How to clean your home without toxic chemicals

Need to clean your home without toxic chemicals? Cleaning is one of those chores you either love or hate! You may see it as a therapeutic habit. Creating a clean sanctuary in which you can relax. Or it’s one of those chores you must do every week. But rarely brings you joy (until it’s done).

Whichever camp you’re in, cleaning your home without toxic chemicals is necessary.

This is one way you can control your exposure to harmful chemicals. Many chemicals in general cleaning products have been identified as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). These have been linked to breast cancer and other illnesses.

Natural cleaning products are becoming more popular and can be made at home with store cupboard ingredients, such as bicarbonate soda, white vinegar, lemons, table salt and citric acid.

Here are some simple recipes to get you started cleaning your home without toxic chemicals:

Multi-purpose cleaner = white vinegar

Vinegar (acetic acid) is a great all-round cleaner. Its natural acidic properties mean it can cut through dirt easily. Mix one part vinegar to one part water in a spray bottle. You can add lemon rinds and/or herbs for scent. Never use vinegar on stone or ceramics.

Heavy-duty scrub = lemon + bicarbonate of soda [also known as baking soda]

These two heavy-hitting natural cleaners can remove stubborn marks, including rust. Mix the juice of half a lemon with 4 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda to make a paste and apply to the area. Remove any residue with water and cloth.

Kitchen cleaner = bicarbonate of soda

To clean kitchen counters, appliances, and the inside of your refrigerator, all you need is baking soda. It is a great deodoriser and can be used to shine stainless steel. Mix 4 tablespoons with 450ml warm water and add to a spray bottle to use. To clean stainless steel, dissolve the bicarbonate of soda with some warm water to make a paste. With a soft cloth, rub the surface to remove marks and then buff it with a clean cloth to shine.

Bathroom scrub = bicarbonate of soda + salt

For a dry scrub cleaner that works well in a bathroom to cut through soap residue, mix equal parts bicarbonate of soda and salt into a paste.

Mould remover = white vinegar + table salt

Add white wine vinegar to a spray bottle (recycle one of your old bottles), spray over the mould, leave for 20 mins, then dip an old toothbrush into table salt and scrub away.

Glass cleaner = white vinegar + rubbing alcohol

It is possible to have streak-free mirrors and windows without using harmful chemicals.  Mix 250ml water with 3 tablespoons white vinegar and 60ml rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle.  Use as you would a regular glass cleaner.

Toilet cleaner = white vinegar + bicarbonate of soda

Vinegar and bicarbonate of soda are natural germ killers and, when combined with elbow grease, can help you ditch the bleach for good.  Mix one part vinegar with one part warm water and 4 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda in a spray bottle and shake to mix.  Spray the toilet, leave for 15 mins and scrub as you usually clean.

Limescale remover = citric acid

Citric acid dissolves limescale and kills germs.  Mix 200g citric acid and 150ml water, combined with a squirt of eco-friendly washing-up liquid.  This works a treat on shower screens.

Air freshener = house plants

Ditch toxic air fresheners for good by investing in house plants that naturally freshen the air in your home. Check out our previous blog to find out which ones work best.

So next time one of your cleaning products runs out, swap it for one of the alternatives above and within a few months, you’ll have changed over completely to toxic-free cleaning.

P.S.  Don’t forget to vacuum and dust regularly to remove toxins from your home.

Are you going to clean your home without toxic chemicals? If you would like to support our work on endocrine-disrupting chemicals, please donate today. You can help prevent breast cancer.