Non toxic cleaning products for your home

Dia duit agus fáilte – that’s Irish for hello and welcome – to this blog post about making your own non toxic cleaning products to help reduce the symptoms of RA and other autoimmune diseases.

When you have an autoimmune disease, it is important to live as clean a life as possible and one of the steps you can take is to remove toxins in your home and learn how to create your own non toxic cleaning products. I hope you’ll be inspired to make some healthy changes to your housekeeping habits. (Some of this info is taken from this article I wrote for Chick Pea magazine – Issue 26)

Maybe you’re like me and try to avoid cleaning your house or maybe you’re like my Mum and clean constantly. (I wonder if the two could be related?) Either way, there are times you will need to clean and the products you choose to use can be healthy and supportive of your goal for a toxin-free life or they could be detrimental and exacerbate your chronic pain and RA symptoms.

Continue reading below for ideas and recipes to make your own non toxic cleaning products.

Why should we care about using non toxic cleaning products?

We are spending so much time, energy and effort to heal the immune system and clean our bodies from the triggers and toxins that cause RA symptoms; doesn’t it make sense to also look at our environment for anything that may be contributing to the problem?

Changing my diet was very challenging and I would do it again tomorrow if faced with the same level of pain and despair. As my body and head cleared from the heavy brain fog of rheumatoid arthritis, I looked around and assessed other areas of my life that deserved improvement and my attention fell on our home. Surely nothing else could prove nearly as difficult to adapt and change; I was right.

We were already a mostly-natural-cleaning-product household but learning about the relationship between toxins and RA really inspired me to shift completely to non toxic cleaning products. And this commitment eventually propelled me down the road to making our own green clean healthy versions of common household cleaners. It was simple, easy and turned out to be better for the environment and my piggy bank – win, win!

What is the problem with cleaning products?

Until 2016 there was no real regulation of ingredients in cleaning products. When President Obama signed The Frank R Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21^st Century Act into law, the EPA was given authority to regulate chemicals used commercially in the US. Given that there are more than 62,000 currently in use, it is likely to take them a while!

So, for now, manufacturers are required to label toxic, corrosive and flammable products but not the common toxic ingredients and everyday chemicals we have in our homes. They are still present and still unlabeled … and that feels like a crap shoot, especially when you’re living with RA.

Toxic ingredients

Some ingredients in cleaning products are acutely dangerous – ammonia, lye and chlorine – and products with these items come with a large “DANGER”, or caution, sign on them. Other ingredients are more insidious and can lead to chronic or long-term effects such as cancers and organ damage.

The typical cleaning products found in your local grocery shop include ingredients like:

• VOCs – volatile organic compounds, many of which are known to cause asthma, nausea and damage to the central nervous system and other organs.
• Fragrances that easily enter the respiratory system, causing headaches, irritation and worsening asthma.
• Chemicals such as diethanolamine, triethanolamine, butyl cellosolve, alkylphenol ethoxylates and many more shown to be neurotoxins, carcinogens and hormone disruptors.

Seriously??? Here I am worrying about the non-organic tomato in my sandwich and the damn detergent that cleans the plate contains toxic ingredients known to impact my already messed-up overactive immune system.

So, what to do? Do I have to get used to my formerly white towels fade to dingey grey? What about when the kitchen sink is clogged?

There are lots of options. In sunny weather I allow the sun to work its cleaning and natural bleaching magic. We also keep a store-bought environmentally-friendly carpet cleaner for when the dog throws up grass on the white rug!

We each have to decide where we draw the line as we transition to a toxin free life; as much as I loved the light lingering scent of wood polish, I now use a barely damp cleaning cloth instead. And it doesn’t feel like a trade-off or compromise when the bathroom is sparkling clean with the green clean smell of tea tree and lavender essential oils lingering in the air.

We have chosen to make as many healthy non toxic cleaning products as possible; here is information you can use to do the same.

What can I use instead of toxic ingredient products?

