by Jenny Bug

Created on: January 22, 2009

We all want what's best for our families and ourselves, the best schools, the best doctors, the best foods. Unfortunately we give little thought to the environment in our homes and the quality of the air we breathe. Chlorine bleach, ammonia and dozens of other toxic chemicals are used every day to clean the clothes we wear, the plates we eat off, the carpets we walk on and the furniture we lounge on to watch TV.

Cleaning is a necessity, a basic fact of life. Whether you are a college student, single or married with children, whether you do your own cleaning or pay someone to do it for you, you eventually have no choice but to do it sooner or later.

How you clean, on the other hand, is entirely up to you. You can decide whether the cleaning products you use are going to harm you and your family or will be a natural toxin free solution. Clean does not have to smell of chlorine bleach, ammonia or pine to be germ free and sanitized.

General living quarters have an assortment of areas and objects that we will clean thousands of times during our life. Walls, carpets, tile, windows, furniture and clothing, just to name a few. Following are some simple recipes for natural cleaning solutions.

General Carpet Cleaner

1/2 cup soap flakes (see recipe below)
3 1/4 cup boiling water
2 teaspoon washing soda (sodium carbonate)
5 drops vanilla essential oil (cuts urine and smoke odor)
5-6 drops peppermint essential oil (mild disinfectant)

Stir soap flakes into the boiling water until dissolved. Let cool to room temperature. Add soda and essential oils. Store in a glass jar. To use shake well and gently scrub into carpet with a brush, let dry and vacuum. Shelf life: 6 months

Soap Flakes
Using a grater, grate a bar of castile soap or gentle glycerin soap. (Do not use non-foaming varieties.)

Tile and Vinyl Floor Cleaner

1 cup liquid soap blend (see recipe below)
1/3 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon tea-tree extract
6 cups warm water

Mix ingredients together and shake. Can be used in plastic spray bottle or put in a large bucket for larger jobs. Shelf life: 9-10 months

Liquid Soap Blend

1/4 cup soap flakes
3/4 cup boiling water

Mix until soap dissolve. Store in bottle and label. Shelf life: 4-6 months

Windows and Mirror Cleaner

1 cup distilled white vinegar
2 tablespoons isopropyl alcohol

Mix together and store in spray bottle. Shelf life: 6-9 months

Using newspaper to clean windows and mirrors will keep the glass from streaking.

To keep a nice polished look on your furniture try this recipe.

1/2 cup sweet almond oil
1 1/2 tablespoon wheat germ oil
1 tablespoon melted beeswax
1 3/4 tablespoon red turkey oil (sulfated castor oil)
4-5 drops of your favorite essential oil (optional)

Mix all ingredients together to create a moisturizing polish for dry wood that does not have a heavy wax finish.

Toilet bowl cleaners can be highly toxic. Most cleaners have chlorine bleach and other potentially lethal toxins. These artificially fragranced and colored products contain ingredients that irritate the skin and aggravate your respiratory system. That's why they warn you to use in well ventilated areas. General maintenance is the key to keeping your toilet bowl clean and fresh. Once a week pour 1 cup of distilled white vinegar into your toilet bowl and let stand for 1/2 hour, scrub inside of bowl with brush and flush.

All Purpose Cleaner (Good for appliances)

1 cup liquid soap
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon tea-tree extract
1/8 cup isopropyl alcohol

Mix together and pour into a plastic spray bottle. Shelf life: 6 months

Obviously it's not possible to eliminate all our toxic exposures, but with a little effort you can limit your exposure to dangerous chemicals and toxins in your home.

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