3 Essential Cleaning Gadgets and Solutions for a Non-Toxic Home
Homes get dirty. Especially if you, like me, have people home almost all the time. Being a homeschooling, work-from-home family with pets makes our house very…a-hem, lived in. ;)
And since there’s always a kid or pet around while I’m cleaning, and the kids clean their own rooms and bathrooms, it’s essential to have great cleaning tools to not only do a great job, but that are safe and non-toxic for even the littlest cleaning person.
In this post, I’m sharing…
Why keeping toxins out of our homes is essential
MTHFR gene mutations & detoxification
My top 3 favorite cleaning tools for a non-toxic home
Easy (and inexpensive) alternatives to store-bought cleaning solutions
Why Keeping Toxins Out of Our Homes is Essential
In light of health, having things clean is super important to keep our bodies in tip-top condition. It definitely makes a huge difference in liver, digestive, and hormone health. And since we spend the majority of our time at home, having a clean environment, pure air, clean water, and an uncluttered home is a necessity for long-term health and happiness.
MTHFR Gene Mutations & Detoxification
A few years back, I worked with a nutritionist who said that just sitting behind a stinky truck at a stoplight could use up all of our B12 for the day - since the body needs B12 to detoxify. That really stuck with me as I had gene testing done which revealed an MTHFR gene mutation that makes it difficult for me to actually absorb B12.
Which means I, and anyone else with the MTHFR mutation, really need to be conscious of what we expose ourselves to since we are not naturally good detoxifiers. And since an estimated 20-40% of the U.S. population has the MTHFR gene mutation, steering clear of toxins is crucial.
My Top 3 Favorite cleaning tools for a non-toxic home
Anyway, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite non-toxic must-have cleaning tools and formulas to help you get your healthy cleaning on. And as a frugal-minded mama, you better believe I look for things that are high quality, inexpensive, and can stand the test of time.
O-Cedar Spin Mop. This mop comes with a bucket that has a pedal to step on that spins out the water. It’s a fun little contraption that my kids enjoy using as well. As for the mop itself, it does a great job at getting rid of dirty paw prints and keeping our wood-look laminate floors fresh and clean.
Eden’s Garden Essential Oils. Sorry MLM EO’s, you’re overpriced. Thankfully, Eden’s Garden makes a pure, high-quality alternative. The Natural Cleaning blend is one of my faves!
Swiffer Duster - extendable arm. Oh how I love this extendable arm Swiffer duster! I just spritz it with a bit of water + EO solution (using the Natural Cleaning blend or lavender + tea tree oil)
Easy (and inexpensive) Alternatives to Store-Bought Cleaning Solutions
I’m almost embarrassed to share my cleaning “recipes” cause they are so basic, it’s hardly a recipe at all. But, in light of keeping things simple and inexpensive, I’ll share my cleaning secrets (that aren’t secrets at all).
Distilled vinegar - I keep a solution of 50/50 white vinegar and water in a spray bottle under my kitchen sink at all times. I use it to wash produce we buy, for basic clean up around the kitchen, to wipe down the table and floors, and to clean windows. I also use a 50/50 solution of vinegar and warm water for mopping with the O-Cedar mop. Sometimes I also add in some EO’s for a bit of added freshness and aromatherapy.
Essential Oil spray - I mix up a batch of water with several drops (maybe 20) of the Natural Cleaning blend or a lavender and tea tree mix in a spray bottle. I use this mix with E-cloths from Azure Standard to clean our bathroom sinks, tubs/showers, and toilets. Technically, E-cloths can be used with water only, but I like to add the extra disinfecting power of the EO’s for an added boost and the smell of clean.
Bon Ami - French for “good friend,” this non-toxic powder made from eggshells is really a great cleaning buddy to have around! I use it for extra scrubbing power inside toilets as well as to clean the kitchen sink and stovetop. Gentle, yet effective.
And that’s pretty much all I use to clean with! Pretty easy right? It’s nice to not have harsh chemicals or a variety of bottles at all, which makes it easy for our kids to know what to use so they can clean independently. And I love how inexpensive and easy it is to refill bottles when we run out of something.
What are your favorite non-toxic cleaning tools and solutions? Do tell, por favor!
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