I'm sure by now you've noticed the newest trend in cleaning products. It's all about biodegradable, toxin-free, "green", products. I'm so glad the cleaning companies and the public are finally concerned about chemicals and the damage they can do to our health. Not to mention they are dangerous around children. Did you know that over a million poisonings in Canada each year are due to household cleaner indigestion. Some are even fatal. Also, thousands of children AND adults are permanently disfigured or injured through contact with chemicals in the home (scary right?)So, I totally understand the need for some chemicals in certain circumstances, like when disinfecting surgical equipment, or when trying to prevent the spread of an virus, or when cleaning a particularly disgusting toilet... you know all those kind of things. Most of the time however, like for every day cleaning, all those chemicals just aren't necessary.
You can buy toxin-free cleaners at most local stores and they work just as well as the chemicals. I really like Method All Purpose Cleaner, found at Shopper's Drug Mart and Canadian Tire. However, I've discovered a recipe to make my own for a fraction of the price.
Here's how to make it:
Mix in a 1L BPA free spray bottle
2 cups of water
2 cups of pure white vinegar - cuts grease, scum, stains, deodorizes, and disinfects.
15-20 drops pure lavender essential oil or tea tree oil - masks the smell of the vinegar and helps kill bacteria
I use it to clean my counters, bathroom sinks, bathtubs, etc. It works great and smells great too and the BEST part, it won't harm me or my kiddies!! In the next few weeks I'll be posting natural and environmentally friendly ways to freshen the air and get rid of nasty odors because conventional air fresheners, well... ugh, don't get me started.
Me Ka Aloha
- Elisabeth
Ohmigosh, have you heard of NORWEX? It's the GREATEST thing that ever happened to cleaning, I swear! I was sooooo skeptical when I first heard of it, but my house is now 100% chemical and cleaner free and about a thousand times cleaner than it used to be because everything is so easy to use! Their biggest thing is this insane microfibre - the fibres are split over 100 times or something ridiculous as opposed to the 5 or 6 times like store-bought microfibre. Consequentially they pick up I think it's like, 99.94% of all the bacteria and crap laying around when you use it WITH JUST WATER. They use it in hospitals in Norway and I don't know where all else. First time I used it in my bathtub it actually cleaned out all the hidden residue from my bleach-filled cleaner I'd previously been using and unknowingly soaking my darling kiddo in - GROSS!!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I ABSOLUTELY ADORE the stuff and don't have enough good to say about it!! Seriously check it out and save yourself the trouble of mixing your own or buying ingredients. (They even have chemical-free toilet cleaner, I kid you not.)
Best thing that ever happened to my house!
Sorry for the long comment. ;) hahaha LOVE it!
I've heard of that. Where do you get it? I want some!
ReplyDeleteIt's a home-party type company (all the BEST products are, aren't they?) My sister-in-law started selling it recently. Or I know a great consultant in St. Catharines....actually she just got a website up and running a little while ago you can order from - I'll have to dig up the address for you so you can check it out.
ReplyDeleteYou will LOVE it. :D