eat is the first step in reducing the use of toxins in your home and living a healthier life.
For more natural health ideas to help you reduce the chemicals and toxins in your life, check out our all-natural skincare boutique.
Interested in learning more about natural skincare? Download my Complete Guide to Natural Skin Care, and learn all there is to know about keeping your skin happy and healthy naturally.
