Did you know that most household cleaning products are loaded with toxic chemicals and toxins that, over time, can really be detrimental to your health?!
Only 3% of the 10,000 new chemicals that come onto the market every year in Australia are assessed by the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS).
WHAT’S IN THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD CLEANING PRODUCT?
Household cleaning products usually contain grease-cutting agents, detergents, solvents and/or disinfectants. The chemicals in these ingredients include ammonia, ethylene glycol monobutyl acetate, sodium hypochlorite and/or trisodium phosphate.
These chemicals have been linked to chronic respiratory problems, skin, eyes, nose and throat irritations, allergic reactions, headaches, and issues with your kidneys and liver. They have also been linked to cases of cancer in pets.
I used to use a lot of different mainstream cleaning products from the supermarket and my eyes and throat would always feel so sore after being exposed to them for even a short amount of time. After doing some researching and learning about the toxic chemicals in them, I started searching for safer alternatives to use in my home.
BEWARE – GREEN-WASHING
You have probably noticed that there are more and more cleaning products appearing on store shelves with green labelling and they display words such as “green” and “environment” on them. These are often targeted at those of us who are wanting to take that more healthy/natural option with cleaning our homes – but studies are showing that a lot of these products actually still contain some nasty ingredients! This is called “green-washing” – when products are marketed as being safe, but do still contain sneaky toxic chemicals.
MY 3 INGREDIENT MULTI-PURPOSE CLEANER
I have been using this non-toxic multi-purpose cleaner recipe for years and I highly recommend trying it! It works great on benchtops and surfaces, cleaning up spills, and is even great on glass and mirrors! (Sneaky tip: if you have any really stubborn marks and are having trouble removing them, lemon essential oil is amazing for removing those tougher ones!)
I like to add essential oils into this recipe to make it smell beautiful, without the toxic chemicals that are usually involved in “fragrance”. Also, certain essential oils contain anti-bacterial properties and so are great for cleaning!
One of the main reasons I love this recipe is because I can let my son’s get involved if they feel like helping me clean without having to stress if any of us get the spray on our skin like I would if it were a product from the store that contains nasties!
Here’s the recipe:
– 1 cup white vinegar
– 1 cup water
– 20 drops of essential oils of your choice.
I love changing up which oils I use in mine, but my absolute favourite combination is lavender, eucalyptus and lemon (I use approx 8 drops of each). These three oils together smell SO good!
Some essential oils that contain anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties include:
- Peppermint
- Tea tree
- Cedarwood
- Lavender
- Eucalyptus
- Lemongrass
- Lemon
Consider using some of these from the list above to take advantage of their anti-bacterial and anti-microbial benefits.
Another benefit of making your own DIY cleaner is that you will save money – this really is cost-effective, safe, and smells amazing! Let us know in the comments if you have any other essential oil combinations that make your home smell amazing as you clean with your DIY non-toxic spray