Yes, there are lots of non toxic cleaning products available in most grocery stores; we buy our laundry detergent, mainly because my front load washing machine didn’t work well with the option below. (I tried it and we kept experiencing a laundry room with bubbles all over the floor!) But I love making our own and the ingredients are easy to source, inexpensive and highly effective.

White vinegar – the workhorse of homemade non toxic cleaning products.

Notes of caution:

• Best used diluted.
• Vinegar can discolor certain surfaces; be sure to test on a hidden area first.
• Do NOT use on marble or granite surfaces, stone floor tiles or in your iron.

Lemon juice & lemons or limes – yes, you can squeeze your own if you are so inclined. I buy a bottle of organic lemon juice for a few dollars and keep it in the fridge.

Baking soda – versatile, inexpensive and highly effective as a stain remover, whitener and deodorizer.

Washing soda – sodium carbonate is a natural cleaner and a powerful water softener.

Castile soap or Sal Suds – form the base for so many cleaning products. Sal Suds is typically used for hard water and for a more powerful cleaning punch.

Essential oils – be sure to buy 100% pure essential oils. Look for oils in dark glass bottles and start with 10ml bottles; a little goes a long way. Tea tree, lavender, rosemary or any citrus all work well for cleaning and leave a delightful fresh scent. Read my post about essential oils.

Cautionary note: Borax and citric acid are often recommended for homemade cleaning products. Both have been linked to negative respiratory effects; don’t use them! More info.

Other less common green clean options include:

• Soap nuts.
• Dryer balls.
• Vodka (the cheaper the better!) for stainless steel, marble and granite.

You will need a couple of spray bottles, maybe a wide-necked jam jar and other containers as called for.

Now that you have your stash of healthy, non-toxic ingredients, you can create safe cleaning products for use around the house.

A clean and healthy home for the RA body

Before we start to clean, let’s look at some ways to avoid cleaning in the first place!

Consider making the following changes:

• Become a shoe-free home. Create a shoe zone at the front door or the garage door; add a nice shelf with a spot for your slippers.
• Use doormats.
• Dry or wipe your pets off before they enter the house. This is a biggie for us – we live on a farm and have a large, hairy Old English Sheepdog who spends much of the day racing from pasture to pasture checking on all the animals getting dirtier and dirtier. We keep a towel at each door and try to clean her before letting her into the house. (No easy task!)

Non toxic cleaning products we all use regularly: recipes

Now, unfortunately, it’s time to clean. (Have I mentioned I don’t like to clean?) Of course, there are general purpose safe cleaning products but each room also has specific cleaning requirements; I hope you’ll try some of the recipes below. And don’t forget, you can add essential oils to any of the following.

All purpose cleaner

A mix of equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle will work wonders all over your house – sinks, tubs, counters, and even the toilet seat. Add 10-30 drops of essential oil for every cup of the mixture, if desired. This product also serves as disinfectant.

Window and mirror cleaner

Combine ¼ cup vinegar with 2 cups water and ½ teaspoon castile soap in a spray bottle. Wipe down with either an old t-shirt or newspapers. I like to add 20 drops of lemon essential oil to this recipe.

Air freshener: Mix together 1.5 cups filtered water, ½ cup vinegar and 20 drops of your favorite essential oil or blend. I love lavender in the bedrooms, lemon or tea tree oil in the bathrooms and a blend of grapefruit, mandarin and lavender in the kitchen and living areas.

DIY disinfecting wipes: Combine 1 cup of water, ¼ cup of vinegar, 10 drops each of tea tree, lemon and lavender essential oils. Fold 10 or more squares of old smooth cloth (t-shirts and napkins are great) and place neatly into a container. (You can use a baby wipe container or any glass or plastic container.) Pour the vinegar mix over the shirts and use as you would any disinfectant wipe. I like to keep a box of these in the car as hand wipes. Reuse the cloths after washing. (I used these when we moved into the van and they were a fabulous way to keep our tiny home on wheels clean.)

