Ever thought about making your home greener by using natural cleaning products? It is not only safer, but cheaper! Guest poster, Hilary Kimes Bernstein of Accidentally Green, is a wife, mom, and a writer. Today, she is going to show us the many ways she keeps her house clean, and family safe, by making her own household cleaners.
Guest Post by Hilary Kimes Bernstein of Accidentally Green
Over the past six years, I’ve radically changed the way my family lives – but with one small, healthy step at a time. One of the biggest
As a clean freak, I used to love trying out all sorts of cleaning products – the easier the scrubbing process, the better. Bleach was my best friend. Then I got pregnant, went to a baby fair and learned that all of the cleaners I used so frequently were leaching their chemicals from the surfaces.
There was no way I wanted my tiny baby exposed to these toxins, so I made changes right away. Out went the toxic cleaners. I wasn’t sure what safe cleaners I could use, though.
I started with Shaklee products – and I enjoyed cleaning with them. I became more adventurous in my experimentation, though, and tried making my own cleaners. Finally, this year I’ve attempted to thoroughly spring clean our home only using homemade cleaners.
I’m more than halfway through my cleaning process, and love the results so far.
Here’s what I’ve used:
- A mixture of warm water and castile soap has been helpful for a variety of tasks. I’ve used it to wipe down our cupboards, scrub our refrigerator (inside and out), wash knick knacks, and mop our kitchen and bathroom floors.
- I’ve dusted furniture with a microfiber cloth, then polished wooden furniture with a homemade concoction of one part lemon juice, two parts olive oil, and a splash of white vinegar.
- Hydrogen peroxide has been used to disinfect doorknobs, switch plates, and the toilet.
- I cleaned the toilet bowl by scrubbing it with a squirt of castile soap and sprinkle of baking soda. I also used a paste of castile soap and baking soda to clean our shower.
- I washed windows and mirrors with a homemade spray made of three tablespoons of white vinegar, two cups of water, and ten drops of lemon essential oil.
- Who needs highly toxic chemical oven cleaners when you have baking soda and white vinegar? I sprinkled baking soda in the oven, poured white vinegar on top, waited for twenty minutes, then I scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed.
- Finally, I cleaned our porcelain kitchen sink by sprinkling some baking soda in and scouring everything with a squeezed half of a lemon.
Your turn:
What do you use to safely clean your home?
