When we were first married, I used to use all kinds of cleaners from the grocery store. From bathroom cleaners to kitchen cleaners, I thought I was well-stocked with everything we needed for a clean home.
The problem was that these cleaners caused a number of adverse reactions in me every time I cleaned. When I would spray down the shower with my Scrubbing Bubbles cleaner, I would start sneezing and coughing, and my nose would start running. I came to realize that the very products I thought were “cleaning” my home were actually creating a toxic environment that was affecting us physically.
Fast forward to today, and I now use nontoxic cleaning products that I can make myself. No more sneezing, coughing, wheezing, or nose running when I clean my house!
First, let’s talk about the ingredients you’ll want to avoid. Then, I want to show you how easy it is to switch to nontoxic cleaners.
- Phthalates (Found in ‘Fragrance’ products such as air-fresheners, soaps, body washes, cleaning sprays). These are known endocrine disruptors!
- Perchloroethylene or “PERC” (Found in many carpet and upholstery cleaners). This is a neurotoxin and possible carcinogen.
- Triclosan (Found in ‘Antibacterial’ soaps, sprays, and hand sanitizers). Can promote the growth of drug-resistant bacteria!
- Quarternary Ammonium Compounds, or “QUATS” (Found in Fabric Softeners and Dryer Sheets as well as ‘Antibacterial’ products). These can also create antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
- 2-Butoxyethanol (Found in All-Purpose Cleaners, Window and Kitchen Cleaners). It can cause severe respiratory reactions and possible liver and kidney damage!
- Ammonia (Found in window and glass cleaners, jewelry polish, bathroom fixture polishes, etc). It can cause respiratory issues and creates a lethal gas when mixed with bleach!
- Chlorine (Found in toilet cleaners, mildew/mold removers, bathroom cleaners, etc.). It is a respiratory irritant and possible thyroid disruptor.
- Sodium Hydroxide (Found in oven cleaners and drain openers). It is a skin/eye/lung irritant; very corrosive.
This list is not exhaustive, but it includes some of the most toxic ingredients commonly found in household cleaning products.
If you have unexplained health conditions similar to the ones above, it may be time to examine your cleaning products!
The good news is you can get your home sparkling clean without the toxins! With a few basic ingredients, you can create a clean, fresh, nontoxic home. Let’s take a look at some of the basic ingredients you’ll want to have on hand:
Vinegar
Vinegar is an excellent disinfectant that is nontoxic! The smell is rather pungent, so it’s helpful to dilute it with purified or distilled water. It’s a great option for combatting mold and mildew.
Baking Soda
Baking Soda makes for an excellent, all-natural scrub. It too has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, so it’s great for kitchen and bathroom use. There are SO many different ways to use baking soda – check out this post for 50 of them!
OnGuard Cleaner Concentrate
This is one of my favorite, nontoxic cleaning products to have on hand! OnGuard Cleaner Concentrate contains powerful essential oils like wild orange, clove, cinnamon, rosemary, and eucalyptus. These oils are antimicrobial, antiviral, and antibacterial, yet they are gentle and nontoxic to use, making this concentrate an ideal choice for cleaning your home! And it smells incredible!
Essential Oils
Essential oils are the perfect, nontoxic, plant-based solutions to add to your natural cleaning supplies! Many oils are naturally antimicrobial and antibacterial, which makes them a great choice for keeping your home clean and germ-free. From diffusing them to adding them to your DIY cleaning sprays and scrubs, there are so many ways to use them! Some of my favorites include lemon, lavender, peppermint, wild orange, OnGuard Blend, grapefruit, lemongrass, and Purify Blend.
From these 4 main ingredients, you can make all kinds of homemade cleaning recipes! And you can feel good knowing these cleaners are safe, nontoxic and effective!
Need help coming up with DIY recipes? I’ve got you covered! Click below for my FREE The Essentially Clean Home Ebook with over 25 incredible, non-toxic, essential oil cleaning recipes to clean every room of your home! Your house can be clean and smell incredible without the use of toxic chemicals!
