Clean up your Home Cleaning Regimen! Part 1

With Earth Day come and gone, I thought I would keep the spark alive with a series on household cleaning regimens, the harmful chemicals that lurk within them, and what we can do about it. Many have taken the natural claaning product route for various reasons, the 2 biggest and most encompassing being: 

* They are better for the environment. 

* They are better for our health.

You may be concerned about the affects your cleaning agents are having on the environment – like the chemical residues that seep into landfills when these products are discarded, or the dangers of the plastics they come in.  Others concerns are based on issues that hit even closer to home – like their children’s health and wellness, the fact that these chemicals can cause serious reactions in children that are sensitive to them, and have a negative effect on asthma sufferers. 

One simple way to do your part, is to make your own products at home, that will effectively clean and disinfect, without the dangers associated with over the counter “chemical warfare in a bottle” products.  I’ve done a bit of experimenting and was able to come up with everything I need to clean and disinfect my home.  Over the next few days, I’ll share these recipes and some tips to help readers eliminate these toxins from their family’s daily lives. 

Today, we’ll start with a list of what you will need!  If you get your hands on the items on this list, you’ll have everything you need to create a line of cleaning products for your home.  So, you will need: 

* Baking Soda – any grocery store.

* Borax – a natural mineral that can be used for cleaning, laundry brightening, etc. Can usually be found in the laundry section, under the name “Mule Team Borax” 

* White Vinegar - any grocery store. 

* Lemon Juice – any grocery store. 

* Sea Salt – any grocery store. Get a BIG container.

* Essential Oils – Tea tree, Lime & Peppermint oils are pretty much required for their disinfectant effects in my cleaner recipes, but you may also add any others that you like the scent of.  Consider lavendar, geranium, patchouli or eucalyptus, the options are endless. You can find these at your local health food stores or by doing a search for “Essential oils” at online retailers, like Amazon.  See! –> Tea Tree Oil

* Herbs – Sage, Cinnamon, Clove, Nutmeg, peppermint leaves, calendula petals, rose petals; some of which, you probably already have around the house.  ALL herbs are totally OPTIONAL. 

* 2-3 Spray Bottles & 2 Shaker Containers – Find a few large spray bottles that you like the look of.   I actually found a few of mine at the dollar store with some disgusting cleaner in it.  I took them home and washed them out (and they only cost me a dollar!). For my thinkier cleaning liquids, I recommend a “GOOD” spray bottle, you can find better ones at target. The spray function is better, and won’t get clogged by more substantial cleaning liquids.  For shaker containers, I simply used a hole punch to pop holes in old oatmeal canisters. 

Ok, so go find your goods, and meet me back here tomorrow to make out first cleaner!!  Woo hoo!!