Do you opt for non-toxic cleaning agents whenever you shop for cleaning products? Are you aware of the dangers of toxic chemical-based cleaning products?
Most households use chemical-based products rather than non-toxic cleaners to clean their home. If you also do the same, your family is more exposed to dangerous chemicals that may harm your health.
As per the American Lung Association, most ingredients of mainstream cleaning products can cause headaches, irritate eyes or throat, and even lead to respiratory problems and allergic reactions.
Afraid to experience the same? Here are non-toxic cleaning agents to use at home.
10 Non-Toxic Cleaning Agents
Baking Soda
You can use baking soda for many cleaning tasks: cleaning the oven (combined with water, salt, and water) and cleaning floors (mixed with a bit of water and scrub).
Baking soda can also clean stains on clothes (put it on wet clothes and leave it overnight).
For big kitchen messes, you may need a powerful, eco-friendly product. You can make one by combining baking soda and essential oil or baking soda and vinegar.
There are a lot of products you can pair baking soda with; you only need to try.
White Vinegar
White vinegar is not only beneficial for cooking. The acid properties of the solution make it a versatile cleaner and disinfectant.
You can use them to clean the windows and fridge, eliminate mold, and remove stains on the sink, bath, and other surfaces.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen Peroxide is widely used in healthcare facilities. However, did you know that it’s one the best non-toxic cleaning products ever made?
Hydrogen Peroxide deodorizers, disinfects, and clean surfaces. It’s also anti-fungal, antibacterial, anti-mildew, and anti-mold.
This product can clean countertops, kitchen sinks, bathroom floors, and more.
Lemon Juice
Lemon has acetic properties like vinegar. Hence, you can use it as a replacement when vinegar is unavailable, or you don’t want the potent smell of vinegar. If you wish for a fruity scent in the house, opting for lemon juice is best.
Lemon is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial. It is great as a natural cleanser, and its scent refreshes and energizes the house.
Some of the many uses of lemon juice are polishing kitchen items, removing odors, and removing yellow stains.
Borax
Are you looking for non-toxic washing detergent? Try borax. It may not be as powerful as regular store-bought detergent, but the product is a popular booster for laundry detergent.
Borax has a 9.5 pH level (slightly alkaline), which makes it a versatile cleaner around the house.
Besides making your clothes look great, you can also use it to clean tile floors, get rid of bug infestations, clean the dishwasher, prevent mildew build-up, and more.
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing Alcohol is excellent for killing microbes on floors, cars, computers, phones, keyboards, and industrial machines.
However, when you’re cleaning the house with rubbing alcohol, make sure to keep the room ventilated or open the windows. It’s also advisable to use a 90% IPA solution when cleaning electronic devices with rubbing alcohol.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are not necessarily eco-friendly cleaning products, but you can add them to your organic cleaning product recipes.
They can work as a deodorizer and disinfectant. Since they emit pleasant smells, they can also make your house smell good.
Hot Water
Like essential oils, hot water is usually part of homemade cleaning recipes. Using hot water is more efficient if you are to make a cleaner out of baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, etc.
Boiling hot water in a kettle or floor steamer can also sanitize surfaces.
Hot water makes the products more effective in removing dirt, stains, and grease.
On the other, if you are using chemical-based cleaning products, using hot water is not preferable.
Salt
If you’re buying eco-friendly cleaning products in bulk, don’t forget to add salt to your shopping list.
Salt is a popular natural cleaner, and it has been widely used since time immemorial.
You can use salt as is, but most often, it is paired with equally useful cleaners like vinegar.
A bit of salt, vinegar, and some boiling water down the drain can break down bad smells, food particles, and grease.
Cream of Tartar
Cream of tartar is a substitute for household bleach. If you don’t like the chemical ingredients found in regular bleach, feel free to use cream of tartar.
Pair it with water or vinegar and use it anywhere you normally use bleach.
Mix with a few drops of hydrogen peroxide, and clean your greasy and stubborn pots and pans.
Conclusion
Many household cleaning products contribute to health issues like cancer, asthma, heart disease, and hormone disorders.
If that’s not disastrous enough, what makes everything even worse is that some products are not tested or meet certain safety standards before being sold.
The good thing, though, is that you can avoid this situation by choosing non-toxic cleaning agents or having a non-toxic cleaning company clean your home.
Natural cleaners and non-toxic cleaning services will ensure your home is safe for you and your family.
To learn about non-toxic dish soap alternatives, read our blog post – 10 Non-Toxic Dish Soap Alternatives