Clean cleaning products? What on Earth does that even mean? Shouldn’t cleaning product, by default, be clean? I’m sorry to tell you, my friends, that many cleaning products are anything but clean. Sure, they’ll remove the grime from your bathroom and make the windows shine. But they come at a cost to your health, your children, and the planet. Toxin-free cleaning doesn’t have to be complicated.
This article from the Cleveland clinic does an incredible job explaining some of the risks associated with exposure to certain chemicals such as ammonia, ethylene glycol monobutyl acetate, sodium hypochlorite, and/or trisodium phosphate in all-purpose cleansers which are toxic to humans, and animals. U.C. Berkley recently found that use of cleaning products, in an average home according to recommended use could result in excessive, and dangerous levels, of chemicals. It also found some common cleaning products are only safe when/ used diluted as opposed to full strength.
Clean Up Your Cleaning- Tips for Toxin-Free Cleaning
Cleaning day shouldn’t result in you needing a detox to recover from chemical exposure. Swapping to eco-friendly alternatives not only helps your health & the Earth but saves you big bucks too. Isn’t it nice how often the natural alternative is also a cost saver?
Many DIY options exist as well. It’s worth being aware that for some chemically sensitive individuals and people prone to respiratory problems, vinegar, and essential oils can be problematic.
Instead Of…. Try…
Window cleaner with sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, lauramine oxide…. Vinegar or a mixture of baking soda and castile soap
Toilet bowl scrub with hydrochloric acid and bleach… borax, baking soda or vinegar
Surface disinfectant with alcohol or chlorine dioxide… properly diluted essential oils or boiling water with baking soda
Bathroom cleaner with Sodium Hypochlorite and bleach… baking soda and/ or vinegar with water
Stainless steel cleaner with phosphoric acid and alcohol… diluted vinegar or water
Paper towels… reusable cleaning cloths
We’ll look at laundry and dishwashing toxin-free cleaning alternatives in a future post. Make sure to subscribe to our blog feed so you don’t miss a post.
Get more green cleaning tips from these posts-
Not-Quite-Spring Cleaning with Homemade Cleaning Products
Spring Clean Your Home for a Healthier Family
Tips for Zero Waste Cleaning
About the Author:
Aman
da and her family live in a renovated sustainable & toxin-free Airstream travel trailer in Washington. When she’s not homeschooling or enjoying the mountains, she blogs about their adventures & her recovery from multiple autoimmune diseases and toxic mold poisoning at Treehousedaily.com
