Spring Cleaning: Non-Toxic Cleaning Supplies
Experts agree that our indoor air quality is often much worse than outdoor air, and so much of it is due to what we bring into our homes. One culprit you may not have thought of? Your cleaning products.
A new study published in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine shows how regular exposure to cleaning products can harm your lungs just as much as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day over 10-20 years. However, before you give up on spring cleaning checklist, there are plenty of non-toxic cleaning supplies available. With spring being prime time for cleaning and organizing, now is the perfect time to make the switch!
Below I’ll share some of my top picks for natural cleaning products along with some cleaning tips for how to use some of the simple options like white vinegar. EWG.org was one of the first to share the latest study about how harmful cleaning products are, and I tend to agree with their stance that simple, gentle cleaners are often all you need.
You can also check out this podcast episode with certified building biologist and cleaning expert Marilee Nelson.
*We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Non-Toxic Cleaning Supplies:
All Purpose Cleaners
Back To Basics Cleaner Than Clean– A great all purpose cleaner that also helps to deodorize!
Branch Basics– This is one you’ve probably heard of if you’ve checked out any natural cleanings products. The products work well for a variety of cleaning tasks and you can grab a starter kit that gives you everything you need! Check out my full review of them here.
Young Living Thieves Household Cleaner– This isn’t one that I’ve used extensively, but I’ve had so many readers mention it to me and tell me they swear by it.
White vinegar– I mix equal parts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle to make a cheap and effective glass cleaner (works great on its own, but even better with the cloths I mention below). The same mixture is great for cleaning the bathroom, as well. Vinegar doesn’t really work with grease or oil, but is awesome with scaling and hard water stains. Just never use vinegar on marble or stone, as it can discolor it. I also mix one part vinegar to two parts water to clean my hardwood floors. You can find a 2-gallon jug of vinegar for around $2!
Cleaning Scrubs
Bon Ami Scrub– This has been around for over 100 years and has just one ingredient: a naturally mined mineral, feldspar. This is great for scrubbing the bathroom, deep cleaning pots, cooktops, scrubbing sinks, etc. You can buy it here on Amazon, however, you may be able to find it a little cheaper at Target or the grocery store. $1.99-$3.50 (depending on where you buy it)
Baking Soda– Another great one for scrubbing anything. It also works well to deodorize. When the house starts to smell a little too much like our dog, Franklin Waffles, I sprinkle baking soda on carpets and furniture and let it sit for an hour or two (overnight works even better) and then vacuum it up. It smells so fresh and clean afterward! You can even mix it with a little dish soap for tough messes. Here’s a pretty good list of all the ways you can use baking soda.
Miscellanious Cleaners
Disinfecting– If you have an area you need to disinfect, I suggest using Hydrogen Peroxide. Bleach has several harmful chemical byproducts that are emitted when you use it. Just like with bleach, spot test the hydrogen peroxide to make sure it won’t damage or discolor your surface.
Stain Treatment– For carpet or fabric stains I mix this eco-friendly version of Oxyclean up with warm water and then apply it to the area liberally. Then blot it up with a clean cloth. I’ve had good luck with food and pet stains using it. I also use this in my washing machine to brighten laundry.
A note on wood- all of our wood furniture is sealed except one and I don’t use anything on that. If you have wood you need to oil, I would look into linseed oil or almond oil. Toss the Pledge! It only sits on top of sealed wood and there are better options for oiling unsealed wood.
Tools of the trade:
These do all the heavy lifting around here!
Microfiber Cloths– If you haven’t experienced the magic of microfiber, then you’re missing out. I use these in place of several chemical cleaners. They can get glass clean with just using water and deep clean just about every surface without scratching it. I keep a bunch on hand for dusting, cleaning windows and other glass, wiping down our stainless steel appliances and more. Just toss them in the wash when you’re done and then let them air dry. You can pick up a pack of cloths from Amazon here.
Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop– One of my favorite cleaning purchases! You can put any type of cleaner into the bottle and then spray as you mop. The large microfiber pad does a great job of getting floors really clean. If you’ve ever used a swiffer wet-jet, this is like that except none of the nasty chemicals! plus no pads to repurchase. You can use the washable microfiber pads for years. I generally use my vinegar water mixture with it or sometimes I use water with a few drops of Dr. Bronners Castile Soap. You can find it on Amazon. (Totally worth the price- I’ve had mine for years!)
Extendable Duster– We have one similar to this and it’s perfect for cleaning ceiling fans, light fixtures, shelves, and other hard to reach places. The best part is you can just wash the microfiber in the washing machine and reuse it.
Final Thoughts
Switching to non-toxic cleaning supplies doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. All the options above are easy swaps. Add in a hepa filter vacuum and that’s everything to keep your house in tip-top shape. Safe, simple ingredients are all you need to breathe easy in a clean house!
