Homestead Favorites for Non-Toxic Cleaners

Many health-conscious families have started turning to healthier options for cleaning their homes in the last several years. The store-bought cleaners have noticed this and there has been a flood of "natural" cleaners entering the market. But we often need to take caution even with these "natural" options due to the lack of regulation for products in the United States. Trust me, a quick google search of green washing will pull up several alarming lawsuits and articles about companies claiming to sell a natural, safe and healthy product that truthfully wasn't at all. But as mama bears and gatekeepers to our own homes we can take matters into our own hands and lean into old fashioned skills and supplies that will greatly benefit our families and pocketbooks. Come along as I walk you through some things I have learned along my non-toxic cleaning journey as well as go over what's in our cleaning cupboard.

Some things to note are perhaps some non-toxic cleaning misnomers. Some people assume that if we aren't using the big name brands or harsh chemicals that our homes must not be truly clean. And I would be the first to say that for anyone who is on the "water only" to clean train that that simply won't cut it. Homesteads get dirty. Big kitchen messes on canning days, dirt dragged in from the garden, dogs and kids playing outside. Chicken poop that inevitably will get on you at times. Pig mud, cow pies, turkey feathers, messy duck water, and ash from the wood stove. Yeah. When you homestead you get very familiar with big messes. So we need tough cleaners, not just water. But I don't want to sacrifice my lungs, my baby's skin, my reproductive health, the environment or my hard-earned money to get things clean.

Another misnomer would be the people who get on the "vinegar works for everything" train. And while yes, vinegar is definitely in my cleaning cupboard and has it's place you can't use it to clean everything. Dishes for example. We definitely need a better solution than just vinegar to clean our dishes.

So what is true about non-toxic cleaning, what are the benefits, and how can you get started?

Truths and Benefits of Non-Toxic Cleaning

• Saves Money: Yes, it does in fact save money. When you are buying conventional cleaners you are having to buy a different product for each job. Dish soap is not the same as hand soap. There's the kitchen counter cleaner, cleaner for the stove, cleaner for your stainless steel, and one to disinfect. Theres the floors, but different kinds for hardwoods, tile and carpet. A spray for dusting, a spray for sinks, a spray for mirrors, and one for stains in your clothes. Not to mention the different ones you need for the toilet, shower, bathtub, grout and disinfecting the bathroom (because that's different depending on which room you are in?). By the time you have them all you have an overflowing cleaning cupboard with single-use sprays and such that are not only full of toxic chemicals but also have drained your pocket book. Instead of doing this we select ingredients that are safe and can be used singularly or combined for all of our cleaning needs. More on what we use below.

• Healthier: Okay, I've been harping from the "toxins are bad" soap box for a while, but I haven't taken the time to explain why. Why are they harmful? Why avoid them? Well think about this--have you ever done a full clean of your bathroom with the conventional stuff and have to open a window and turn on a fan so you don't pass out from the fumes? Or hack up a lung from all the coughing? Yeah, me too (surprise! I wasn't always using non-toxic cleaners). That's a bodily reaction that is backed by science. Breathing in those chemicals, synthetic fragrances and fumes are just plain bad for your lungs. According to the American Lung Association, "VOCs and other chemicals released when using cleaning supplies contribute to chronic respiratory problems, allergic reactions and headaches." https://bit.ly/47cz2LS Conventional cleaners and the ingredients in them have also been know to increase cancer risks, negatively affect hormones, irritate skin and even seriously harm people, children, babies and pets. Our household definitely works to avoid these things.

• They Work Better: Yep. I said it. They work better. I have had much more success cleaning our clothes, getting stains out of toilets, getting our mirrors streak-free, keeping my dishes sparkling and my floors clean by using natural and often home-made cleaners. This is often because conventional cleaners are usually highly diluted and filled with ingredients that focus more on masking smells and building up synthetic fragrances than actually cleaning up the grime. Just try stripping your laundry once and see all of the build up and grime that comes off those clothes... you'll likely be convinced right then and there. Or if you have hard water stains in the toilet try filling the bowl with distilled white vinegar and let it sit overnight. By the morning those stubborn stains will all but melt away with a quick scrub of a toilet brush.

What do we use and how can you get started?

If I have you even slightly curious, or even convinced that switching to non-toxic cleaners is worth a try you might be overwhelmed with the idea of where to start. First, I want to reassure you that this does not have to be a big, complicated thing. I recommend starting out small, and keeping things simple.

When I started out my ditch-and-switch journey I simply just replaced whatever I ran out of with a better option. Switching things out one at a time not only helped me get comfortable with how to use these new-to-me cleaners but also saved me money because I wasn't throwing away everything I already had and doing a major overhaul at once. Now I know some people who have done major overhauls and they definitely have their place. But often taking things slowly and getting comfortable with each replacement will lead to more confidence and lessen the likelihood that you will turn back to your conventional products later down the line.

And you don't have to make all your non-toxic cleaners from scratch. I get it, sometimes we just need something simple and a product that is already mixed and ready to go is much more appealing than feeling like you are playing chemist in the kitchen whipping up a batch of all-purpose spray. For this application I choose to utilize Thieves Household Cleaner https://bit.ly/466T4WU It is a simple and non-toxic cleaner concentrate that you can dilute to your desired use for cleaning your entire house. I often use this as my basic all-purpose cleaner but have also used it to wash my floors, get out stains, clean toilets, and even get my mirrors clean and streak-free.

I also switched from using paper towels to using microfiber cloths. This is a small but worthwhile switch. It saves money on a single use-item as well as lessens the amount of trash we are contributing to the landfill. Utilizing microfiber has certainly seen a boom of popularity and there are several brands to choose from (some with better quality than others). Our favorite microfiber brand is E-Cloth and I love to buy mine from Azure Standard https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/search/e-cloth

Other cleaning supplies we keep on hand are borax (a white powdered substance that is naturally occuring and high in boron, sodium and oxygen), vinegar, baking soda, castile soap, hydrogen peroxide, essential oils/herbs, and glass spray bottles. Each of these materials is easily acquired, have multiple uses, and are fairly inexpensive. And with a variety of combinations you can accomplish any cleaning need you may have. Need a tough floor cleaner? A combo of hot water, castile soap, vinegar and essential oils will get it done. Scouring powder for set in stains in your sink? Borax, baking soda and water has your back. You can easily make your own laundry detergent, toilet bowl cleaner, disinfectant, all-purpose and even wood polish at home.

Lastly, I love having this handy-dandy book on hand for recipes and tips for cleaning. It's called "The Naturally Clean Home" by Karyn Siegel-Maier and can be found on Amazon here https://amzn.to/40HwiDR I found this special little book deep in Amish country in Michigan during a family road trip, and it has served me well. It is chocked full of advice on how to clean with simple, homemade cleaners as well as recipes for self-sufficient and non-toxic cleaning. I have the second edition of the book but there is a newly updated third edition that I have linked for you.

As always I hope that this blog has served you well to education, inspire and give helpful pointers. For more homesteading, motherhood and natural living content please continue to check out the blog, or head over to our youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@heavenlyhillshomesteadid4668

And until next time, welcome to the homestead!

~Ashley