Nontoxic Cleaners You Can Make at Home

With all of the advertising out there on the fighting power of chemical cleaners, it is easy to see why the majority of us would find it hard to believe that non chemical cleaners work just as well.  There are more and more non-toxic chemicals becoming available, however, those can be expensive.  Lucky for you, we have a list of easy and inexpensive nontoxic cleaners to make at home.

 

All you need are these 4 ingredients:

1.  Vinegar:  White distilled vinegar is great for deodorizing, degreasing, and general cleaning.  And it’s cheap!

2.  Castile soap:  This gentle soap is made from vegetable fat/oil such as hemp, palm or olive.  It is a versatile cleaner that works great alone or with other products.

3.  Baking soda:  The texture of baking soda makes it useful as a mild abrasive.

4.  Essential oil:  These concentrated plant oils contain powerful anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties.   Plus a little bit goes a long way with essential oils.

Floors

A favorite floor cleaner is made by adding 2 to 4 tablespoons of Castile soap and 10 drops of lemon essential oil to a large container. Fill with 1 gallon of hot water and stir to mix.  If the floor is greasy, add up to 1/8 cup of vinegar.

Walls

The above floor cleaner will work well on walls too. If you wish to disinfect walls (or door knobs, crib rails, and so on), mix equal parts vinegar and water. Add 5 to 10 drops of essential oil, per 16 oz of mixture, if desired.

Mirrors

Mirrors can be cleaned well with water and a microfiber cloth. If you are looking for more shine (and germ killing power), combine 1 ½ cups of water with ½ cup of vinegar in a spray bottle and shake to mix. Add 5 to 10 drops of orange or lemon essential oil for extra cleaning power and added fragrance.

Counter tops

Keeping leftover floor cleaner in a spray bottle to use on the counter tops works well.

Toilets

Pouring a little straight or scented vinegar into the toilet bowl is a great way to clean and deodorize. For regular toilet seat wipe downs, keep some vinegar in a spray bottle. (Because it’s non-toxic and safe to use, why not give kids the job of swishing and swiping each day!)

Sprinkling baking soda into the bowl and scrubbing with a sturdy toilet brush is another good way to keep the toilet clean and fresh.

Bath and shower

The best way to keep the shower clean is to regularly spray the walls with vinegar, this helps prevent soap and scum from building up. Using a squeegee to remove excess water (a few times each week) is also very effective, especially on glass doors.