3 Non Toxic Cleaning Products Easy to Make at Home

Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is twenty-three days away. My extended family was here for five days of feasting and gratitude over the long Thanksgiving weekend. The grandchildren spent hours down at the creek catching minnows and tromping through falling leaves and mud, racing back to the house to refuel on mac and cheese and chocolate cake, and running up to the playroom to create artistic masterpieces out of paint and Play Doh. So there are a few, ahem, (well maybe a lot) of bits of dirt and crumbs, well, just about everywhere. I am in the middle of cleaning up the Thanksgiving detritus before I start dragging out the Christmas decorations.

I can take care of all the mess without using a single harmful toxic chemical cleaning product. When I started my quest to feel better from the awful symptoms of fibromyalgia, I found a lot of info on how many potentially harmful chemicals we are exposed to in the household products we use.This exposure has been linked to many chronic illnesses. I had been using the same favorite cleaning products for years. I read the labels on all of them, researched the side effects of exposure to the ingredients, and realized I needed a new routine for household chores.

I started searching online for information about chemical free cleaning options. There are some great non-toxic manufactured products that I use. Seventh Generation makes liquid dish soap and laundry detergent. Method makes dishwasher tabs and liquid hand soap. Ecos makes laundry detergent. I prefer versions of these products that are scent free since scented products may contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds). The containers for scent-free products usually include the phrase "free and clear." If you prefer a scented version, make sure the scent is derived from a natural source and doesn't contain any added VOCs. 

You can buy these non-toxic cleaning products at big box stores like Target and Walmart or order them online. Since they can be expensive and aren't always easy to find in my little rural corner of the world, I have discovered a simple way to go chemical free. I make a lot of the routine daily cleaners I use from simple inexpensive ingredients like vinegar and baking soda. Here are three of my favorites:

All Purpose Cleaner

All Purpose Cleaner

Mix equal parts of plain white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. That's it!

Use this mixture to clean countertops, mirrors, appliances, chrome, faucets, and anything else you would normally clean with a commercial all-purpose cleaner. Spray the solution on the surface you want to clean. Wipe it off with paper towels or a micro fiber cloth. No rinsing needed. Be sure to use a micro fiber cloth when cleaning mirrors and chrome. It will leave them clean and shiny without leaving behind paper residue. You can buy large jugs of inexpensive vinegar at any big box store or supermarket.  

Interesting factoid:  Vinegar contains 5 % acetic acid which kills bacteria and viruses. Vinegar is such an effective germ killer that it is used in many hospital high risk neonatal units to protect vulnerable newborns from exposure to both germs and harsh chemicals.

Tile Floor Cleaner

Tile Floor Cleaner

I have quarry tile floors in my kitchen, den, sunroom, and foyer. I love the natural swirly look of the tile that makes me feel like I'm walking across stones on a creek bed. I don't love that the floors need heavy duty cleaning because this area gets a lot of foot traffic. I experimented with various combinations of ingredients and the one I settled on keeps my floors cleaner than any commercial product I have ever used.

Mix a little less than one gallon of warm water with 1 Tbs of mild dish detergent, 1/2 c plain white vinegar, and 1/2 c baking soda. Fill a one gallon plastic pitcher half full with warm water. I use an old pitcher that has a lid. Add the dish detergent to the water and stir before you add the vinegar and baking soda to prevent excessive fizzing. And the vinegar and baking soda and stir. Slowly add more warm water to finish filling the pitcher. You can use your favorite mop and just pour a little of the solution on the floor and mop away. I like to use a mop that has a pump sprayer, a reservoir to add your own cleaning solution, and a micro fiber cleaning pad that can be tossed in the washing machine after each use. It is easy to fill the mop reservoir with the solution since my pitcher has a pouring spout. Put the lid on the pitcher when you are done and store any leftover solution for your next mopping task. After you mop the floor with this solution, go over the floor again with a clean damp mop using only water.Your floors will be sparkling clean and fresh. 

I like to use this cleaner in my kitchen which is a heavy traffic area. I also have an electric steamer and vacuum combo made specifically for tile floors. I use this in the foyer and den and other light traffic areas to clean the tile. It vacuums and cleans the tile in one step. And I don't have to worry about harsh chemicals since it only uses water.

Wood Cleaner

This mixture is great for cleaning and restoring scratched wooden surfaces. Use it on tabletops, furniture, doors, or any wooden object in need of a little TLC. I have used it to make 30 year old rocking chairs look brand new and to erase all the scratches on a dining table I purchased at a huge discount because it had been a floor sample. I used some on the scratched closet door pictured below. The scratches disappeared as soon as I put the solution on the door.

To make the wood cleaner: Mix 3/4 of a cup of canola oil with 1/4 of a cup of white vinegar. Apply to the marred wooden surface with a clean rag, micro fiber cloth, or a paper towel. Leave the mixture on overnight. Buff with a clean dry cloth the next morning. The wood usually soaks up most of the mixture so there may be little or no residue of the oil to wipe off as you buff. If you are unsure about using this on a specific type of wood or a treasured family antique, do a test run first. Apply some to an inconspicuous spot on the back or underside of the piece of furniture and leave overnight to see if you like the results before doing the entire piece of furniture.

Before using wood cleaner

After using wood cleaner

Looking for safer cleaning products is just one of the changes I made as I moved toward healing from fibromyalgia. I also got rid of scented products that contain harmful VOCs and looked for cosmetics and personal grooming products that contained less toxic ingredients. I made changes in what I eat. I stopped eating processed food which is full of all kinds of toxic chemicals. I started eating real foods that are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients. 

I have been symptom free for almost three years. I learn something new every day about how to help my body stay healthy. And every single day I am thankful for this blessing.  

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