By Beth Ricci, Contributing Writer
Switching from mainstream cleaners to natural alternatives is honestly one of the easiest possible baby steps toward a greener, more natural life. Throw a few ingredients in a spray bottle and toss your Mr. Clean in the trash. It’s pretty much that simple, and the benefits far outweigh the 30 seconds of your time that it takes.
In our home we don’t buy commercial cleaning products for anything (except for a natural dish soap). We make our own – and we reduce toxins in our home and save lots of money while doing so.
This may sound over the top if you’re accustomed to regularly inviting Mr. Clean into your home. Or maybe your favourite alternative brand with the word “natural” slapped across the label alleviates some of your residual worry about what those crunchy folks are going on about.
Are the ingredients in conventional cleaners really all that dangerous? I mean – really?
As the David Suzuki Foundation explains,
“Yes! Cleaning products aren’t required to disclose ingredients. Phthalates, chlorine bleach, ammonia, sodium laureth sulfate, ethoxylated alcohols and fragrance are all commonly found in household cleaners and linked to a range of health issues including asthma, cancer, allergies and multiple chemical sensitivities. Repeated exposure to small amounts of these chemicals can cause long-term health problems. Kids are especially vulnerable.”
Clearly there is enough doubt cast on the safety of these products that most of us are willing to step back and ask questions. So what now?
DIY, of course!
The most valuable and often-used cleaner in my arsenal is definitely my All-Purpose Cleaning Solution. It is always near by, especially with a cat and three kids aged five and under! It is cheap, safe, and effective. What more could you want, right?
This recipe uses baking soda, but for a slightly different recipe, plus links to more DIY cleaners, check out this All-Purpose Cleaner from Red & Honey.
All-Purpose Cleaning Solution
Ingredients
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 teaspoon castile soap
3-5 drops tea tree oil
WaterMethod
Add the baking soda, castile soap and tea tree oil to a spray bottle. Fill the rest of the bottle with water. Shake or stir to combine.
The baking soda is a great degreaser, the castile soap has excellent cleaning power, and the tea tree oil is a natural disinfectant. It’s a simple but super effective combination that works!
It’s simple and quick – mix some up today and ditch the store-bought stuff. Baby steps toward a greener, cleaner, and healthier life are a beautiful thing!
DIY Dishwasher Detergent Pucks
Thank you! I am trying to reduce the toxic overload in my home since I have been dealing with autoimmune problems for year and this will come in handy. I so appreciate you and all the wonderful things you teach us. Keep up the wonderful job!!
I use this cleaner so from experience I would like to suggest adding the castile soap last! If you don’t it could bubble up so that you get less cleaning solution and more “suds!”
Thanks for the recipe! I’ve been using vinegar with some liquid dish detergent in it as an all-purpose cleaner, but this sounds like it’ll do the job better. Do you have a recommendation for a place to find liquid castille soap? I have not found it in any box stores, nor groceries, nor hardware stores in a 50-mile radius, even in the state capital.
Look in the natural, gluten free, lactose free section of grocery store or check health food stores. Dr. Bonners brand is very popular.
My current favorite is citrus scented Dr. Bronner’s. I buy it in bulk on Amazon for much cheaper than the places we can buy it locally.
Does the baking soda clog up your sprayer? I know ingredients are great!
I heard tea tree oil is bad for dogs. I worry about using this solution to mop the floors, for fear of it getting on their paws and ingesting it. I realize its in very small quantities, however, my pets are the sole reasons for my change to a cleaner product, so I want to be sure I’m changing to a real solution for my specific reason.
I wonder if Lemon is bad for dogs. This might be a good alternative.