Simple Recipes for Toxin-Free Household Cleaners

Are you in full spring-cleaning mode, yet?  I love this time of year -- out with the old, in with the new…(and hopefully out with more than comes back in, if you are in a de-cluttering mood like I am!)    Tidying up your home and your life can breathe such a breath of fresh air into your life.  One important aspect of cleaning is the household cleaners you use, and I wanted to share some of my favorite tips with you about how to choose healthier versions.  

These chemical-laden household cleaners can make it hard for us to breathe, cause our eyes to water, or even lead to health concerns we certainly want to bypass.  For me, they turned out to be yet another piece of my migraine puzzle that I discovered the hard way. These damaging chemicals are found in everything from your fabric softener that gets clothes feeling snuggly to your soap-scum remover, and everything in between.  

The smell-good factor is what causes a lot of the problem.  Chemical cleaner manufacturers want us to feel like our homes are fresh like lemons, but they’re still loaded with chemical agents we release into our homes with every scrubbing.  Go look at your cleaning products and read the ingredients. Do you see DEA or TEA?  These ingredients, among many others, are actually carcinogenic and should be avoided.  

What You Should Look for Instead

If you must buy cleaners to clean your home, take a look at the labels. If it says “danger,” “caution,” or “warning” on it, it’s best to keep walking. Choosing non-toxic cleaners is always best for your home and your health. 

Another great option is to go with plant-based formulations over petroleum-based. Don’t fall for terms like “natural” or “eco-friendly” though. You should keep reading the packaging to be sure those claims are legitimate. If it contains “solvent-free,” “no phosphates,” or “no petroleum-based ingredients” on the packaging, it’s a much safer and greener choice. 

Clean Even Better

If that sounds overly complex, well, it can be! You can simplify cleaning by making your own chemical-free cleaners that are eco-friendly and safe to use with ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen right now. You just need BPA-free containers to store them, and you’re all set.

Baking soda, lemon juice, and vinegar are some of the common cleaners you can use in your home for a glistening, grease-free clean without causing damage to your health or the environment. 

Here are a few to try!

- All-Purpose Cleaner

Mix one part white vinegar with one part water and a lemon rind. Shake it all together in a spray bottle and allow this mixture to infuse together for a week first. This one is great for getting stubborn stains off surfaces.

- Kitchen Cleaner

Take grease out of your way by mixing 4 tablespoons of baking soda with a quart of warm water. If you hate cleaning that fridge out, this one makes it easy and takes all smells away. 

- Super Scrub

Stubborn rust stains can be removed by simply cutting a lemon in half and dipping it into borax powder. Use the lemon to scrub, dipping it into the borax as needed. This is great for all surfaces except granite and marble.

By using safe cleaners in your home, you’ll have a fresher spring-cleaned home you’ll genuinely enjoy without any dangerous toxins lingering behind!

Be sure to join my private (free) “Stop Migraines Now” Facebook group where I like to share tips like this that make life a little more enjoyable.  And you can reach out to me and schedule a 15 minute call to see if you are a good fit to join my case study group on how to make migraines a thing of the past. Gwyn's Calendar