If you have been reading my blog for more than a few minutes you have probably noticed that keeping things non-toxic is very important to me. I do this with our food, (see recipes) my skin care & make up, but I haven’t shared about how this effects my home.
I am not going to go into great detail about WHY you need to use less toxic chemicals in your home. There is SO much great information that has already been shared online that I will just link to a few of my favorites.
How to start?
For me it worked best to get rid of everything and replace it all with non-toxic versions. I was raised in a pretty “crunchy” home so I didn’t have a lot of toxic products but when I got married, my husband had a lot! Going cold turkey meant I didn’t have exact replacements for all his usual cleaning supplies and used some products for multiple purposes. We both prefer this multi- use approach now and as long as it works well, he is on board. That approach may not work for everyone but for me, I just found that we were constantly using the toxic versions and that made it harder to make the switch.
If you need a slower approach I would encourage you to start in the kitchen and bathroom and go from there. These rooms have some of the most toxic cleaners and in the case of the kitchen, they are being ingested in multiple forms – on dishes, in the air, on everything you touch from the counter to the floor.
Give yourself a deadline – “I will have the bathroom switched in 2 weeks” and then stick to it. When I switched all my skincare, I actually brought a bag of all of it to some friends at a girls Bible study and just gave it away. When they asked why I was getting rid of it, I was honest and told them I felt it was toxic for my body. I made sure that they knew I would help them to make the switch too but figured “if you are gonna be buying it anyway, might as well take these.” This might be an approach that appeals to you so you don’t feel wasteful. Maybe a homeless ministry, church, or rec center would be interested in some used cleaning supplies? This is serious stuff so be willing to take it seriously and don’t be tempted to just “use it all up first”
How do I know what is safe?
I rely heavily on resources like the EWG to help me evaluate whether a product is safe for my home. Personally I try to stay at a 3 or lower EWG rating. I also use the Think Dirty App but have found it doesn’t always have the products I am looking up. Whole Foods also has a “never list” for food that has been helpful for me to consult when I am looking at ingredients. You might be surprised how often the toxic chemicals in cleaners and food overlap. Other stores like Natural Grocers also have unacceptable ingredient lists that can be very helpful. NOTE: EWG is not as hands off with the companies as I would like. Their ratings can be influenced by the company itself in order to get better marketing and ratings. That being said I still use EWG to look up ingredients and do comparisons with the other resources I listed. The more familiar you become with the toxic ingredients, the easier it is to recognize good product on your own. When there is a huge discrepancy between EWG & Think Dirty I look up the ingredients in question and probably lean towards the Think Dirty recommendation. You will see an example of that in this post.
What I use:
Here are alternatives I have found for our home. I have tried to list items that are also readily available to most consumers. Only a few of these listed are what I would consider specialty.
I am constantly on the look out for newer & better options as companies create more non-toxic products. Feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments.
Kitchen:
All Purpose spray – Thieves concentrate (I buy one bottle for $22 and it lasts me a long time. At least 8 months sometimes longer.) I bet you have a YL member somewhere in your area (I am one though probably the worst since no one knows!) If you don’t you can always become one yourself. I use this concentrate ALL over my home. I love the ease of use and I also really enjoy the smell. There are several other household products in this line but this is the one I repurchase consistently. I would also consider this one of the specialty items on the list although I find it pretty easy to find.
Another option for countertops & all purpose use is hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. This can be used in combination with a spray bottle full of white vinegar as a two step process that is easy on the budget. This article explains the WHY behind the duo but also adds a third step of soap and water. While I may do that in the bathroom or during a deep clean, I haven’t found it necessary for every day wipe downs. Note: Mixing the two together in the same bottle cuts their germ killing power so it is best to use them one after another.
Dish soap – I like Ecos Lavender. It has an A rating on EWG and sometimes I can even find it at TJMaxx. It is always at Natural Grocers and Sprouts so I would guess that Whole Foods would have it too. You can also get it on amazon. Whole Foods brand of dish soap is also very good and rated well on EWG. We don’t have a WF nearby so it isn’t one I use. NOTE: I do find this formula to be a bit drying to the hands so it is best to use gloves.
There is a big difference in the rating for Ecos on EWG (1) vs Think Dirty (5). This is due to the inclusion of phenoxyethanol which is a preservative with some conflict surrounding it. Some say its ok and others say it isn’t. Because it is unclear, I am also including another suggestion.
Seventh Generation Free & Clear or Lavender Floral & Mint – Both fragrances are listed as a 1 on the Think Dirty App. Seventh Generation is pretty readily available both online and in stores like Walmart, Target etc. I am a sucker for lavender & mint combos 🙂
Dishwasher Detergent – Grab Green Pods (fragrance-free) work well for me but I always add a splash of white vinegar to each load because it helps with mineral build-up with our West Texas hard water. You can get it on amazon and I have also seen it at Walmart and of course Natural Grocers. NOTE: It is important that you get the fragrance free version as the fragrances used in this product can make it toxic. Think Dirty lists it as an 8 if fragrance is included. EWG rating B+
Floors – I use the Thieves spray on the floors and I use the Norwex microfiber mop but you could use another mop too. If you love your swiffer then consider using a microfiber or other cloth and connect it to the swiffer attachment. You can also use one of these options from EWG.
Bathroom:
Toilet (or other places that have mineral build-up) – CLR is the BEST cleaner for mineral or rust and you would probably NEVER guess it has an A rating on EWG. It is a 3 on the Think Dirty App. Amazon has it but I have also seen it at Walmart. Not all products from this brand are non-toxic so be sure and pay attention to what you are buying.
Bon Ami – This is my comet replacement. I use it on the kitchen sink as well. You can find it on amazon, often Walmart and Target as well as any health food store. I noticed Thrive Market carries it as well. Get ONLY the powdered version, not the liquids. Think Dirty rating: 3 & EWG rating: A
Mirror – I use the Norwex window cloth and it works so well that I don’t feel the need to find something else. The next best thing is vinegar/water and newspaper in my opinion.
Counters – I also use Thieves spray on the counters or the Hydrogen Peroxide/vinegar duo mentioned above.
Wipes – If you want to keep wipes on hand either daily or just for times of sickness, this is a good option. Aunt Fannies I keep them in my car for cleaning. They definitely have a vinegar smell so keep that in mind. EWG rating: A Whole Foods wipes are rated super well on EWG.
For stains or mineral build up (are you noticing a theme? Thank you West Texas hard water) I use these pumice stones. This link is from Lowes but I have seen them elsewhere. I get mine at Walmart.
I hope that helps get you started. I plan to do a separate post all about cleaning up your laundry products 🙂
