I function best when my space is clean and orderly. I have spent quite a bit of money on mainstream cleaners in the past, until the past year or so when I discovered the beauty of making my own natural cleaning products. The cleaning solutions that I use at home are easy to make, affordable, effective, and safer than conventional cleaning products. Try them for yourself and long term you will see the benefits in your bank account and notice how much better you feel while using them!
1. The Steam Mop
When we purchased our steam mop, my life was forever changed! It has reusable pads, unlike other mops that create waste every single time you use them. It disinfects with heat+steam. You only need water! I like to add vinegar since it is another way to disinfect and it is an odor neutralizer. Here is a link to the one I own: http://www.amazon.com/SI-70-Multi-Multiple-Purpose-Steamer/dp/B005555WFI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453270300&sr=8-1&keywords=haan+steam+mop
2. White Vinegar
White vinegar is such a great product. It is cheap, versatile, and effective! I use white vinegar to dust surfaces, clean my fridge, and wash my floors. For surfaces, I mix 2 parts vinegar with 1 part water, and sometimes add a drop of dish soap and a few drops of essential oils. White vinegar is an odor neutralizer, so it is great for floors if you have animals. For my floors I use 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts water in my steam mop and occasionally add essential oils to the cleaning pads. Do not add the oils directly into the tank because it can cause the steam mop to become clogged!
3. Castile Soap
I love castile soap! There are many different scents but my favorite is peppermint. You can use this soap as body wash, shampoo, cleaner, and even fruit+veggie wash! It is heavily concentrated, so one big bottle lasts us 6+ months. I like to clean with just the soap, but I also mix castile soap and baking soda to make a scrubbing paste.
4. Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of my favorite products to clean with. Like white vinegar, it is cheap and an odor neutralizer. I use baking soda in my fridge, bathrooms, and rugs! Sprinkle the baking soda on carpets and leave for 15-20 minutes before vacuuming it up. Baking soda is great for sprinkling in your shoes to neutralize odors.
For more natural cleaning supply recipes, check out these sources:
Video, "Non-Toxic Cleaning Guide": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEVOYRwfrkg
Article,"My Favorite Natural Cleaning Recipes": http://www.atypicalenglishhome.com/2014/09/my-favorite-natural-cleaning-recipes.html
Article, "Make These 69 Cleaning Products for Pennies": http://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/DIY-Cleaning-Products-28901279#photo-28901350