A Complete Guide to Cleaning your House without Toxins

Everyone knows how important it is to keep harmful chemicals out and off of our bodies. What’s less common is the consideration of negative effects your cleaning products may have on your health as well. We’ve put together a short guide to cleaning every room of your home without toxins and a lower carbon footprint.

Kitchen: The kitchen is a very sensitive spaces in terms of bacteria and cleanliness. It’s necessary to keep your counters and dishes clean to diminish the risk of surface bacteria making its way into your food. Many assume that to truly clean harmful germs off of your surfaces, you need to use the strongest antibacterial products out there. Triclosan is a common ingredient in these types of products, and it’s known to cause antibiotic resistance. Instead, you can simply use a product that contains saponified oils, such as coconut or jojoba, essential oils, and aloe!

To wash your dishes, avoid products that contain harsh detergents and fragrances which can be easily ingested the next time anyone eats out of them. What’s wrong with a little fragrance, you ask? Because of FDA rules, companies aren’t required to disclose what’s in their fragrance formula. But chances are high that they contain phthalates, which are serious endocrine disruptors. A great alternative is to use castile liquid soaps, which is also made from saponified oils, aloe vera, and essential oil if you’re seeking a scent! (While we’re here, we should let you know that Liquid Sunshine and other castile soap, in varying dilutions, can be used to clean anything including dishes).

To take it once step further, try washing your produce with an All Natural Fruit and Veggie Wash to rid it of dirt, grime, and pesticide residue.

Bathroom: Yikes, the bathroom is a scary place for people to let go of their conventional cleaning products. But have no fear! Again, bacteria busting products often have dangerous chemicals that annihilate bacteria like triclosan or quarternary ammonium compounds, but there is no need to use ingredients like this.

For antibacterial products to clean your toilet or tub, look for products that contain vinegar, tea tree oil, and baking soda. Vinegar and tea tree oil are both natural antibacterial and antifungal substances, and baking soda helps to scour the surfaces. Unless you are battling an uncleaned toilet of three years, these ingredients should work just fine. For bathroom counters, consider Liquid Sunshine, castile soap, or vinegar and tea tree oil once again.

And just for kicks, spray some Vermont Soap Aromatherapy Spray in there when you’re done!

Living Room: To keep your windows nice and sparkly, combine a couple cups of filtered water, a couple spoonfuls of vinegar, and some essential oil into a spray bottle and go to town. The filtered water and vinegar help to prevent streaking, while the essential oil will produce a pleasant smell. Or just give a spray with Liquid Sunshine Spray and Wipe. You can also dilute your concentrate and make your own. To pick up dust, you can purchase very inexpensive microfiber cloths that can be reused again and again – for a variety of purposes – and are very effective at picking up dust. And to clean up after that messy kid or pup? Push-powered sweepers are great a picking up crumbs, pebbles, coins, you name it. They don’t consume any electricity, and the reservoir can be emptied when full, rather than tossing out countless vacuum bags! And hey, some Aromatherapy Spray could do wonders for a dull smelling room.

Make YOUR home a NONTOXIC HOUSEHOLD. Replace yucky cleaning products with 100% natural and healthy solutions from Vermont Soap.


Jillian Conner is a blogger and media specialist and a frequent contributor to VermontSoap.com

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