How to make your own non-toxic cleaning products
Just up until a few years ago, I scoured my house with products containing bleach and many unpronounceable ingredients, because I thought I was supposed to. If the bottle said “kills 99% of household germs,” I was all over it. I always opened windows for ventilation, but still got a headache anyway. I even mopped my tile kitchen floors with a bleach cleaner. Boy, how things have changed! As I started to read more and more about the many alternatives to common household cleaners, I finished using up my products (see why you shouldn’t flush them) and made the switch. Also, after digging a little deeper, I found inexpensive ways to clean and disinfect with products I already had in my pantry! There is some misunderstanding these days about killing germs. Germs are everywhere, and killing them all is not only impossible, but not beneficial to our health. For example, hand washing became the big deal this year with the Swine Flu epidemic wreaking havoc everywhere (especially in my hometown, where some of the first case were reported). Everyone reached for their antibacterial soap. The truth is, just using hot water and regular ol’ soap kills 92% of germs (how do I know this?). What about the other 8%? Leave them be.
Below I have offered an easy to follow description of common ingredients from eartheasy.com
There are many inexpensive, easy-to-use natural alternatives which can safely be used in place of commercial household products. Here is a list of common, environmentally safe products which can be used alone or in combination for a wealth of household applications.
- Baking Soda – cleans, deodorizes, softens water, scours.
- Soap – unscented soap in liquid form, flakes, powders or bars is biodegradable and will clean just about anything. Avoid using soaps which contain petroleum distillates.
- Lemon – one of the strongest food-acids, effective against most household bacteria.
Borax- (sodium borate) cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, cleans wallpaper, painted walls and floors. - White Vinegar – cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains and wax build-up.
- Washing Soda- or SAL Soda is sodium carbonate decahydrate, a mineral. Washing soda cuts grease, removes stains, softens water, cleans wall, tiles, sinks and tubs. Use care, as washing soda can irritate mucous membranes. Do not use on aluminum.
- Isopropyl Alcohol - is an excellent disinfectant. (It has been suggested to replace this with ethanol or 100 proof alcohol in solution with water. There is some indication that isopropyl alcohol buildup contributes to illness in the body. See http://drclark.ch/g)
- Cornstarch - can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs.
- Citrus Solvent – cleans paint brushes, oil and grease, some stains. (Citrus solvent may cause skin, lung or eye irritations for people with multiple chemical sensitivities.)
- Trisodium phosphate (TSP) - a mixture of soda ash and phosphoric acid. TSP is toxic if swallowed, but it can be used on many jobs, such as cleaning drains or removing old paint, that would normally require much more caustic and poisonous chemicals, and it does not create any fumes.
A word of caution about using Isopropyl Alcohol
Here are few recipes I’ve used that work like a charm:
White Vinegar
- Mix one cup white vinegar, one cup distilled water into a spray bottle to use on mold and mildew in the shower, exterior areas of the toilet, floors, and countertops in the kitchen.
- To unclog drains in your tub, pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, and follow with 1 cup water. Next, run hot tap water down the drain for a couple of minutes.
- Use undiluted white vinegar for tougher jobs, like cleaning the inside of toilets, and to kill mold on shower walls.
- To clear mineral deposits from your shower head, place a plastic bag filled with vinegar around the head and fasten it with a rubber band. Let it soak overnight.
- Pour one cup of vinegar into the rinse cycle of the clothes washer to soften clothes. No need for fabric softeners!
Borax
- Sprinkle into your toilet, and let it sit for an hour. Scrub as usual.
- Pour 1/2 cup into washing machine to soften hard water, and to deodorize.
- Mix equal parts with water and use as a soap scum remover
- Got flea eggs in your carpet? Sprinkle the affected area with Borax, and use a broom to work it deep into the carpet or rug fibers. Let it sit overnight, then vacuum. Borax dehydrates fleas and larvae.
Hydrogen Peroxide
- Can be used as a disinfectant for table and counter tops, computer key boards. Just wet a rag with peroxide and wipe.
- Mix equal parts peroxide and water to soak and disinfect baby toys.
- To kill E Coli on cutting boards, spray with peroxide after washing.
Using lint free, microfiber towels are great for cleaning surfaces because they absorb liquids instead of smearing them, and they can be washed and reused.
Recent findings have shown that the air quality in our homes contain harmful, toxic particles. Using more natural resources to clean can drastically reduces the pollutants and chemicals in the air we breathe. And on that note, be sure NEVER to mix any of the above ingredients with chlorine bleach based cleansers; the vapors can be deadly!
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Hey Lana—
Safety is essential when dealing with any household cleaner or disinfectant. And speaking of safety, dilute solutions of chlorine bleach can help keep families safe from foodborne illnesses and everything from norovirus to seasonal flu. Some people are surprised to learn how little chlorine bleach it takes—just ½ tbsp of bleach in ½ gallon of water wipes out foodborne germs like e. coli and salmonella on hard surfaces (see http://bit.ly/9fzyXU). And 2 tbsp. of bleach in a ½ gallon of water destroys flu viruses (see http://fluandhealth.com/ ). As for the environment, chlorine bleach actually degrades into mostly salty water as it disinfects, so it’s environmentally friendly. Here’s a handy tip sheet (http://bit.ly/cKbIW7) for using chlorinated cleaning products safely.
Best,
Jeff
Jeff Sloan
American Chemistry Council
Hi Jeff,
My point was that I used lots of heavy bleach in my house, and realized that there were many alternatives I could use instead to protect my family’s lungs. I do however mix 1/2 teaspoon of bleach in a 22 oz spray bottle of water and use it around the kitchen. But, because I have two small children, I try not to use heavy concentrations because I don’t want the vapors lingereing in the house. Thanks for the comment!