The amount of chemicals we use to clean our homes each day is detrimental to the health of our families. Toxic residues remain on the surfaces that we clean that can be absorbed by the skin on contact, ingested or inhaled. 'Cleaning Yourself To Death' is an informative book on the subject by Irish author Pat Thomas.
Here are some alternative 'traditional' cleaning recipes to help you live in a safer home environment. There are 3 basic ingredients required to make most household cleaners: baking soda, vinegar and natural liquid soap. To these you can add organic essential oils to add the scent you desire. When making your own non toxic natural cleaners reuse existing plastic bottles and spray bottles. This way you are helping reduce the rediculous amount of plastic bottles we bring into our homes and send for recycling. Recycling still uses carbon energy in making new products. You can buy your stock of natural liquid soaps eg. Ecover from Big Green Smile (free delivery to your door in Ireland for bulk orders over €90 - enough ingredients for over a year plus gifts of your homemade non toxic cleaners for friends and family - or why not pool together with your family and friends to bulk order and start a local eco cleaning group?).
Non Toxic All-Purpose Cleaner 8 cups of water 1/2 cup white vinegar 1/4 baking soda Mix in a spray bottle. Good for hard water stains. Can be stored for later use.
Disinfectant All-Purpose Cleaner 2 cups water 3 drops Castile soap 30 drops lavender essential oil Mix in spray bottle. Use on any surface (countertop, toilet, tile, kid's room).
Glass Cleaner 1 1/2 to 2 cups water 1/2 cup white vinegar 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (70 percent) 1 to 2 drops essential oil Mix in spray bottle. Use to clean all glass surfaces or mirrors. Use newspaper instead of paper towels if possible.
Oven/Stove Cleaner 1 Tbsp. water 2 Tbsp. baking soda Mix ingredients in bowl or jar. Apply paste to spill spots. Let sit for two hours. Wipe up with sponge or scrub with old toothbrush.
Toilet Cleaner 1 cup white vinegar 1/4 cup baking soda Mix ingredients in bowl or jar. Pour into toilet. After three minutes, scrub with brush and flush.
Bathroom Cleaner 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide Mix in spray bottle. Spray on areas with mold and leave on for at least an hour before rinsing.
Soap Scum 1/4 cup water 1/2 cup baking soda Mix ingredients to make paste. Use to scour away soap scum with clean sponge, cloth or bristle brush.
Drain Cleaner 8 cups water 1 cup white vinegar 1 cup baking soda Pour baking soda down the drain followed by the vinegar. Let sit for five minutes. Flush down with near-boiling water.
Carpet Stain Remover 1/4 cup white vinegar 1/4 borax 1/4 cup salt Mix in bowl or jar. Rub paste into carpet and let dry. Then vacuum.
Carpet Deodourizers 1 cup white vinegar 1/4 cup dried herbs (lavender, basil or rosemary) Mix ingredients in flour sifter and sprinkle around room. Vacuum after 30 minutes.
Wood Furniture Polish 2 tbsp. borax 1/4 cup lemon juice Mix and apply to clean cotton cloth. Use wide strokes to polish wood surface.
Fabric Softener 1/2 cup white vinegar Add to rinse cycle in place of liquid fabric softener.
The following video shows 3 simple cleaners that can be made in less than five minutes: a kitchen and bathroom scrub cleaner, a window cleaner and a floor cleaner. Help clean the planet by starting in your home. You will save lots of money making your own cleaners too. Eco-logical and economical :-)
