Cleaning your home with non-toxic products

General home cleaning with natural products

With many people being sent home to work from home, undergo quarantines, and more, we have an exceptional opportunity to do a good cleaning in our home, but without any toxins.

This time of year in the northern hemisphere is considered ideal for a body and home detox. Today, however, I am going to show you some excellent options for unloading your home of cleaning products with chemicals found in stores that, instead of cleaning and purifying, fill our homes with chemicals that we breathe and absorb through our skin.

There are several “natural” alternatives on the market that contain harmful ingredients. The fact that they put a “green” or “natural ingredients” label on them is often a marketing strategy, but nothing more, and that is not synonymous with being safe, healthy, or biodegradable.

We use a wide range of products to clean, shine, polish, scent, soften, etc. But while these products clean, disinfect, shine, and deodorize, they also contribute to what is called indoor pollution, are poisonous if ingested, and cause harm if inhaled or touched. ( 1 )

We are living in times when we also have to check the ingredients of household cleaning products. Although it is difficult because many of them do not even list the actual ingredients they contain, they only mention generalities such as cleaning agents (which ones?), enzymes (?), perfume, preservatives that are not specified.

What are the worst ingredients?

The worst thing a cleaning product can contain is a chemical suspected of being carcinogenic. Then there are those that interfere with the function of the endocrine system or that can cause reproductive problems, two serious things if you have small children in your house.

When typical household cleaning products like laundry detergents or all-purpose cleaners come into contact with your skin and lungs, they go directly into your bloodstream, passing through your liver and kidneys, which are your natural defense systems against toxins. Just one application of cleaner can leave harmful chemicals in your home's indoor air for hours.

It is recommended not to mix ammonia products with bleach. This mixture can cause extremely toxic fumes that can cause fainting in some people.

Other ingredients present in household cleaning products such as laundry detergents and even so-called “natural” or “green” or “bio” ones can create a toxic environment inside your home. Some of them are,

Glycol ethers : Used in paints, soaps, cosmetics, perfumes, and foods. Causes fatigue, lethargy, nausea, and possibly kidney and liver damage.

Phosphates : Although many laundry detergents have eliminated this ingredient, this is not the case with dishwasher detergents. It causes environmental damage.

Volatile organic compounds including 1,4-dichlorobenzene cause nose and throat irritation, dizziness and asthma.

Phthalates : cause reproductive damage, endocrine disruption, cancer and organ damage.

Ethoxylated nonphenol is an ingredient used in laundry detergents and cleaners and banned in European countries. Inhalation can cause pulmonary edema, which often becomes apparent after a few hours and is aggravated by physical exertion. It also disrupts endocrine mechanisms and is highly toxic to fish, other aquatic organisms and birds. ( study )

Petroleum solvents : commonly used in floor cleaning products. May damage mucous membranes. If inhaled or ingested long-term, they cause nausea, headache, dizziness, hives, mild breathing problems, thyroid disorders, and are suspected of having an increased risk of prostate cancer. ( report )

Perfumes : cause headaches, sinusitis and asthma

Formaldehyde : present in air fresheners. It is suspected to be a carcinogenic chemical.

Butyl cellosolve : Found in many cleaning products, it can damage the kidneys, bone marrow, liver and nervous system.

Chlorine : irritates skin, eyes and lungs.

Ethanolamines : irritates skin, eyes and lungs.

Sodium lauryl sulfate : irritates skin, eyes and is a potential carcinogen.

 

Non-toxic alternatives

Products that we have at home on a regular basis and that we use in the kitchen can clean just as well as the others and, in addition, they are not toxic. Some preparations require a little more work, but it is worth it and it is cheaper.

There are many non-toxic cleaning recipes that you can make that are as effective or even more effective than industrial ones when it comes to cleaning your home. Here are some articles that will allow you to prepare a wide variety of products free of dangerous and non-toxic chemicals, either individually or in combination with others. See for example that white vinegar mixed with hydrogen peroxide works exceptionally well as a disinfectant and antiseptic. But there is more:

Baking soda, white vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, liquid castile soap (made with pure olive oils and lately coconut oil), therapeutic essential oils, coconut oil, mixing bowl/bucket, spray bottles, vodka, microfiber cloths.

Baking soda

Below you will find several applications for baking soda that can be used to replace dangerous commercial products.

1. For scrubbing without scratching metals and porcelain .
2. To clean your oven . Sprinkle the contents of a cup or so over the bottom of the oven, then cover the baking soda with enough water to form a paste and leave it overnight. The next morning, the grease will be easily removed because all the globs will have been loosened. Once all the globs have been collected, pour some liquid soap onto a sponge and wash away the residue left in the oven.
3. To unclog drains . Pour 1/2-1 cup baking soda down the drain, then slowly pour in ½-1 cup white vinegar right after. Cover the drain and let sit for 15 minutes. If it foams up like a volcano, you've unclogged it. Next, pour in a gallon of boiling water.
4. To deodorize carpets . Sprinkle baking soda over the area you want to deodorize (I add a few drops of lavender essential oil to the baking soda or any other oil you like and then sprinkle). Leave it to sit for at least 15 minutes and then vacuum.
5. To clean silver objects . Boil water and pour it into a container/pot where you can submerge the object and add a teaspoon of salt, a teaspoon of baking soda and a sheet of aluminum foil. Submerge the silver object and boil for 2-3 more minutes. Remove the silver object from the container/pot and remove any tarnish with a cotton cloth.

