Did you know the cleaners we use in our homes are supposed to keep us safe from dangerous bacteria and germs, but they are doing just the opposite, they contain deadly toxins which are harming us?

We touch them, we inhale them, and sometimes we swallow them.

Breathing in a toxic cleaning product is just as bad as putting it on your skin.  And then it only takes 26 seconds for chemicals on your skin to enter your body.  And if they are in the air, you get it; it is touching your skin.

So let’s talk about the air quality of your home.

According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), the air inside the typical home can be 100 more polluted than the air outside largely because of household cleaners and pesticides in them!

Not convinced they pose a risk?

Have you ever read the label on the back of your cleaners?

They are warning signs of the toxicity levels assigned by the EPA.  If there are a skull and crossbones and the word ‘poison’ plastered on your container, you know it is really dangerous stuff.  Definitely lethal!

Products can also be labeled ‘danger,’ ‘warning,’ or ‘caution.’  And words like ‘hazardous,’ ‘corrosive,’ or ‘caustic;’ ‘irritant;’ ‘inflammable;’ and ‘may cause burns.’  These warning signs indicate they are toxic and hazardous to your health!

What this means.

These signal words indicate how much of the cleanser it would take to KILL you by ingestion, inhalation or skin contact; as well as, whether skin or eye contact is dangerous.  This is pretty scary!

What about regulations?

There are NO federal regulations related to safety standards when it comes to common household cleaning products.  This means manufacturers can put just about anything in these products, without any significant testing.

Yet the manufacturers will tell you in small doses their products are safe.  However, these chemicals accumulate in our bodies and there have been NO studies done to see what happens when these deadly toxins mix inside our bodies.  And their long-term effects are not known.

So basically we are on our own when it comes to choosing safe, clean products.

I am not telling you this to freak you out but to increase your awareness.

But we are left with a dilemma.

We do need to clean our clothes, our dishes, our bathrooms, our windows and everything else in our homes.  But we need to do it safely.

Keeping a clean home can help your health, but if the cleaning supplies you use are toxic, it can lead to a host of potential health problems.  This is why it is so important to limit or reduce our exposure and learn what products to use that are safe and effective alternatives.

So you say, I’ll get natural products.

So what does that mean?  There is no standardized definition of NATURAL in relation to product ingredients.  And because of this, manufacturers can label cleaners as ‘natural’ even when they have harmful ingredients in them.

So what is the solution?

Thank goodness, chemical-laden cleaning products aren’t the only way to keep a home sparkly clean.  So make your own and replace those toxic cleansers with your own non-toxic homemade cleaners made from simple ingredients you already have in your pantry.

And the benefits are priceless.

In many cases, homemade cleansers can clean better than ‘conventional’ or ‘natural’ store-bought cleaning products.

It costs less to make.

And best of all, by using homemade cleaners you will be assured you are cleaning chemically-free and your health and your family’s health will not be compromised.

And you will have peace of mind that comes from knowing your home and your family is protected and safe.  And you can’t put a price on that!

So, let’s meet the star players.

Before we get to the homemade cleaning recipes, I want to introduce you to the star players.  Let’s check out some of the most common non-toxic cleaning ingredients.

Please note the ingredients listed are edible, yes that is right.  Because everything that comes into contact with your body—whether by touch, through your skin, breathing and inhaling it, or just plain eating it—is absorbed into the body.  So it only makes sense to make sure that everything you use is edible.  This way you are completely safe!

So here are the star players, simple ingredients like soap, water, baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice, olive oil and essential oils.  In different combinations, they can tackle almost any household cleaning task and get your home sparkly clean, and, you got it, safe too!

Baking Soda

Baking soda is a pantry staple with proven virus-killing abilities.  Baking soda also effectively cuts through grease and grime, cleans, lifts stains, whitens and brightens, and deodorizes.  Great to use in all sorts of emergencies!

Castile Soap

Castile soap tackles nearly every cleaning task in the home.  Castile soap is made from 100% plant oils.  What that means is it is 100% natural and is not derived from animal products or chemical detergents, definitely a plus!  Castile is known for its cleansing abilities cutting grease and grime.

White Cleaning Vinegar

There is a lot of hype about the wonderful cleaning effects of vinegar and thanks to its acidity; vinegar is nothing short of a cleaning wonder.  Vinegar is a great multi-purpose cleaner that can be used as an antibacterial and disinfectant, deodorizer and more.  It effectively and gently eliminates grease, soap scum and grime.  When you get your vinegar, make sure you use “Cleaning Vinegar” with 6% acidity instead of Distilled White Vinegar with 5% acidity.

Lemon Juice

Lemon, like vinegar, is a terrific cleaning agent.  The acid in lemons is antibacterial and antiseptic, and it acts as natural bleach.  Lemon juice gets rid of mildew and mold, cuts through grease and shines hard surfaces too.  And of course, it also smells awesome!

Olive Oil

Olive oil has disinfectant and antiseptic properties.  It works well as a cleaner with other ingredients, and makes for a great polisher!

Essential Oils

Pure essential oils are some of the best secret weapons to use in DIY cleaners.  Not only do these bring great scent additions to homemade cleaning; but also, many of these plant-based oils boast antibacterial, antiviral, and even antifungal properties.  Ones to note are tea tree, eucalyptus, citrus, lavender, peppermint, and rosemary, among others.

Himalayan Salt

Salt is an extraordinary cleaning and deodorizing agent for your entire home.And salt works as an effective yet gentle scouring agent.  Add salt to your recipes to boost the cleaning action.  Instead of regular salt use Himalayan salt as it is pure salt without contaminants.

Distilled Water

Distilled water is steamed water without any contaminants.  You really don’t want to clean with your contaminated tap water as the average tap water has 250+ contaminates.  Distilled water is perfect for cleaning and also drinking too (with a pinch of Himalayan salt).  Water is used to dilute the strength of the cleaning action in the recipes.