I started making the switch to non-toxic cleaners a few years back, after learning that many household products contain harmful chemicals and hormone-mimicking compounds. As of today, I do the majority of my cleaning with a few main ingredients:
Vinegar
Baking soda
Essential Oils
The majority of the recipes listed below, I learned from Ashlee Piper’s book, Give A Sh*t. It’s a book focusing on sustainability and I highly recommend reading it. I have found the cleaners in this book super simple and they work really well. A lot of the times when switching to ‘natural’ products, you think you need to compromise on quality or efficiency, but you don’t. These products work just as well as store-bought brands and they are simple, quick to make, cheap and free of chemicals.
When considering what to swap out first, I find it useful to think about what is in contact with your body the most. For instance, clothing will be in direct contact with your skin for hours each day, so laundry would be of high importance. Same goes for kitchen counters.
Multi-Purpose Spray
+ 2 tbsp vinegar
+ 2 tsp sals suds
+ 2 cups water
+ 15 drops lemon essential oil
Combine all ingredients into a glass jar with a spray top. I use this most often for counter tops, stove, sink, etc.
Laundry
Laundry was an easy swap for me, but it’s something Andy still has some trouble adjusting to. You need to rethink how your clean clothes should smell. That ‘clean clothes smell’ is really just chemicals that have leeched into your clothing and when you wear clothes all day long, they can also seep into your skin.
+ 1 tbsp Sal’s Suds
or
+ 1 cup homemade washing soda
+ 1 cup borax
+ 1 bar tea tree Castile soap
+ 20 plus drops lavender oil
+ 10 plus drops tea tree oil
Directions: For the washing soda, bake baking soda at 400F. Cut the soap into fine pieces and combine all ingredients in a high-speed blender. Pulse until a fine powder is achieved. Add 1-2 tbsp to your wash per load.
For our laundry, we usually wash with about 1 tbsp of Sal’s suds and dry without dryer sheets. I’ve been wanting to try dryer balls with essential oils but just haven’t gotten around to it or really felt the need for it. When wanting a bit more of a scent, we use the powder detergent, which is typically for our towels and our bedding.
For stain removing, I use Puracy and it’s hands down the best stain remover I have ever used.
Dish Soap
+Sal’s Suds
A little bit of Sal’s Suds goes a long way. I think my favorite thing is how versatile it is. It can be used to wash the dishes, do the laundry and make an all-purpose cleaning spray. It can be diluted 1/2 cup to a quart of water, if preferred, but I tend to just add some to my sponge before doing the dishes. It might go a longer way if pre-diluted. For hand soap, I also use Dr. Bronner’s but I prefer the scented bar soap.
Shower Cleaner
+ Baking Soda
+ Lemon Essential Oil
I usually shake some baking soda over the base of the tub and then add some drops of lemon essential oil to the baking soda. It will create a sort of paste-like cleaner. Scrub the area and it works as a good de-grimer. Use as much as necessary.
I’ve also used Branch Basics and I loved it - it made cleaning the bathroom easy. Being totally honest, the only reason I didn’t repurchase was price. I do think it’s worth the money, but using baking soda and essential oil is a pretty close second for much less money.
Windows and Mirrors
+ Vinegar
Pour some vinegar into a spray bottle (I upcycled an old hair product bottle that had a spray top). It looks a little foggy at first, but keep wiping and soon it will look crystal clear.
Essential Oils
My favorite oils are lemon, lavender, tea tree and eucalyptus. I have a few others but these are my most often used. The brand I usually purchase is Aura Cacia, but brands like Mountain Rose Herbs, Saje and Young Living are also high-quality.
I diffuse oils throughout my house instead of candles, it refreshens any space. For the bedroom, I typically diffuse lavender and eucalyptus for relaxation. For the kitchen and living room, I diffuse lemon or a lemon blend for a clean, energizing scent. I am looking into getting a second diffuser, but I currently use this diffuser and move it from room to room based on necessity.
Etc., etc.
Other brands I use or have used are Seventh Generation, Branch Basics and The Honest Company. EWG is a helpful website to determine if a brand is clean or not. Enter the brand into the search bar and a ranking between A - F will appear, A being the cleanest and F being the most harmful. This comes in handy when trying a new product or looking for a new one.
Any questions, leave in the comments below!