How to Clean House by Replacing Household Chemicals with Green Cleaners
Are you in full spring-cleaning mode, yet? I absolutely love this time of year — out with the old, in with the new.
Tidying up your home and your life can breathe such a breath of fresh air into your life. One important aspect of cleaning is the household cleaners you use, and I wanted to share some of my favorite information with you today about how to choose healthier versions.
These chemical-laden household cleaners can make it hard for us to breathe, cause our eyes to water, or even lead to health concerns we certainly want to bypass. These damaging chemicals are found in everything from your fabric softener that gets clothes feeling snuggly to your soap-scum remover and everything in between.
The smell-good factor is what causes a lot of the problem. Chemical cleaner manufacturers want us to feel like our homes are fresh like lemons, but they’re still loaded with chemical agents we release into our homes with every scrubbing. Go look at your cleaning products and read the ingredients. Do you see DEA or TEA? These ingredients, among many others, are actually carcinogenic and should be avoided.
What You Should Look for Instead
If you must buy cleaners to clean your home, take a look at the labels. If it says “danger,” “caution,” or “warning” on it, it’s best to keep walking. Choosing non-toxic cleaners is always best for your home and your health.
Another great option is to go with plant-based formulations over petroleum-based. Don’t fall for terms like “natural” or “eco-friendly” though. You should keep reading the packaging to be sure those claims are legitimate. If it contains “solvent-free,” “no phosphates,” or “no petroleum-based ingredients” on the packaging, it’s a much safer and greener choice.
Clean Even Better
If that sounds overly complex, well, it can be! You can simplify cleaning by making your own chemical-free cleaners that are eco-friendly and safe to use with ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen right now. You just need BPA-free containers to store them, and you’re all set.
Baking soda, lemon juice, and vinegar are some of the common cleaners you can use in your home for a glistening, grease-free clean without causing damage to your health or the environment.
Here are a few to try!
1. All-Purpose Cleaner
Mix one part white vinegar with one part water and a lemon rind. Shake it all together in a spray bottle and allow this mixture to infuse together for a week first. This one is great for getting stubborn stains off surfaces.
2. Kitchen Cleaner
Take grease out of your way by mixing 4 tablespoons of baking soda with a quart of warm water. If you hate cleaning that fridge out, this one makes it easy and takes all smells away.
3. Super Scrub
Stubborn rust stains can be removed by simply cutting a lemon in half and dipping it into borax powder. Use the lemon to scrub, dipping it into the borax as needed. This is great for all surfaces except granite and marble.
By using safe cleaners in your home, you’ll have a fresher spring-cleaned home you’ll genuinely enjoy without any dangerous toxins lingering behind!
I moved away from all chemicals in my home last year when my hormones started to dysregulate. Honestly, I was just too lazy to make my own cleaners. I found a better solution by cleaning with just water. I use Norwex products in my home now. They keep my home cleaner with WAY less effort. Check out the full line of products HERE.
If you are thinking about making a change – start with the Safe Haven 5 – these 5 products will clean 90% of your home chemical-FREE.
Read more about my chemical-free move HERE.