The most toxic aisle in any store is always the one with household cleaners. Our homes can be more toxic than outside pollutants, because of all of the chemical laden household products used. We have been programmed to be extremely germ-conscious, and think that only the strongest chemicals can keep our home and laundry clean. The strong chemicals are then masked with artificial fragrances to make them smell good. The problem with this is that these chemicals cause allergies, asthma, bronchitis, contact dermatitis and other skin aliments, not to mention the environmental pollution into our air and water, and the manufacturing pollution to make these products.
I recently ran out of the eco-friendly household cleaner that I regularly use, and this time decided to make my own. I have used every ingredient in this DIY multipurpose cleaner separately to clean or disinfect but had never made my own multipurpose cleaner. To my surprise this DIY cleaner worked just as well if not better. The other exciting benefit is the money that will be saved by making my own cleaning products.
What you will need:
1 Liter Spray Bottle
Small Plastic Container
White Vinegar
Baking Soda
Hydrogen Peroxide
Tea Tree Essential Oil (optional)
Lavender Essential Oil (optional)
Pour 1/8 cup of baking soda in the spray bottle using a funnel. (I used a piece of paper to funnel the soda into the bottle). Next add 1/4 cup of white vinegar, and fill the rest of the bottle with water leaving about 1/2-2 inches from the top empty. Finally add 20 drops of tea tree essential oil or 20 drops of lavender essential oil. Tea tree oil and lavender oil are also antibacterial essential oils, so they make great additions to any cleaning product.
For a polishing cleanser for tough dirt, mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide. These two cleaners will both disinfect and deodorize.
For more DIY household cleaning ideas check eartheasy.com. If you’re not one to make your household cleaners, other wonderful eco-friendly companies that make household cleaning products and more are Seventh Generation, Simple Green, Method, Mrs. Meyers, and Ecos.
(Image by D Sharon Pruitt)
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2 Comments
Thanks for including the list of products you prefer (for those who don’t want to do it from scratch.) It’ll be making the transition to more natural cleaners a lot easier. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Jenny,
I think it’s good to use natural cleaning products period, whether you buy it or make it yourself. It’s better for our water supply and the earth. Not to mention many toxic cleaning supplies create allergies. Glad to help.