There was a point in my pre-baby life where I would allow certain, dreaded, cleaning tasks (Do you hear me, Carpet Steamer?) to go so long between “touch ups” that touch ups became impossible and new carpet became probable. We have a 10 year old terrier mix- so you get what I’m saying.
At the same time, I’d be so meticulous about some particular thing- cleaning the fridge, for example- that I’d read everything I could on shortcutting the matter, buy all new flashy, foamy products, and need to have at least a full half day to accomplish my mission. In other words, total cleaning chaos.
As we got closer and closer to Baby Makes Three, I began to spend a good chunk of my bed rest months looking for tips, tricks, and products to not only simplify our cleaning routine but also to detoxify it. (Whenever I wasn’t second guessing the color of everything I’d already returned and re-purchased for the baby on Amazon or triple-checking SIDS statistics. I mean, obviously…) I’d just spent nine months eating organically and wearing Piggy Paint- I wasn’t about to break out the chlorine bleach now that Baby Dubs was about to go from inside to out.
Here are some tips to get you started down the road to a “Greener” Spring Clean- from both myself and some other in- the- know Moms!
If You Want To Go All Out:
Local JAX Mom Leah Kennelly (Founder of Simple Baby) insists that 4 main ingredients- plus water- can clean the majority of your household messes: distilled white vinegar, baking soda, Dr. Bronner’s pure castile soap, and hydrogen peroxide. (I throw a little lemon into that mix and agree!)
According to Leah, a 50/50 solution of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle can clean just about anything from counters to mirrors to floors- even plumbing fixtures. She suggests adding baking soda to the mix when a bit more of an abrasive clean is needed- such as when you’re scrubbing the sink or bathtub. (Again. And Again. #kids.) Other weapons in her non-toxic cleaning arsenal include Bon Ami (For pots and pans) and olive oil for cleaning stainless steel appliances.
Toxin- Free, But Not By Me:
I’d be lying if I said that every time I needed to clean up a mess, I reached for the fridge or grabbed an empty spray bottle. There are definitely times when, frankly, the grime at hand is just too horrifying for me to trust my own fledgling, ahem, “cleanser mixologist” skills. The good news is, there are TONS of Earth Day Approved cleaning lines on the market today- if you’re willing to do the work and sift through all of the recently greenwashed competitors beside them on the shelves.
Kelli Jackson- mom to preschool-aged twins, a new baby girl, and a rapidly growing Non-Toxic Facebook community group- suggests Ava Anderson‘s home line to tackle everything the kids throw at you. (Sometimes literally) Specifically, the Glass/ All Purpose Cleaner and Bleach Alternative Pods. Both products are made with ingredients like glucoside (sugar from non-GMO US corn) and washing soda- plus the current magic words coconut oil and essential oils. (Rejoice, my crunchy friends.) If you’re not the order-ahead type and need to grab your toxin-free stash on your next Target run, she also suggests this handy list of ingredients to avoid.
EWG is another great place to start looking for store (Or web) bought toxin free lines. Their databases rate thousands of specific products- both “green” and traditional- from A through F based on everything from ingredient list transparency to toxicity to future testing and concerns. One thing I will caution you on, however, is that the label is not always greener on the other side. Meaning that there is virtually no one brand that has had all of their products vetted and still survive. Believe it or not, there are some products manufactured by Lysol that receive lower toxicity ratings than their eco-friendly competition put out by, say, my go-to brand Seventh Generation or Babyganics.
Do you have a favorite Non-Toxic cleaning product or line? Or even a great website or Rep to source them from? Let us know!
I find most Eco-friendly products in stores to be a bit of a rip-off. You can make your own affordable and effective products, like the water and vinegar mix you mentioned and be quite successful with them in your everyday cleaning. Cheers, Heather.