While working to adopt a “cleaner” lifestyle, we sometimes overlook the dozens of chemicals hiding out under our sink — all with the potential to affect the air quality inside our home. I’m amazed that for years I used cleaning products made with harmful chemicals — stuff I would never let my child play with, yet I brought them home and sprayed them on my counters and floors. It’s crazy when you think about it.
Disinfecting sprays are the most common culprits. These products are loaded with toxic ingredients! They pose a hefty threat to our health, yet we continue to use them for no good reason (as they are totally unnecessary). It’s not just me who’s concerned, the Environmental Protection Agency has stated that indoor air pollution can be 2-5 times worse and as much as 100 times more polluted than outdoor air. They even ranked indoor air pollution among it’s top five environmental dangers, especially in schools.
Most people assume the products they use to clean their home are safe, but the chemicals in household cleaners are both unregulated and untested. Companies can use whatever chemicals they want, and they don’t have to test them for safety OR list all the ingredients on the label.
What can you do?
A super basic safety tip that can help you decide if you want to buy a product or not, is to look for the words DANGER, WARNING or CAUTION.
These words are a very lose guide to indicate the level of potential harm from the product, as they illustrate a sliding scale of toxicity.
Caution is the mildest of the ratings; one ounce to one pint of the product being harmful or fatal to a 180- pound man, which is the standard of measurement
Warning means that 1 teaspoon to 1 ounce may be harmful or fatal to a 180 pound man
Danger means that one taste to 1 teaspoon can be harmful or fatal to a 180 pound man
This is great information for my husband, but what about me and my daughter? We aren’t anywhere close to 180 pounds and I do most of the household cleaning, not him.
Because of the lack of regulation around these cleaning products, I’m always looking for ways to reduce the number of environmental toxins I’m exposed to. Luckily, there are many new products on the market that make attempts to reduce in-home pollution.
Are you open to exploring alternatives that are safer for you and your family? Here’s my list of the best lower-toxin household cleaners, including two simple, all-purpose DIY recipes!
Mrs. Meyer’s All Purpose Cleaner
I love Mrs. Meyer’s brand products because they’re SUPER effective, yet made with naturally-derived aromatherapeutic formulas. All of their cleaning products are biodegradable and most of their packaging is made from recycled materials. I love that they incorporate essential oils into all of their products, giving them a fantastic variety of scents including mint, rosemary, lemon verbena, and lavender. You can use the all purpose cleaner all over the house, and the Kitchen Basics Set (which includes multi-surface cleaner, dish soap, and hand soap) is a staple in my kitchen.
Better Life Stainless Steel Polish
Method Daily Shower Cleaner
Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent Packs
NatureZway Bamboo Perforated Towels
DIY Cleaner Recipes
If you’re looking to cut the ingredient list way back on your cleaning supplies, you can’t get cleaner than making your own. It’s surprisingly easy to make DIY cleaning products, so don’t get scared away by the thought of mixing your own! Here are a few DIY household cleaner recipes to get you started:
Homemade All Purpose Cleaner
This simple all-purpose cleaner is great for wiping down surfaces and scrubbing away grease! The essential oil scent completely masks any vinegar smell, so no need to worry about spraying vinegar all over your house.
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 10 drops lemon or orange essential oil
Place all ingredients in a reusable spray bottle and stir gently to combine.
(Note: Don’t use this cleaner on granite or marble countertops! The vinegar can roughen the surface.)
DIY Granite Cleaner
This cleaner is made without vinegar, so it’s safe for granite and marble surfaces. Feel free to use it on other surfaces as an all-purpose cleaner as well!
- 2 cups water
- 4 tablespoons rubbing alcohol
- 1 tablespoon castille soap
- 10 drops lemon or orange essential oil
Place all ingredients in a reusable spray bottle and stir gently to combine.
This post contains referral links. If you click through and take action, I may be compensated. My full disclosure is here.