Switch to Safe Household Cleaners
How often do you read the ingredients listed on your household cleaners? If you haven’t already made a habit out of this, now is the time to start paying attention as many store-bought household cleaners contain harmful toxins such as phthalates, ammonia, and chlorine. When exposed to these toxins on a routine basis, you could experience anything from frequent headaches and rashes to difficulty with breathing.
Glass Cleaner
Household glass cleaners often contain 2-butoxyethanol which belongs to the glycol family and is what gives the product a “fresh” smell.
Try this instead:
- 1/2 cup white or cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (70% concentration)
- 1 to 2 drops of orange essential oil, which gives the solution a lovely smell (optional)
Tip: Don’t clean your windows when it is hot and sunny outside; this will cause the solution to dry too quickly, leaving streaks on your windows.
Bathroom Cleaner
Chlorine, ammonia, and phthalates are all common ingredients found in bathroom cleaners.
Try this toilet cleaner instead:
- 1/2 cup of baking soda
- 1/4 cup of vinegar
- 10 drops of tea tree essential oil
Try this bathtub & shower cleaner instead:
- 1 part vinegar
- 1 part water
- A couple of drops of essential oil of your choosing
Bathroom stains can be some of the toughest to get rid of, but we guarantee it’s no match to vinegar. For scum or grime, you’ll want to let the vinegar mixture sit for 30 minutes and then scrub.
Countertop Cleaner
Just like glass cleaners, many multi-purpose cleaners also contain the ingredient 2-butoxyethanol.
Try this instead:
- 1 part water
- 1 part vinegar (or rubbing alcohol if you have granite, marble, or stone countertops)
This cleaner is also good for ovens. Simply heat your oven to 125 degrees; once the oven is warm, spray your water and vinegar mixture until the oven is lightly damp. Then pour salt onto the affected areas. Turn your oven off and let it cool. Use a damp towel and get to scrubbing.
Hand Soap
Many anti-bacterial soaps contain the ingredient triclosan, a powerful anti-bacterial agent.
Try this instead:
- Liquid Castille soap
- Water
- Essential oil of your choice
Fill your bottle with 1/5 Castille soap and top it off with water. Add essential oil drops for scent.