I thought I was going to gag. I almost got a headache. My lungs got tight. I’m not exaggerating. Elias (my 11 year old) was with me, and he started to feel queasy. We were there only about seven seconds.
Where had I taken my child, you ask? To aisle nine. We were simply walking down the cleaning products aisle at the store.
I avoid that aisle at all costs. But that particular day last week, I needed one item – an ingredient to make a homemade cleaning product. Go figure, after those seven seconds of torture, I still couldn’t find what I was looking for.
Elias asked, “Mom, why is that aisle so disgusting?” Obviously, I’ve avoided taking my kids there since my eleven year old didn’t know that it even existed. If found it hard/ironic/frustrating to explain that all of those products that seemed so nasty to him are offered for sale to help us get our house, dishes, hands, air, clothes, furniture, bathroom, floors, and windows clean.
I’m all for getting rid of the dark cloud of dirty sock scent that hovers over my boys’ room. But when did “clean” begin to smell so toxic? And why are there so many hundreds of varieties of cleaning products to choose from? Do I really need twenty-seven separate products to clean approximately five major areas of my home? Must we all keep a large cabinet full of sprays, bottles, drops, powders, and scrubby bubbles in order to be fully equipped with everything it takes to keep a house clean?
Absolutely not. Be relieved and take a deep breath (but by all means, get out of the cleaning aisle first so that you don’t pass out).
I’m inclined to ask, “What would Grandma do?” I spent hours at my grandma’s house, helping her cook and clean. Try as I might, I can not remember where in the world her cleaning cabinet was. This leads me to believe that she didn’t have one. She wouldn’t have seen the value of spending money on a variety of different cleaning products when her home naturally had everything she needed. In fact, as long as I can remember, she made her own bars of soap. If I close my eyes, I can still smell it. Mmmm, there’s nothing toxic about it. In fact, it didn’t have much of a scent at all. It only smelled…clean.
I’ll admit – I don’t make my own soap. Instead, I have found some great online resources for a few products I trust for our skin, hair, laundry and dishes.
As for cleaning my home? Well, I don’t find that it’s very complicated really. There’s nothing like good old water. Norwex products are awesome. And the best? Baking soda and vinegar.
I found a great online resource, sharing 27 Ways to Clean with Baking Soda. Not to be outdone, here’s a post I found called 1001 Uses for Vinegar. I’m guessing Grandma knew many of these tricks, because she knew that getting her home clean didn’t require that she spend much money or use toxic chemicals. I’m guessing, actually, that she never gave thought much to toxic chemicals – she simply used what she had, and she knew how to keep her home clean.
Ahhh, fresh, clean, and chemical free. That’s what I call cleaning your home naturally.
Lisa says
we sell melaleuca …. Even the dishwasher soap has no warnings for children because it is non – toxic
Angela says
That’s exactly why I use Shaklee products.
Wendy says
I have been making my own all purpose spray, cuz sometimes i want it to smell pretty when i clean. 32 oz spray bottle with distilled water, 1/2cup vinegar, 1 tsp of borax, 20 drops lavendar eo and 15 drops euclyptus oil. This works on everything. My front loader machine was getting stinky, so i sprayed down the tub and the door gasket. Let it sit for five minutes on the gunk in the door gasket, and it all wiped right off. I have run more than a cup of bleach in the machine to clean it, it still would stink. And now there is no more stink.
Rachel says
Do you have a problem with the borax clogging your spray bottle?
Lish says
I find that if I dissolve it well in the water it never clogs.
Laura Brann says
Any trouble with any of the ingredients in your mix having a bleaching effect on anything?
Janine says
We also use castile soap. And of course anti viral and anti fungal and anribacterial essential oils from DoTERRA. I have started making my own soap..goats milk soap. It is awesome. Does a good job on hair too!
Pam says
I’d love to learn more about goat milk soap. Please tell us what you do.
