This past year cleaning our homes has been a hot topic! I’ve heard a lot of talk about cleaning with Tide powder, bleach etc… but the chemicals in most commercial cleaning products are just plain scary. By eliminating toxins from our daily cleaning rituals in the house, we give our immune systems one less thing to fight. Here are some tips on how to clean your home naturally without toxic chemicals.

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

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Why Natural Cleaning?

Common cleaning products can cause respiratory issues, allergic reactions, and eye and throat irritations. Chemicals found in household cleaners have been linked to some cancers. Products such as aerosol sprays, oven & appliance cleaners, dishwashing liquid & detergents and carpet & upholstery cleaners may release volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These VOCs can cause irritations, central nervous system damage, nausea and more. There are so many reasons to get these products out of your home!

The good thing is that switching to natural cleaning is simple. You only need a few recipes to clean the whole house. I used to have an army of cleaning chemicals, marketed for every use you could possibly think of….toilet bowl cleaner, toilet bowl scrubber, tub cleaner, floor cleaner, mildew cleaner. The list seemed to go on forever. And the lists of toxic ingredients did too! But to clean your house naturally, you only need a few basic supplies:

Natural Cleaning Supply List

You will need the following:

• white vinegar
• baking soda
• olive oil
• sponge cloths / cotton cloths
• scrub brushes & bucket
• glass containers & spray bottles
• Thieves household cleaner
• Lemon, Citrus Fresh & Purification Essential oils
• Thieves laundry soap
• Wool Dryer Balls

What is “Greenwashing”?

So many products that claim to be “natural” or “green” are actually full of chemicals and toxic ingredients…

Greenwashing is the process of conveying a false impression or providing misleading information about how a company’s products are more environmentally sound. Greenwashing is considered an unsubstantiated claim to deceive consumers into believing that a company’s products are environmentally friendly.

–INVESTOPEDIA

Where to Buy Clean Products

I buy my cleaning products from Young Living because I know they are made with high-quality, natural ingredients. You can substitute another cleaning concentrate in these recipes, but be sure to read the label carefully. Order natural cleaning products from Young Living.

It’s so important to be a gatekeeper for your home and to clean with fewer toxic products! And the fact that it’s actually easier to clean your home naturally is a huge bonus! So let’s get to it….here are some of my favourite non-toxic cleaning recipes:

KITCHENS

Kitchen Sink

We have a white porcelain farmhouse sink so we need to use a soft scrub that will clean stains without being abrasive. You could also use this safely on a stainless steel sink.

Stove Top

We have a gas cooktop and it tends to get grease spatters on the stainless steel base. I use either the Lemon & Baking Soda Soft Scrub (see above), or I apply a capful of undiluted Thieves Household Cleaner onto the grease spot. I let sit for a minute and then wipe off.

Microwave

I’ve used this trick to clean my microwave for years. Place a bowl of water with 5-10 drops of lemon essential oil or freshly sliced lemons in the microwave and cook on high for a few minutes. The steam will loosen caked-on grime inside the unit and make it easy to wipe clean. As a bonus, your house will smell lemony!

Oven

I use undiluted Thieves Household Cleaner on the oven floor and on the door to remove stuck grease. Just scrub gently with a non-abrasive brush or sponge.

If you don’t have Thieves cleaner you can also use baking soda. Stir together baking soda and water using a 2:1 ratio. ( For example, 2 cups baking soda + 1 cup water). Make sure you have enough to cover the surface area you want to clean. Apply to the surface and let sit 20 mins. Then easily wipe clean!

Fridge

Wipe your fridge down with Thieves Household Cleaner. If there are any sticky spots directly apply a few drops of Lemon essential oil and wipe clean after a few minutes.

I like to add a bowl of baking soda with 5-10 drops of Purification Essential oil added to neutralize odours as well.

Counters & Surfaces

I use the all-purpose household cleaner on my counters. I gave up sealing my marble countertops a few years ago. The chemical sealants are just too nasty! I use a few drops of lemon essential oil for sticky spots. The oil doesn’t etch marble the same way lemon juice would. And I apply the soft scrub paste to any stains for a few minutes to lift them out.

I also use all-purpose cleaner to wipe down cabinet fronts and inside drawers and cutlery trays etc…

Stainless Steel

To polish stainless steel appliances mix 1/2 capful Thieves Household Cleaner + 2 Tbsp olive oil in a spray bottle. Buff the cleaner into the stainless steel with a damp, lint-free cloth. Wipe off excess with a clean, dry cloth.

BATHROOMS

Toilets, Tubs & Sinks

Once again I use the Soft Scrub recipe for cleaning toilet bowls or stubborn bathtub grime. Works like a charm on porcelain. Then I use the all purpose cleaner on the outside of the toilets, tubs and to spray down the sinks and counters etc..

Showers

This spray works well for glass doors, or tile or plastic surrounds to keep hard water & soap residue from building up.

Shower Heads & Faucets

In a plastic bag mix 1 tsp Thieves Household Cleaner + ¾ cup white vinegar. Attach the bag to the fixture and leave for several hours. Scrub with a coarse brush if needed to remove hard water stains. Rinse well.

Mirrors

Use this simple glass cleaner for a streak-free shine on mirrors and reflective surfaces.

SURFACES

Baseboards & Walls

Use all purpose cleaner for baseboards and walls and if there is “artwork” on the walls apply a splash of Thieves Household Cleaner + 3 drops of Lemon essential oil to a damp rag and wipe!

Windows

Adding a bit of vinegar keeps windows streak-free. Use the glass cleaner listed above for any windows, cabinet doors, or other glass surfaces. Another trick for streaks is to wipe the windows dry with newspaper instead of paper towel.

Floors

For tile and laminate flooring use the following recipe to wash floors by hand or use a steam mop:

LAUNDRY

Many laundry detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets are full of nasty chemicals, fragrances, hormone disrupters and carcinogens. I had no idea that they were some of the most toxic products we have in our homes.

The chemicals found in typical laundry detergents remain in your clothes after a wash cycle and can penetrate your skin, especially when your clothes become damp or wet.

Try these natural recipes instead:

Because fabric softeners are made to stay in your clothing, the chemicals are slowly released, either into the air for you to inhale or onto your skin for you to absorb. Add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to the final rinse cycle of your wash as a natural fabric softener instead.

The effects of many chemicals are more acute when heated in clothes dryers, which exhaust toxic fumes into the air. Use wool dryer balls with 2-3 drops of Purification or Citrus Fresh essential oil added instead.

I find that if I overdry my clothes using wool dryer balls they will still have static. This might be your issue if you find wool dryer balls aren’t working well for you.

And of course, hanging your laundry outside in the fresh air and sunshine is always an amazing natural drying option!

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It’s easy to “ditch and switch” the nasty chemicals in your house for natural cleaning options. It’s more simple, less expensive, and most definitely better for your health! I hope you’ve enjoyed these tips on how to clean your home naturally. For more information on essential oils and natural living check out Ginger Home Essentials.

You may also like these free printable cleaning charts to help keep your house clean without the stress!