Are you worried that your cleaning products are unhealthy for you, your family, your pets or the environment?
There is evidence that certain ingredients in commercial cleaners can negatively affect our health and the environment. They may be endocrine-disrupters, skin irritants, lung irritants, carcinogenic or environmentally unfriendly. They may have negative effects on the immune system and nervous system. The Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning is a great resource for researching the ingredients in your cleaners.
Long before the latest commercial cleaning products came out, people cleaned their homes and clothes with safer, cleaner ingredients. These are available to us too! Best of all, many of these are already in our homes or easy to find at the store or online:
- Vinegar
- Baking soda, borax or washing soda
- Castile soap
- Lemon juice
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Tea tree or lavender essential oils
- Soap nuts (What? What are these?)
You can make your own homemade cleaners using combinations of these ingredients. Different recipes can be used for different purposes and strengths. Buy a spray bottle (preferably glass) and mix your ingredients. Clean cloths aid in wiping and drying.
Here are two recipes for all-purpose cleaners to get you started:
All-Purpose Cleaner #1 – Mild
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 2 Tbsp baking soda
- 10 drops lavender, tea tree or lemon essential oil
- 12 oz water
Mix all ingredients into a clean spray bottle. Spray, wipe, then let dry.
All-Purpose Cleaner #2 – Strong
- 3 Tbsp white vinegar
- 1/2 tsp washing soda
- 1/2 tsp castile soap
- 16 oz hot water
Mix ingredients in a clean spray bottle. Spray, wipe and let dry.
Why not try making your own homemade cleaners to benefit the environment and your own health? You can find many homemade cleaner recipes for multiple purposes online, including at University of Arkansas Research and Extension.
At Radiance Functional Medicine, we believe that food is medicine. We hope that you will allow us to help you heal your gut, balance your hormones, or find a way of eating that helps you thrive! Schedule an appointment to get started. Whether you are looking for a Nutritionist or Functional Medicine Doctor in Denver or your local area, we see patients in person and virtually. Call our office at 303.333.1668 to schedule your Initial Nutrition Consultation.
