Many schools, day care centers, hospitals, hotels, stores, and restaurants use very toxic cleaning chemicals. Institutional strength products are even more toxic than those intended for home use. While we do not have control over what these institutions use in their cleaning protocol, you can control what we use and are exposed to in our homes.
In previous blog posts I have addressed the toxicity of common household cleaning products. In this post , I will provide you with a few ideas of simple, inexpensive cleaning products that are simple to make from products that you may already have in your kitchen.
My favorite cleaning product is vinegar. I buy food-grade vinegar in gallon or gallon and a half sized bottles. If there is a generic or store brand available I will buy that. I use white vinegar full strength to clean toilets and I dilute it as an all purpose cleaner for laminate, ceramic, wood, marble and porcelain floors, counters, and windows.
The dilution I use is one-part vinegar to two or three parts water. Check around the house to see if you have an empty spray bottle with a trigger type top. If not, go to Home Depot, Target, or other local store and pick up a 32 ounce spray bottle.
Rinse the bottle to make sure it is clean. Add vinegar until the bottle is 1/3 to ½ full. Fill the rest of the way with tap water. It is a very forgiving mixture, so no need to be concerned about exact measurements. This can be used on most surfaces as an all-purpose cleaner. It is safe, effective, and inexpensive. You can even add a few drops of an essential oil if you prefer a scented product.
Baking soda is another great cleaning product. You can make a paste with baking soda and water to scrub ovens and stains in toilets. It can be used to create a grit to help create a bit of abrasiveness where you may need a scrub. Of course, always test a small area to be sure that it will not damage a surface. Baking soda can often even be used on metals without scratching. It works well to put it in a sprinkle jar, such as a Parmesan cheese container, which has a lid with holes and also closes. Be sure to label the container appropriately.
Fluoride free toothpaste can be used to polish silver. Test it on a small area first. There are many great recipes for non-toxic cleaning alternatives. Once you use them, you won’t go back.
