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Welcome! It seems like you have made the decision to reduce the amount of toxins in your home. This is a great first step towards promoting a healthier lifestyle for you and your family. With so many options available, I am here to provide you with my top 5 recommended non-toxic cleaning products.
To me, the effectiveness of a product is just as important as its natural composition. It’s crucial that the cleaning products I use are able to eradicate bacteria and maintain the cleanliness of my home.
I will first share the core ingredients I recommend that you keep on hands at all times. We will examine the reasons why the core ingredients used in DIY cleaning products are reliable and effective.
Core ingredients
1) Vinegar
Many households keep a bottle of white vinegar in their cupboard for occasional use in cooking. However, more people are discovering that vinegar can also be a highly effective cleaning agent due to its acetic acid content. Interestingly, this same ingredient can be found in several store-bought cleaners. The strength of acetic acid allows it to kill bacteria, dissolve mineral deposits, grease, and more. As a result, vinegar has become the top choice for natural cleaning products.
Cost
In most grocery stores across the United States, you can purchase a gallon of white distilled vinegar for under $3.50. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the wide range of non-toxic cleaning solutions you can create with this amount of vinegar.
Pro tip: DO NOT buy it on Amazon. The same gallon at the time this article is written is about $14.
Don’t
Using vinegar as a cleaning agent is great, but it’s important to note that it shouldn’t be applied on granite countertops and wood surfaces like wood floors.
2) Baking soda
If you have been researching natural ways to clean your home, I bet you have stumbled upon baking soda already. But, do you know why this common household item is so popular for cleaning?
Baking soda is a popular product known for its odor-neutralizing properties. It has the ability to eliminate bad smells instead of just masking them. Moreover, when mixed with acidic agents like vinegar or lemon, it reacts and prevents the growth of bacteria. Finally, it can also be used as a mild scrubbing agent to remove mineral residues and calcification from surfaces in your home.
Cost
You can get a 2 lb box of baking soda for less than $2 at most grocery stores in the US. Once again. I would avoid Amazon. They are great at many things but tend to overcharge for items like this.
3) Castile soap
Castile soap is a fantastic option for those looking to make their own non-toxic cleaning products. It is a vegetable-based and biodegradable soap that can be purchased scented or unscented, depending on your preference. Dilute it to create an endless variety of natural cleaning solutions.
Cost
I find the price of Castile soap to be similar on Amazon versus other local stores. A large gallon container of unscented Castile soap can be purchased for about $55. This will last you for over a year.
4) Rubbing alcohol
This popular mostly medicinal product found in most homes can make an excellent natural cleaning product ingredient. It comes in a variety of concentrations and is known for its ability to kill germs and bacteria. Experts recommend using a greater than 70% alcohol concentration for safely cleaning items. Many also use this product to polish surfaces in the home.
Cost
I found rubbing alcohol to be cheaper at my local grocery or pharmacy. I can often find a 32 oz container for about $3. Amazon is usually about twice as expensive.
5) Essential oils
Essential oils are optional, but I prefer my cleaning products to have a pleasant scent. I don’t find the smell of vinegar particularly pleasing. Therefore, I opt for using essential oils in my homemade products.
When shopping for essential oils, it’s important to be mindful of their quality. Before making a purchase, I suggest researching the brand to ensure that the oils are 100% pure and not diluted. When using essential oils for cleaning products, some of my favorite scents include lemon, tea tree, peppermint, spearmint, orange, lime, and lavender.
Cost
The cost of essential oils varies wildly. However, if you are only using it to scent your cleaning products, one bottle can last you for a year or longer. I like oils from DoTERRA and have recently started purchasing from Plant Therapy as well.
Non-toxic cleaning products recipes
1) Granite Cleaner
I have been using this granite cleaner for years. It is amazing. It leaves my countertops germ-free and squeaky clean. Since our family cook at home frequently, one bottle will last me about 2 weeks. It only takes a few minutes to make a new bottle. Here is my recipe.
- 16 oz glass spray bottle
- 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol (at least 70% alcohol concentration)
- 3 drops of Castile soap
- 20-30 drops of essential oils (tea tree, peppermint, rosemary, or lemon are great)
- Fill remaining with tap water
2) Glass Cleaner
I have searched for a long time for an effective glass cleaner that doesn’t leave streaks. This recipe is the real deal. It works better in my opinion than traditional commercial products and keeps your family safe. I cannot recommend this recipe enough. This is my absolute favorite!
- 16 oz glass spray bottle
- 1/2 cup of vinegar
- 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol
- 20-30 drops of essential oils (lavender, peppermint, lime, spearmint are great)
- Fill remaining with tap water
3) Tub and shower spray
This is a newer DIY non-toxic cleaning product for me. I was needing something EASY that I could add to our cleaning routine that would be highly effective and require minimal scrubbing. So far, I am really pleased with it. I do plan to try it with Castile soap instead of Dawn eventually and add essential oil to scent it. I will update this blog post once I do if this is worth it.
- 16 oz glass spray bottle
- 1/2 cup of Dawn liquid dish soap
- 1.5 cups of vinegar
Leave the cleaning product on your surface for at least 30 minutes before rinsing. You can also scrub with a sponge as needed before rinsing.
4) Scrub Cleaner
I love to keep a scrub cleaning mix mainly for our kitchen sink and toilets. These highly contaminated areas of our homes need extra care in my opinion. This is the easiest of all recipes and can be used nightly once you are done using the kitchen for the night.
- 1 Large glass jar
- 2 cups of baking soda
- 20 drops of essential oils (lemon, tea tree, orange are great)
- A squirt of dish or Castile soap
Simply sprinkle the dry mixture in your sink or toilet and add a squirt of dish or Castile soap. Or a brush or the rough side of a sponge to give the surface an excellent scrub.
5) Multi-purpose Cleaner
We all need a good multi-purpose cleaner that we can use on everything. From door knobs to baseboards this multi-purpose cleaner is fantastic. It is also safe and you can even task young members of your household to help with cleaning duties.
- 16 oz glass spray bottle
- 2 tablespoons of Castile soap (I prefer unscented)
- 15-20 drops of essential oils (lemon, lavender, and peppermint and great)
- Fill remaining with water
Pro tip: Add the water first and leave room for the Castile soap to avoid the solution bubbling up as you are filling the bottle.
In conclusion
I swear by these five recipes for non-toxic cleaning products—they’re my ultimate choices. They effectively maintain the cleanliness of my entire household while prioritizing safety for my family. I encourage you to consider experimenting with one or more of these recipes, illustrating how a non-toxic approach can seamlessly coexist with achieving a spotlessly clean living environment.
Thanks for reading.
Cat xx