Making the best non toxic cleaning products at home is much easier than you would think! With just a few inexpensive ingredients you can have a safer and cleaner home.
We all love a clean home. There is something so satisfying about finally getting your kitchen tidy and wiping down your countertops with a fresh-smelling cleaner! But have you ever considered what goes into making that fresh smell? There are many chemicals that are in the common household cleaning supplies that have been shown to have very negative affects on our health.
Thankfully, we can make many safe and non toxic household products at home with minimal ingredients and for a very low cost! In this post I will show you the best non toxic cleaning supplies you can make at home.
Best Non Toxic Cleaning Products
Before we dive into the best homemade non toxic cleaning products, first let’s start with the problem of many store-bought products. If you look at the ingredients on the back of your common all purpose spray you will see a lot of really long words that, of course, you and I both don’t know. But, after researching these words you’ll find that many of them are toxic chemicals. Here are a few common ingredients to avoid in your cleaning products…
- Ammonia – Ammonia is a very popular ingredient in the United States due to its effectiveness in degreasing and getting your windows and mirrors shiny, but it is also very toxic. It can cause skin burns, coughing, severe eye injuries and lung damage after long-term exposure. You can read more about ammonia here.
- Fragrance – While your counter-top spray may smell great, it’s not because freshly squeezed lemons were put in there. The fragrance in most cleaning products are chemically made and highly toxic. Most fragrances contain phthalates which are linked to endocrine disruption, reproductive problems and cancer. Companies are not required to put what chemicals their fragrances are made of, so if you see a product with “fragrance” in the ingredients list leave it on the shelf!
- Triclosan – This is an antimicrobial chemical found in many disinfectants designed to kill germs. Unfortunately, it is linked to hormone disruption and breast cancer. Minnesota has actually banned retailers from selling sanitization or cleansing products containing triclosan.
The list goes on and on. For a more thorough list of which harmful chemicals to avoid, I highly recommend visiting the EWG Home Guide page.
As a busy mom myself, I understand that many of us don’t really have time to read every label at the store. So I have three simple non toxic cleaning alternatives for you to make at home.
1. All Purpose Cleaner (safe for granite and marble)
This is a great all purpose spray that is also safe for granite and marble countertops as it does not contain vinegar which can damage those stones.
You will need:
- 1/4 cup rubbing alchohol
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 3 tsp castile soap
- Essential oils* (optional, for scent)
Directions: Mix all the ingredients well in a spray bottle and enjoy!
*Be mindful that citrus based essential oils can harm granite and marble.
Best purchase option: Branch Basics
2. Hand Soap
This DIY liquid hand soap is so simple, inexpensive and leaves you feeling good about what you’re cleaning your hands with!
You will need:
- 3/4 cup distilled water* (or boiled water that has cooled)
- 1/4 cup Castile soap*
- Essential oils (optional, for scent)
Directions: Mix well in liquid soap dispenser and enjoy!
*The amount of water and soap will depend on how large your soap dispenser is. You will want to use 3 parts water to 1 part Castile soap.
Best purchase option: Everyone hand soap
3. Oven Cleaner
Many oven cleaners contain sodium hydroxide. This can cause severe burns on your skin and eyes and is very harmful if inhaled. You can get your oven just as clean with this simple at home oven cleaner recipe!
You will need:
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup water
Directions: Mix well in a glass bowl and rub onto surfaces to be cleaned. Let sit for 30 minutes – 1 hour. Wipe clean with a sponge. Remove any remaining residue with a spray of vinegar.
Final Thoughts…
When you just scratch the surface of the toxic chemicals in many of our home-related products in can be very overwhelming. We won’t be able to completely remove all the toxins in our lives, but the point is to reduce the overall toxic load on our bodies. Start with one section of your house, whether it’s non toxic make up, cleaning supplies or food. Research just those products and decide what’s important for you to switch. Then, move to the next area of your home. Trying to change all of your products overnight is a lot of work, so just take it step by step!