Thanks,
Pam
Lana says
Shaklee Basic H is well worth buying. I bought a 16 oz bottle over 10 years ago and it is still half full! We use it to make windshield washer fluid for the cars too. Old fashioned Bon Ami scouring powder (yellow and red container) is widely available in my area and it is completely non toxic. Seventh Generation is my favorite brand for dishes and the dishwasher. We use primarily microfiber and water to clean now but sometimes it needs a little boost and often a little baking soda is enough. We went to green cleaners 22 years ago and back then there were few options and it was pretty difficult to really get things clean.
Daphne says
Whenever we go into the cleaning aisle my nose literally burns from all the smells and chemicals. I’m not saying out house is totally chemical free but I do the best I can. I only buy one scented, unnatural cleaner and that’s pledge. I loathe going in that section of the store!
Abbie says
Some hospitals in other countries use Norwex. :) U.S. has too much red tape :(
CathyG says
I’m a fan of baking soda and vinegar. I also gag walking down the cleaning supplies aisle as well as the laundry aisle and the bread aisle.
Laura Gregory says
i use vinegar and dawn blue dish soap 50/50 mix, works like a charm!
Tracy says
Question for all of you. My husband actually LIKES the smell of the toxic stuff (smells “clean” to him), and finds the smell of vinegar to be highly offensive. What ideas are out there for all purpose natural cleaners that don’t involve vinegar. I’ve tried covering it up with essential oils, but he stills smells the vinegar, even an hour later.
karli says
my husband hates the vinegar smell, too… I put 20 drops of lemon eo
a 32 oz bottle with water and 1/2 cu vinegar… I have found if I run
our eo diffuser constantly while cleaning and then for a little while
afterwards the smell isn’t quite so vinegary (still there, but not
as bad). I use Purify from DoTerra since it is great at removing odors
from the air… its also great to run that particular one in a diffuser
during the cold/flu season-so a win/win in our household!
Jone says
That was a bit of a turn off here, too. I read somewhere about infusing the vinegar with lemon(or orange). Just put straight vinegar in a jar with lemon(or orange) peels and let it sit out of the way for a couple of weeks. When you take the vinegar out of the jar, you may want to strain it if there are little bits floating around so you don’t clog your sprayer. The smell is significantly less at this point. Then just add some water to dilute and you are ready to go. Now you have the added benefit from the lemon(orange) as well. Once you start the jar, you can just keep it going by adding new peels and eventually removing the old ones.
Deloris says
I have to say no more rinsing agents in my dishwasher, I use vinegar and my dishes come out sparkling even with our HORRIBLY hard water.
Kristin says
I use a combo of natural/eco-friendly homemade and store bought cleaners. For floors, mirrors and glass, I use vinegar and water. For counter tops in the bathroom and kitchen and stove tops, I use Castile soap and water. I love how Castile soap cuts through grease and grime! Baking soda makes a great scouring powder on delicate surfaces, Bon Ami works for everything else. For dishes/dishwasher, I use Seventh Generation free and clear. For the the toilets bowls I use Seventh Generation toilet bowl cleaner and I have their disinfecting spray for toilet seats and the little potty. I usually try to avoid antibacterial anything, but I do have a bottle of Seventh Generation disenfecting spray for things like raw egg or raw meat touching the kitchen counter, the diaper pail or occasional drops of pee on the bathroom floor from my potty training two year old. For laundry, I use Country Save, it is recommended by the retailer where I bought my cloth diapers and is completely biodegradable. I guess I do have a small closet full of cleaners, but I can’t stand the grit left behind by straight baking soda and vinegar and many homemade recipes use antiseptic essential oils like tea tree or lavender and I can’t tolerate their scents. I feel good knowing that I am caring for the planet and my family all while getting a clean home.
For those leery to try natural cleaners, America’s Test Kitchen recently did an extensive test of major brand multipurpose cleaners and Method Multipurpose spray won out. It left their kitchen countertops cleanest and 98.8% sanitary (for reference brands like Clorax guarantee 99.9% sanitary when used EXACTLY as directed). Plus, the price was affordable.
Teresa from NanaHood says
Great article and useful! Going to give you a shout out on my NanaHood Facebook page!
