Okay, so we’re a little past the point of spring cleaning but with last weekend’s summer solstice behind us perhaps we can call this an article dedicated to better-for-you-and-the-environment summer cleaning.
As a nutrition coach, I help guide dozens of people each year through my seasonal, whole foods detoxes. Cleaning up one’s diet is all well and good, but to truly detox we all ought to dive a little deeper into our daily habits and our cleaning closets/cabinets.
How many people out there use a countertop spray or bathroom cleaner loaded with ingredients you can’t pronounce?
I’m not here to shame you because I too have used these strange, chemical concoctions. I’m simply here to point out that, hey, if smart people like Mark Bittman recommend that we not eat anything with ingredients we can’t pronounce, why doesn’t that rule apply to the products we use daily on surfaces we eat off of and bathe in? Skin is a very porous organ, my friends! All of these products can easily seep into your system with repeated exposure whether you accidentally ingest trace amounts or simply absorb them from repeated contact.
Avoiding damaging chemical cleaning products is easier than you might think. In fact, you likely have most if not all the ingredients you need to clean and shine your pad right in your very own kitchen, pantry, and medicine cabinet.
Now that I really have your attention, here are my…
Top 5 Homemade Cleaners for a Healthier Home
- All Purpose Cleaner
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 2 cups water
- Juice of 2 lemons
Notes:
- Fill a spray bottle with all ingredients. Shake well before dispensing.
- Mist dirty surfaces evenly, then use a soft cloth or rag to wipe surfaces clean.
- Don’t use on stone surfaces—i.e. granite or marble.
- Wood Polish
- 1/2 cup olive or almond oil
- Juice and peel of 1 lemon
Notes:
- Combine ingredients at least one day in advance for optimal efficacy.
- Apply to a soft dishtowel first, then gentle rub in circular motions across the intended surface.
- Bathroom Disinfectant
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup vodka or rubbing alcohol
- 20 drops of tea tree oil
- 10 drops of lemon oil
Notes:
- Fill a spray bottle with all ingredients. Shake well before dispensing.
- Mist dirty surfaces evenly, then use a soft cloth or rag to wipe surfaces clean.
- Glass Cleaner
- 2 cups water
- 2 Tbs white vinegar
- 2 Tbs rubbing alcohol
Notes:
- Fill a spray bottle with all ingredients. Shake well before dispensing.
- Mist dirty surfaces evenly, then use a soft cloth or rag to wipe surfaces clean.
- Grout Scrub
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- Juice of 2 lemons
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
Notes:
- Apply with a toothbrush and let sit for 5 minutes. Scrub vigorously to remove dirt and grime.
- Wipe clean with a wet cloth and rinse with warm water.
Not only are all of these fumeless, non-toxic, and organic – they’re cheap and easy to make! Who doesn’t like cheap and easy?!