Bathrooms

Deep Cleaner: For the toilet bowl, use ½ cup undiluted vinegar with 1 tablespoon baking soda (it will foam). Flush to empty the bowl, pour in the vinegar mix, allow to rest one hour, then scrub and watch those ugly rings disappear.

Grout: To clean the grout in your tile backsplash or floor, use baking soda paste mixed with vinegar and allow to sit 20-30 minutes before you use it. Brush it in with an old toothbrush until the grout is clean and wipe away with water. Do not use vinegar on stone floor tile, granite or marble.

Clogged drains: Sprinkle ½ cup baking soda down the drain and chase it with ½ cup undiluted vinegar. Allow to sit 30-45 minutes before pouring in very hot but not boiling water. Repeat if needed, using a plunger if appropriate. It helps to clear out any clumps of hair you can see with tweezers beforehand.

Fixtures: If you love shiny faucets, use baking soda mixed with water and a few drops castile soap to form a light paste and wipe away those water marks and soap scum. If you want an even brighter shine finish off with the still damp rag or newspaper from the mirrors.

If you like the soft scrub style of cleaner, mix a few tablespoons of baking soda with warm water and just a drop or two of castile soap.

Bedrooms

Wood polish: I suggest making this up in very small quantities so you don’t have to store it for too long. Mix together 3 Tablespoons olive oil, 1 Tbsp vinegar and 8-10 drops of lemon essential oil in a spray bottle.

Carpet freshener: After removing the furniture, you can sprinkle baking soda liberally over the carpet, rubbing it in with your hands if desired. Allow to sit several hours or overnight before vacuuming.

Kitchen

Dish soap: Combine ¼ cup of vinegar, ¼ cup almond or jojoba oil, 2 cups of Sal Suds (or Castile soap) and 2 cups of boiling water. I like to add 20-30 drops of lemon oil to the mix for a refreshing scent.

Dishwasher detergent: I like this natural option from Huff Post

Microwave, Stove-top: Use a non-abrasive sponge dipped in undiluted vinegar to remove the grease from the microwave or stove-top.

Oven Cleaner: Combine 1 cup baking soda, 1-2 teaspoons castile soap (optional), 1 teaspoon vinegar with enough water to make a spreadable paste. Remove any charred food from the floor of the oven and coat the inside of the oven, floor, walls, even the racks, with the paste, avoiding the heating elements. Allow to sit overnight and wipe away with warm soapy water in the morning.

Dishwasher cleaner: Remove the filter and allow to soak in hot soapy water 15-20 minutes. Use a scrub brush to loosen any scuz (is that a word?) from the inside, around the gasket and the door. Place a bowl of vinegar on the top rack of the machine and sprinkle the floor with 1 cup baking soda; run on the hot water cycle. Wipe away any remaining dirt.

Stainless steel appliances: Combine 1 cup water with ¼ cup vodka in a spray bottle and wipe away dirty fingerprints and food splatters.

Waste disposal: After following the instructions for the drain cleaner above, first stuff a large handful of ice cubes into the waste disposal and run them through and then throw half a lemon or lime, or even just the peels and turn on the disposal to freshen things up.

Laundry

• Use soap nuts as directed in your washing machine.
• Use the following mix (but not in your front load washing machine!):

• Add vinegar and 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil to the fabric softener compartment of your washing machine. You can use this tip to soften your towels without detergent.
• Throw a reusable dryer ball into the dryer. Or copy us and go dryer free – a really green clean option that saves money and the environment.

Final thoughts

There is a lot of information in this post and hopefully enough of the right kind to encourage a shift from toxic ingredients to safe non toxic cleaning products and not so much to cause stress. Instead of feeling overwhelmed and doing nothing, pick one item you want to switch and start there. Make one bottle of all-purpose cleaner or a box of DIY disinfectant wipes  to stash in the car and leave the rest for another day.

Change by change, item by item, you can slowly reduce toxins in your home and allow the body and immune system to take a breather.

If you want to learn more about life with rheumatoid arthritis, check out these favorite posts: