For the last 10 years, I've kept a "green" home. I don't use any toxic cleaners.
They are not only poisonous and expensive but they dull the senses to real smells and can w
reak havoc on the body. Especially little bodies. It's so super easy to eliminate anything toxic in cleaning house. And you don't have to spend a fortune buying "All Natural Products" either. Baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, tea tree oil, lavendar and hydrogen peroxide are all you really need. It really bums me out that there's a whole new generation who thinks CLEAN smells like Febreez. Even more depressing is how they can't feel what it's doing to their bodies.
Tea tree oil is an essential oil with a distinctive smell (read: some people don't like the smell). It has amazing antiseptic properties. It can be used directly on scrapes and small cuts. Adding a few drops to any surface you are cleaning will disinfect just as well as any other cleaner. This is a great oil to use when cleaning toilets and/or little potties. Many parents report skin rashes that end up being from using harsh disinfectants on the potty chair.
Baking soda and vinegar are a great combo for neutralizing smells. I used to use them to clean out sippy cups that had gotten funky. They will eliminate almost any odor. You can spread some baking soda on your carpet, leave it for a while and then vacuum it up. This dynamic duo is awesome for laundry. I used to use both when I was cloth diapering. The diapers came out sparkling white and didn't have any odor; neither from poop or laundry detergent. What's the use of cloth diapering if you're going to use chemicals on something so close to your baby's skin? An interesting side note I heard a while back: all laundry detergent is a sham. Modern washing machines work so effectively that your clothes will actually come out clean even if you don't use any.
Baking soda and vinegar are also a replacement for Comet or other abrasive cleaners with none of that powder residue that get in the air (lungs). The two combined with lemon juice leave a nice smell behind and the lemon juice can whiten porcelain sinks and tubs.
Vinegar alone can replace Windex. It's great for mirrors and windows. You do want to use newspaper instead of paper towels; it doesn't leave streaks.
Baking soda is also good as a toothpaste. You can rinse with peroxide for a whitening effect. Rinsing with peroxide can also help if you have a bad or sore tooth and can't make it to the dentist. Or you didn't have dental insurance for ten years….not that I'd know anything about that. There's a lot of hullabaloo on whether fluoride is good for you. I'm going to stay out of that mix for our purposes here.
I throw some baking soda into the toilet before I scrub it out. Here's one thing I've NEVER understood. Why do they even SELL a disinfectant for the INSIDE of the toilet? No one in my family drinks from it or washes their hands in it. Total scam.
Commercially manufactured "air fresheners" just freak me the hell out. I think they are super weird in the bathroom, where people are so embarrassed by the smell of their poop that they spray a noxious fume in a tiny, enclosed space. It's only poop and you did it in the right room, which is after all, designated for just that purpose. Keep a good ole pack of matches in there for guests.
That being said, I do like the house to smell fresh and clean and peaceful. I use all manner of essential oils. They not only smell good but most have disinfectant properties. Lavender and eucalyptus are personal favorites. Just go get a spritzer from the dollar store or Whole Foods or wherever and fill it with water and as many drop of essential oils as you want. The more drops, the stronger the scent. I use Lavender in my son's room as it's calming. Eucalyptus is great in the winter; gives the whole house that Vicks Vapor Rub feeling. Btw: you can use a few drop on your kid's chest when they are congested. Go look at some essential oils and see what appeals to you. Peppermint and spearmint are also yummy. I really like cleaning the air in the house, especially when we're cooped up during the winter months.
There's really no reason to keep buying commercial cleaners for your home. They erode the environment, your body and your wallet.
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