Laura Brann says
I once saw an interview on Oprah with Kirstie Alley. She was talking about when she was young (teenager) and cleaning a house for income. The woman she was cleaning for had her clean with vodka. The cheapest kind of course. Said it cleaned and killed germs. She claims to still do that to this day. Found it interesting and thought I’d share. I’ve never tried it though. Am interested in your thoughts about it.
Allison Morrill says
Where we live raki is used like vodka to drink and we have a friend who uses raki like had sanitizer in a pinch before she cooks. She also sterilizes her cooking surfaces with it.
Amanda Yoder says
So glad it’s not just me who gags in this aisle! In fact, I am quite angry at my local store because the tissues are on one side and the other side is the toxic smelly cleaning products, which is the only reason I go down that aisle (and only when they’re on a good sale or I’ll buy elsewhere on principle!)–how ironic, right? It’s pathetic that they’ve convinced people these products clean or even that they’re safe!
Pam says
If vinegar and baking soda aren’t quite doing the job, I add a bit of epsom salt to the mix. Great for scouring toilets.
Cordelia says
Hi Laura, This post is so very interesting. I respect your opinion; in time,when you decide what you like for cleaning different areas of our home, I would love to hear your thoughts. ~Thanks
Allison Morrill says
When I am in the States, I avoid the candle isle and gift stores for the same reason you avoid the cleaning products isle. I quickly feel really sick from the scents.
Deena Barton says
I have been using homemade cleaners for quite some time.
Glass and shiny surfaces are best cleaned with cheap club soda. Wood/ Leather/ Vinyl cleaner (great for vehicles – dash boards etc) – 1/2 Olive oil 1/2 Lemon juice (again I use only cheap ones for cleaning). I keep a spray bottle of 3/4 Vinegar and 1/4 Lemon Juice for all purpose cleaning – just great kitchen cleaning and smells nice to me. I keep old parm. cheese containers from friends and relatives to make an awesome scouring powder from baking soda / borax/ washing soda combo that rivals any scouring powder on the market. Always keep trying and adjust your recipes to suit you and your needs and you can definitely find homemade cleaners to be a huge benefit to your family financially, as well as, give you piece of mind.
Blessings
Deena
Amy G. says
My best tip are Pumie heavy duty scouring sticks (available at Amazon, Lowe’s, and Home Depot, I believe.) They are miracle workers for impossible to remove toilet bowl stains, and much more!
Suzanne Shares says
I use 50/50 vinegar & water mix with baking soda. My sons help do cleaning around my house, so I love that I can release them freely to go clean without worrying if they’re going to poison themselves with the cleaner! :)I have used this for about 4 years now. No complaints. :)
lyss says
I have a hard time with strong smells, too. My brother-in-law lived with us for awhile and he liked those plug-in air fresheners. He put one in the bathroom and I smelled it all night long in my bedroom! I had a headache and a sore throat for two days. I unplugged the silly thing and as soon as the smell wore off, my head and throat were just fine. I was not getting sick…it was the air freshener! Common cleaners like windex and bleach make me gag, too. I always stick to unscented, free & clear dish and laundry soaps. I have yet to make my own successfully…
Baking soda and vinegar are my go-to cleaners. I keep a spray bottle with half water & half vinegar that I use for just about everything. I have it labeled “all purpose cleaner” and use it for mirrors, windows, counters, sinks, toilets, everything! I have found that I don’t need to have a cabinet full of natural cleaning concoctions, when that bottle pretty much covers it. You don’t really need a book of cleaning recipes, in my opinion. Natural, cheap, and also simple, is my style! : )
Susan says
Lyss, on your cleaner for mirrors, windows, and tile (like the kind in your bathroom wall, tub etc..)… add a bit of alcohol to your water/vinegar solution. Helps get things really clean and sparkly and sanitizes.
Tried it – love it.
Susan
Jennifer says
The same thing happens to me. When I walk past the cleaning aisle at Wal-mart or Target I started sneezing and my eyes water and my head hurts. I hate going past it!
Susan says
Lyss, on your cleaner for mirrors, windows, and tile (like the kind in your bathroom wall, tub etc..)… add a bit of alcohol to your water/vinegar solution. Helps get things really clean and sparkly and sanitizes.
Tried it – love it.
Susan