Good Day!! I get many requests asking about various things – one of the most popular is “How do you clean your house if you don’t use any chemicals?” My first response is, “How do you think people cleaned their homes before the onset of chemical cleaners?”
Why is this important? Chemicals breakdown your immune system and weaken your health. Chemicals are everywhere – the carpet you walk on, the grass you walk through, the tools you use to clean your home.
Are natural cleaners as effective as chemical cleaners? Yes! Many chemical cleaners actually are reduced in efficacy the more they are used. Just like certain medications – over time more must be consumed / used in order to work.
Are there natural cleaning brands I can purchase? Yes! There are several out there. I use Mrs. Meyer’s. There are also Force Of Nature, Dr Bronner’s, among others.
LAUNDRY
Many chemicals used for laundry do one of two things – bleach or add scents. Natural cleaners remove toxins rather than mask scents and gently remove stains. The chemicals used to add long lasting scents are extremely toxic and carcinogenic. Additionally, natural cleaners are much more gentle on your clothing.
– Colloidal Silver – 1/2 cup per load. This will remove toxins and odors from clothing.
– Vinegar – 1/2 cup per load // 1/2 cup per load during last rinse cycle. Whitens clothing when mixed with baking soda. It also softens clothing.
– Baking Soda // Borax – 1/2 cup per load. Helps whiten clothing when mixed with vinegar. Removes certain stains.
– Lemon Juice – 1/2 cup per load during last rinse cycle. Helps whiten clothing. Do not mix with chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide.
– Wool Dryer Balls – Reduce wrinkles, soften clothes without leaving residue behind, and reduce drying time which saving energy. They’ll also outlast the life of your dryer. You can drop organic essential oils on the balls to add a pleasant scent to your laundry.
– Natural Stain Removers – There are plenty of different types of stains that we use chemicals to remove from our clothing. This link shows 7 natural stain removers.
– Natural Bug Repellent – In certain parts of the US there are many bugs that either latch onto you while you are outdoors or find ways into your home. Use the recipe below and add 3 tablespoons to your final rinse to kill / repel any bugs. This can also be sprayed on people and pets before going outdoors to repel any bugs.
— 32 ounce container
— 40 drops organic eucalyptus oil
— 15 drops organic lemongrass oil
Shake well before using.
BATHROOM
The bathroom, for most, is the least favorite room to clean in the house. Most people use very harsh chemicals and wear gloves. There are better ways that don’t cause such stresses on your immune system. The same natural cleaners for your laundry transfer to the bathroom, just used differently.
– Shower – Soap Scum – in a small bowl pour baking soda and add a bit of water. Use a brush to scrub your shower walls / glass doors. In a spray bottle pour 1/3 vinegar and remaining 2/3 water. Shake well. Spray over the area that you scrubbed with the baking soda. Use the brush and scrub again. Rinse. Do this at least once a week to keep your shower clean.
– Shower – Soap Scum – another option if you have a grapefruit available. Take half a grapefruit and pour a layer of table salt on top. Rub the grapefruit on the affected areas until you see the soap scum start to lift. The grapefruit’s citric acid and the coarseness of the salt work together to breakdown the stubborn scum.
– Mirrors / Countertops – In a spray bottle pour 1/3 vinegar and remaining 2/3 water. Use to disinfect your countertops and clean your mirrors. The mild acidity of the vinegar will remove mold and mildew build up. Just spray the area with some vinegar, let it dry, spray one more time, and then wipe it clean.
– Floors – There are several natural soaps that you can use on your floors to remove the grime – Felsnaptha is one of the best. Use as directed. For wood floors – Murphy’s Oil Soap works wonderfully. To disinfect tile and stone floors, mix 1/3 vinegar with 2/3 warm water and mop.
– Toilet Bowl – This link provides you with a recipe for an excellent natural toilet bowl cleaner.
KITCHEN
Your kitchen is home to the most dangerous germs and is typically dirtier than your bathroom.. I know.. not a pleasant thought.
– The same cleaners for the other parts of your home will work in your kitchen. To use as a disinfectant you need to let the vinegar dry naturally and then use a second time to remove all. This link provides a list of 11 additional natural cleaners for your kitchen.
Last thoughts. Most people turn up their noses to vinegar. It has a strong odor, yes. But once it is dry, there is none. You will not smell it on your clothes, nor in the rooms you clean with it. It is one of the best cleaners available to you. Hydrogen peroxide is also a wonderful disinfectant – I struggle with it as it prunes my fingers and leaves a residue. If you are interested in more options because there are many… do a search for natural cleaners for xxx room.
Next post will cover natural body cleaners and the dangers of non-organic products.
Blessings – and happy cleaning! E