Using non toxic cleaning products is a great way to improve the air quality in your home. Sadly most commercially made cleaners are loaded with fragrance and chemicals that are known carcinogens and neurotoxins. These chemicals can contribute to respiratory problems, cause headaches, sore throat and other allergic reactions.
Switching from commercial products loaded with toxins to non toxic homemade cleaners is so much easier than you may realize. It’s good for your wallet, your health and the planet.
If you’ve decided that you’d like to remove toxic chemicals from your home, but are unsure of where to begin, this article offers easy to make recipes with ingredients from your kitchen pantry.
Just remember to label all of your products and as with any cleaning product, keep out of reach of children and pets.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
This two ingredient recipe will help to disinfect and clean your toilet.
1 cup baking soda
2 cups white vinegar
Pour the baking soda into the toilet, follow with the vinegar. The combination will bubble and fizz. When the bubbling subsides, scrub your toilet with a toilet brush and flush.
Sink and Tub Scrub
This recipe is a great, natural way to keep sinks and tubs clean.
1 cup baking soda
½ cup castile soap
3-4 drops tea tree or peppermint essential oil (optional)
Place the baking soda in a bowl. Slowly add the soap until the mixture thickens. Add in a few drops of tea tree or peppermint essential oil. Scoop the mixture onto a sponge or damp cloth and give your bathtub and sinks a good scrubbing.
All-Purpose Spray
This spray can be used on just about anything. Caution: Vinegar-based cleaners are not recommended for use on specialty stone counters such as marble, granite, travertine, etc.
1 cup white vinegar
2 cups water
1 tablespoon castile soap
3-4 drops essential oil of your choice (optional)
Combine all of the ingredients in a spray bottle. Be sure to label. Spray on any areas that need a good cleaning. The vinegar, which is antibacterial, will help remove mildew and mold.
Drain Cleaner
Used on a regular basis (1-2 times a month for heavily used sinks) this two ingredient recipe will keep your sink drain flowing freely. In addition, this recipe can also work on clogged drains.
½ cup baking soda
½ cup white vinegar
Gallon of hot water
Pour the baking soda down the drain, follow it with the vinegar. Let it fizz for 10 minutes then pour a gallon of boiling water down the drain. Repeat with more water if necessary. If the clog persists, use a drain snake from a hardware store.
Glass & Mirror Cleaner
Chemical-based glass and mirror cleaning products traditionally use ammonia, a chemical that is harsh on the respiratory system. This simple recipe is effective and streak-free.
Newspaper
Spritz some white vinegar on a mirror and wipe with a crumpled newspaper until clean.
Glass & Mirror Cleaner 2
2 cups water
¼ cup rubbing alcohol
¼ cup white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
10 drops of essential oil of choice (optional)
Add all of the above ingredients to the bottle. Spray and wipe with microfiber cloth, cotton cloths leave streaks.
Carpet Cleaner
If you have a tough grease or dirt stain on your carpet try this recipe in your steam cleaner.
3/4 C hot water
1/3 C. white vinegar
1 Tbsp. hydrogen peroxide-OMIT THIS FOR DARK COLORED CARPETS OR RUGS
1 Tbsp. castile soap
1 Tbsp. powdered citric acid
20 drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Pour liquid into your steam cleaner to clean your carpet, and follow directions for regular use.
Oven Cleaner
This is my only oven cleaner and I have used it for years. It works best when used overnight.
Water
Make a thick spreadable paste with baking soda and water, set aside while you get the oven ready.
Remove oven racks from oven. Using a wet sponge apply paste to both sides of oven racks and leave on counter overnight.
Wipe down oven with water and remove any crumbs. Using a wet sponge apply paste on interior of oven. Allow to sit overnight. The next morning wipe down the interior with water. It will need to be rinsed two or three times to completely remove the baking soda. Redo any spots that have burnt on spills….these may require more elbow grease.
Use a green scrubby if needed to scrub off any food spills on the oven racks, rinse and replace racks in oven when dried.
Do not apply baking soda to the heating elements.