Castile soap

This is a type of soap that is made from 100% plant oils, meaning it does not use animal products such as bait or chemicals.

It is often prepared with olive oil and recently with coconut oil, and don't be surprised by its cleansing and grease-removing qualities. There are several tutorials on how to prepare this soap, here is one,

Vinegar

Thanks to its acidity, vinegar is an ideal cleaning product, and it gently and effectively removes grease, soap residue and clumps of dirt.

Lemon juice

Pure lemon juice kills mold and mildew stains, cuts grease and shines hard surfaces leaving a citrus scent in its wake.

Olive oil

Olive oil is very healthy in your cooking (remember not to heat it), but it is also a great all-purpose cleaner and furniture polish. Keep that in mind.

Coconut oil and its many applications

Coconut oil is another very useful tool in home care and hygiene that can replace many commercial products. It is especially useful for cleaning, sanitizing and conditioning wooden objects, such as cutting boards and for polishing and shining furniture.

Plus, it's an item that can replace most, if not all, personal care and beauty products.

He quickly finds several interesting uses for this oil, which has a natural antiviral and antibacterial activity, and also provides hydration and conditioning of various materials such as wood, leather and metals:

1. Use as a metal polish. Test a small area first.
2. Moisturize and soften leather items in the same manner as you would use other leather treatments.
3. To coat your cast iron pots and pans, you can safely use coconut oil instead of corn oil or other oils.
4. As a lubricant for hinges and other squeaky mechanisms, coconut oil can replace the 3-in-1.
5. Coconut oil to clean your hands and paint brushes after using oil paints, instead of removers.
6. Coconut oil to clean and condition the interior of your car by adding a small amount to a lint-free cloth and wiping away any excess.
7. To clean and shine indoor plants, apply a little oil to a lint-free cloth.
8. For removing gum clumps anywhere, including carpet and hair.

Easy recipes with non-toxic substances for your home

In the bathroom :

To clean and deodorize the toilet bowl . Pour ½ cup of a mixture of baking soda and about 10 drops of tea tree or lemon essential oil into the toilet bowl, followed by ¼ cup of white vinegar. Scrub with the toilet brush.

Antibacterial disinfectant. Bathrooms can harbor all kinds of germs, but antibacterial products containing triclosan do more harm than good. For a homemade antibacterial solution, mix 2 cups of water with 3 tablespoons of castile soap.

Glass and mirror cleaner : Mix one part vinegar with four parts water. Add lemon juice for a citrusy scent. Lemon juice also provides grease-cutting power. Spray on mirror or glass and wipe with a sponge or cloth.

All-Purpose Tile Floor Cleaner : Mix one part vinegar to two parts warm water in a bucket. Scrub as usual, either with a mop or a cloth. No rinsing is necessary .

In the kitchen :

As an all-purpose cleaner . Mix equal parts vinegar and water, plus a few drops of essential oil—again, lemon and tea work well with these mixtures. Spray kitchen countertops and other surfaces; then wipe with a cloth. For stone countertops, use alcohol or vodka with water, as vinegar can damage some surfaces such as granite or marble.

Cutting boards . All you need to clean and sanitize your cutting boards (whether wood or plastic) is a lemon. Cut it in half and scrub the entire surface with it, let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse. If you need more abrasive action, sprinkle some crystal salt on the board and then scrub with half a lemon.

 

Laundry:

Fabric softener. Add 20-30 drops of essential oil of the desired scent to a jug with 4 liters of white vinegar. Add 1/3 cup to each load of laundry (shake before use).

Laundry Deodorizer . Make a muslin bag and fill it with your favorite herbs (lavender, mint, spearmint, or any other aromatic herb of your choice). Place it in the dryer while drying clothes. Another alternative is to put a few drops of essential oil on a piece of lint-free cloth.

Bleach. Add a little lemon juice to the rinse cycle.

Multipurpose Furniture Polish: Combine ¼ cup vinegar with ¾ cup olive oil. Spread over the furniture using a soft, lint-free cloth. For wood furniture , mix ¼ cup lemon juice with ½ cup olive oil and follow the same procedure as above. You can add a few drops of lavender, cedar or white fir essential oil for aromatization. Another alternative is to use coconut oil alone for the same purpose. In all situations, test the mixture on a small area first .

Dare to try a new way to clean your home without toxins

Don't be fooled by misleading "natural" labels or unspecified ingredients in your supposedly environmentally friendly cleaning products. The toxic elements listed above are present in most commercial cleaning products and many of them are very harmful to our health and that of our families. We are beginning to see unexplained illnesses such as cancer, infertility and difficulties conceiving, as well as neurological disorders, learning disabilities and autism in children.

The World Health Organization has considered that many of these diseases are linked to environmental causes ( WHO ). Many of the ingredients present in cleaning products are part of the possible causes. Fortunately, we have alternatives that also have affordable prices and that you can scent to your liking with essential oils of the best quality and safety for you and your family.

Remember to follow the protocol to prevent COVID-19 here