In addition to what you put in your body, what you use in your home can really be toxic. So today I am sharing some great natural homemade cleaners to detoxify your home.
I often write about food issues and eliminating additives and other problematic ingredients in processed foods. I've written about making your own spice mixes, and homemade salad dressings.
And last month I wrote "Is Your Shampoo Making You Sick?" about toxins in hair products.
I'm sure that gave you something to think about regarding what you are putting on your body.
Today, I'm sharing some ways you can clean up your home for better health.
When you use toxic chemicals and fragrances to clean your home, you and your family could very well end up breathing toxic fumes that not only could end up making you sick, but contribute to polluting the environment as well.
Some possible bad effects from chemicals that are likely lurking in your home cleaning products:
- eczema and other rashes - irritants in cleaners can cause skin irritation
- airway irritation - fumes can make allergies or asthma worse
- eye irritation
- poisoning - using non-toxic cleaners can seriously reduce the risk of poisoning
I've never used many chemical-laden cleaners in our home, but there are a few that have been hard to let go of.
But I've really been working to make more DIY versions of things I need around the house.
Here are some products I've made and some great non-toxic cleaners from some blogging friends of mine (and some from me).
Non-toxic Homemade Cleaners
No Streak Glass Cleaner
I LOVE this cleaner. My son actually totes the spray bottle around the house asking what he can clean next :)!
Homemade Oxy Clean
Too bad I have a huge box of OxyClean from Costco. I won't be needing to make this for a loooog time.
Homemade Baby Laundry Detergent
Homemade Soft Scrub | Shower Cleaner
Another one of those posts that I needed to write after making a big mistake.
Homemade Disinfecting Wipes
What a great idea! I love how these are reusable.
Natural Scented Room Spray
I love this. I was working on a natural air freshener just this past month! Ditch the chemical sprays and try this instead.
Oven Cleaner
My sons have been asking about how to clean our oven. Time to try this! I would LOVE my oven to look like this.
Homemade Produce Wash
I always wonder if any produce wash really works. What do you think?
Non-Toxic Pest Control
Pests are---well, pests. Learn why a plastic bag will help keep flies away. Really?
I like Laurie's solution for fruit flies. It's very similar to this fruit fly trap that worked great for getting rid of our fruit fly problem this past summer.
Natural Dishwasher Rinse Aid
Lots of discussion about whether you should use this or not, but it works!
Homemade Laundry Detergent
Carpet Cleaner
Got a mess on your carpet or walls? Hilary has some solutions for you.
Laundry Stain Remover
I have a laundry stain remover that works pretty well, but I still have to dig up the recipe. For now, try this one.
Orange Power Cleaner
I love not throwing things away. Here is a great way to use up citrus peels!
Natural Cleaning Paste
This cleaning paste works great for all kinds of surfaces.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Cleaning toilets is one of my least favorite activities. Hilary at least makes it a non-toxic job. I'm working on a heavy duty solution myself that I hope to share soon.
Simple Carpet Freshener
Carpet fresheners are one of those things that have super-toxic perfumes in them. Try this instead!
Burnt Pots and Pans Cleaner
Got distracted and found yourself with a burned on mess? Andrea has the solution for you that just might have you cleaning all your pots to see how good they can look!
Where to Buy Ingredients for Homemade Cleaners
Most of the ingredients in these DIY recipes you can easily find in your local grocery store.
For essential oils, I highly recommend buying only pure quality essential oils. You can read my Best Essential Oils series to find out what company I chose and why.
I hope these suggestions help move you on the way to a less toxic home and a healthier life. I know I plan to try many of these solutions and share how they work in my home.
Which of the Homemade Cleaners will you try first?
What do you think of buying a cheaper brand, mountain rose, aura cacia, etc. For household cleaning instead of using the more expensive oils?
I think you have to ask if you are OK with potentially having synthetic chemicals and/or toxins in your cleaning products and then choose your essential oils accordingly. Some adulterants aren't toxic. Others are. I hope to write more on this in the near future. Thanks for reading.
Useful homemade list. I am interested in Orange Power Cleaner, I will try to do
hi, i love your blog and use it as a dependable source for all the natural living ideas out there. am wondering if you have a recipe for a dishwashing detergent? thanks so much.
No - it has eluded me and my dishwasher is broken. Sigh. Sorry for the delay.
Sorry, but it has eluded me. And now my dishwasher is broken. Has been for months. Boo.
Thanks for sharing the things for natural green cleaning. I will help us to avoid harmful chemicals and use home made things for cleaning.
Hi there!
You mentioned you were looking for a natural and safe laundry detergent! I use an Ecosense line that I love... It extends to majority of the cleaning supplies you make without the hassle of having to make them (no offense, we are just busy and lazy). Anyway, the laundry line did not cause any rashes on either of my babies and the products are ph balanced and have no caustic ingredients! Best part, it is $9 cheaper for 96 loads than the crap at the grocery store. I'd be glad to share but don't know the rules out here...
I don't mind sharing. I just think that doing DIY is much more economical typically. One concern I have about Ecosense (the Melaleuca line) is the added fragrance. That is something I almost always need to steer clear of. Maybe it's an OK fragrance in this case but I typically can't handle them. Thanks.