Home is somewhere we should feel safe & sound. Yet our homes are unknowingly exposing us to more toxins than ever. Be it in regards to indoor air quality, furniture, food, or self-care and cleaning products, the living spaces we share indoors are becoming even more polluted than the ecosystems we are failing to protect outside. That’s why having non-toxic home cleaners is an important step towards keeping a healthy home.

Commercial home cleaning products are laden with all sorts of chemicals, promising to get even the toughest domestic cleaning jobs done. But the true cost of these products is high. The long-term health & environmental risks of these cleaners is a lot more damaging than we think. It’s not an uncommon phenomenon that you or someone you know experiences allergies, eczema, asthma, or other sensitivities. But in combination with other lifestyle choices/factors, reducing exposure to synthetic chemicals is definitely a part of treating these types of ailments.

What’s in your cleaning products

Here are a few toxic ingredients to look out for:

Formaldehyde, which is used as a preservative and known to be carcinogenic.
Fragrance, which is an umbrella term used to disguise hundreds of chemicals which can cause endocrine disruption; synthetic fragrances may also lead to allergies or asthma.
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds, or “Quats”, which are found most often in fabric softeners; can cause respiratory irritation and is considered to be one of the most likely causes of allergic contact dermatitis of the hands.
Chlorine Bleach, which contains both chloroform and chlorine, and it is most often associated with respiratory and/or neurological side effects.

Non-toxic home cleaning substitutes

There are certain lengths you can go to if you’re trying to detoxify your home. But the purpose of this article is to give you some safe & effective DIY formulas for common cleaning products which can spruce up every part of your home – leaving it a little more sanitary and a little less toxic.

The Essentials

Vinegar: It seems like there is nothing vinegar can’t do. It cleans by degreasing & disinfecting, as well as removing mildew, odours and stains. (Note: vinegar can slowly ruin marble and granite, so proceed with caution if using it on counter tops).
Baking Soda: When used with vinegar, it gives sinks and toilet bowls that sparkling finish. It works as a basic scourer to remove food build-up – or to soften particularly ‘hard’ water – and can also be mixed in with your daily laundry load as a fabric softener.
Eucalyptus or Tea Tree Essential Oil: Adding a few drops to any cleaner will grant it some basic antibacterial properties.
Soap (liquid form): Castile soap is versatile and biodegradable. This makes it a good option for outdoor cleaning, as the soap will wash away without you having to worry about it harming your plants or washing off into the local waterways. Works well to clean just about anything, including dishes, floors, and anywhere else that needs basic, gentle cleaning.
Rags: Buy yourself the reusable kind. Then they can be easily color-coded to reference different areas of the house.

DIY non-toxic, all-natural spray cleansers

Method: mix ingredients together in a spray bottle.

For windows & mirrors, and removing water stains in the bathroom or showering area:
1L water
60mL vinegar
15g baking soda

For the kitchen areas, fridge & table:
160mL cup water
80mL white vinegar
1 tbsp. baking soda
15 drops of essential oil (e.g. tea tree, lavender or lemon)

Bathroom, toilet & sink areas:
450mL warm water
2 tbsp. soap
2 tbsp. white vinegar
Optional: essential oil

Liquid soap for dishes:
400mL water
120mL soap
2 tbsp. baking soda
15 drops essential oil (citrus works well here!)

Switching out your cleaning products

As you can see, you don’t always need separate cleaning products for every single surface of the home. With a few essentials, you can give yourself a DIY arsenal that can become your all-purpose home cleaning kit. They’re not only effective, affordable & easy, but they also really limit all those toxic & irritant chemicals – typically found in commercial cleaners – from damaging our environment. So you can clean well & rest easy.

Always make sure cleaning products (even the homemade ones) are labelled and kept out of reach from children.

If you have any DIY faves, please share them with me! I’m always looking for more to add to my repertoire.

Cover photo: Daiga Ellaby