You buy cleaning products to freshen your air and clean your home, right? We all want a good-smelling house, fresh, clean clothes, and sparkling counter tops (or when my kids were little…a house that didn’t smell like spilled milk and diapers).
But those cleaning products we buy can contribute to a big problem – indoor air can be up to several times more polluted than outdoor air, and that’s a problem because the EPA states that many of us spend more than 90% of our time indoors.
And those cleaning products can off-gas into the air even when they’re not being used – they don’t have to be used to be releasing fumes.
Common toxic chemicals in cleaning products are linked to cancer, respiratory problems, fertility issues, hormone disruption, allergic reactions, toxicity to the brain and nervous system, among other health issues, and studies have found that exposure to cleaning products during pregnancy can lead to increased respiratory infections in babies and toddlers, and in later childhood.
Houses are now being built more airtight than they have been in the past, so it’s more difficult to get a healthy air exchange. Not to mention things like building materials, furnaces, carpeting, paint, and furniture can also contribute to the issue.
So while there might be things in the house we can’t control, the good news is that using safer cleaning product – especially if you DIY them – is an easy way to cut down on some of that indoor air pollution.
BONUS: Your kids can help you clean, and you can feel better knowing they aren’t inhaling harmful toxins!
Whether or not kids are helping to clean, they are often exposed to harsh cleaners if they’re playing nearby, which they usually are. Plus many of them like to help (at least until a certain age!).
But they can inhale the vapors, which can cause lung damage, or they could suffer burns if they are exposed to harsh, corrosive cleaners. Even low levels of exposure to some of these cleaning chemicals may increase the risk of serious health issue, such as cancer or reproductive issues later in life.
DIY Cleaning Recipes
There are a lot of great cleaning products out there that are truly safer, but it’s also easy to DIY it, and at a fraction of the cost.
If you’re new to the DIY-cleaning-products-thing and think you can’t, no worries! I’m here to tell you you can. I’m so bad in the kitchen I can burn water, but I do make about 90% of my cleaning products!
Here are 3 to start with – and best of all, they’re made with just 2 ingredients that are probably already in your kitchen!
Baking Soda and Vinegar for Cleaning
With these 2 ingredients, you can make:
- Oven cleaner
- Carpet stain remover
- Toilet bowl cleaner
CAUTION: Do pre-make these cleaners and do not combine the vinegar and baking soda together – you’ll soon see why!
DIY Oven Cleaner
You’ll need:
- Approximately 3/4 cup baking soda (more or less may be needed, depending on the mess in the oven)
- Distilled water (although tap water could work here, too)
- White vinegar
- Lemon essential oil (optional)
- Castile soap
- Remove oven racks from oven (it’s a great time to clean
these now, too!). Also brush out any charred food remnants or crumbs that can be easily wiped away. - In a small bowl, mix baking soda with a couple teaspoons of water, adding a little water at a time until you can make a paste. You can also add a small squirt of castile soap for extra power, if you have it.
- Spray the inside of the oven lightly with vinegar, then rub the baking soda paste throughout to apply. The baking soda will start to foam, depending on how much vinegar you used. The baking soda solution will also turn brown as you’re spreading it around. You may want to use gloves for this part so you can really dig in without getting your hands dirty.
- Let the paste sit for at least 8 hours, or overnight.
- When you’re ready to remove the paste, lightly spray with vinegar. It may foam again, which will make it easier to remove. Use a scrubbing sponge or damp washcloth to wipe off the paste.
- When you’re finished, you may want to spray the vinegar one more time to see if anything foams so you can be sure all of the baking soda is removed. You definitely don’t want to heat up your oven with the baking soda still there!
Tip: In a pinch? Take a shortcut and lightly spray the inside of oven with vinegar. Sprinkle a thick layer of baking soda inside, especially on the bottom. Let it sit several hours, or overnight. When you’re ready to remove the layer of baking soda, spray it again lightly with vinegar, and use a sponge or damp washcloth to remove (remember to get all of the baking soda out).
DIY Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Simply sprinkle approximately 1/4 cup baking soda into your toilet bowl, and then pour approximately 2-3 cups white vinegar over the top until it foams (I just eyeball it – I don’t follow an exact measurement – use more or less as needed).
You can let it set for awhile, or scrub it right away. And if you have essential oils on hand (they’re optional, but help with the disinfecting), you can sprinkle 10-12 drops in. That’s it!
Tip: Keep a gallon of vinegar and a box of baking soda under each bathroom cabinet (in separate containers) so they’re always handy.
WARNING: Do not use your DIY cleaner around any cleaners that contain bleach. The vinegar and bleach can combine and create dangerous fumes. This means don’t use your DIY multi-purpose cleaner (contains vinegar) to clean your toilet and then use a conventional toilet bowl cleaner (usually contains bleach), or use your DIY toilet bowl cleaner with a conventional multi-purpose cleaner.
DIY Carpet Stain Remover
Lightly sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda over the stain, then slowly pour or spray enough vinegar over the top to make it foam (don’t pour a lot fast or carpet will take forever to dry). If needed, pour vinegar into a cup first to make it easier to pour slowly.
Blot, don’t rub the stain, with a light colored towel. Several rounds may be needed to lift the stain. As with regular stain remover, this works best on fresh stains.