I am wanting to convert my household to be completely free of chemicals and toxins. Including baby products, cleaning and laundry products. I would really love some homemade solutions or even all natural products that are available on the market. Please help. I hope to have converted my house hold within 3 months.
There are plenty of things you can do to reduce the chemical footprint in your home. You can start by making your own all natural solutions:
Vinegar, baking soda, and lemons all have natural cleaning powers that rival manufactured cleaning solutions. They are easy and safe to use, and can often clean for much less money than other cleaning products on the market.
Vinegar naturally cleans like an all-purpose cleaner. Mix a solution of 1 part water to 1 part vinegar in a new store bought spray bottle and you have a solution that will clean most areas of your home. Vinegar is a great natural cleaning product as well as a disinfectant and deodorizer. Always test on an inconspicuous area. It is safe to use on most surfaces and has the added bonus of being incredibly cheap. Improperly diluted vinegar is acidic and can eat away at tile grout. Never use vinegar on marble surfaces. Don’t worry about your home smelling like vinegar. The smell disappears when it dries. Here are some uses for vinegar in the rooms of your house. Use it in the…
Bathroom – Clean the bathtub, toilet, sink, and countertops. Use pure vinegar in the toilet bowl to get rid of rings. Flush the toilet to allow the water level to go down. Pour the undiluted vinegar around the inside of the rim. Scrub down the bowl. Mop the floor in the bathroom with a vinegar/water solution. The substance will also eat away the soap scum and hard water stains on your fixtures and tile. Make sure it is safe to use with your tile.
Kitchen- Clean the stovetop, appliances, countertops, and floor.
Laundry Room- Use vinegar as a natural fabric softener. This can be especially helpful for families who have sensitive skin. Add ½ cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle in place of store bought fabric softener. Vinegar has the added benefit of breaking down laundry detergent more effectively. (A plus when you have a family member whose skin detects every trace of detergent.)
Lemon Juice
Uses:
Lemon juice is another natural substance that can be used to clean your home. Lemon juice can be used to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits. Lemon is a great substance to clean and shine brass and copper. Lemon juice can be mixed with vinegar and or baking soda to make cleaning pastes. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on the cut section. Use the lemon to scrub dishes, surfaces, and stains. Mix 1 cup olive oil with ½ cup lemon juice and you have a furniture polish for your hardwood furniture.
My favorite use for the fruit is to put a whole lemon peel through the garbage disposal. It freshens the drain and the kitchen. Orange peels can be used with the same results.
Baking Soda
Uses:
Baking soda can be used to scrub surfaces in much the same way as commercial abrasive cleansers. Baking soda is great as a deodorizer. Place a box in the refrigerator and freezer to absorb odors. Put it anywhere you need deodorizing action. Try these three kitchen ingredients as natural cleaning products in your home.
To clean your drain, take a 1/2 cup baking soda and place it in any drain in the house. Chase it with 1/2 cup vinegar, and follow that with boiling water.
Tea tree oil has many uses for housekeeping. You can prove to yourself how well it works to kill mold and mildew with this simple test: Put 2 teaspoons of Australian tea tree oil in a spray bottle with two cups of water. Spray the mixture on something musty. Let the smell dissipate (it will take a few days). The smell of mold and must will be gone, too, never to return as long as the source of moisture has been
removed.
Make your own basic disinfectant, kitchen and bathroom deodorizer, dishwashing soap, non-toxic floor and carpet cleaners, carpet and fabric freshener, and window cleaner. Make your own non-toxic insecticide and insect repellants, incl. moth repellants for effective pest control in your home and garden. Get my best essential oil house cleaning recipes and cleaning tips for your essential cleaning chores.
Imagine your kitchen pleasing with the smell of lemon, grapefruit, cinnamon, or rosemary. Your living room inviting with fragrant cushions of peppermint – a natural insect repellant. And pine, cedar wood, sandalwood, frankincense, juniper and clary sage are relaxing companions in your sitting room.
For a calming and romantic environment in the bedroom, choose rose, ylang ylang, jasmine, geranium, and lavender. Scent your office with basil, rosemary, and lavender for concentration. And don’t forget to scent the pet pillow with flea deterring lavender and peppermint.
Basic Disinfectant:
In a spray bottle, put water and a squirt of natural soap such as Bath Gel Base. Add your favorite antiseptic, anti-bacterial essential oils (e.g., 5 drops each of lavender, lemon, and lemongrass essential oils). Shake well before each use.
Spray bottle with water
A squirt natural soap
5 drops each of lavender, lemon, and lemongrass
Or simply add a drop or two of eucal
