The beginning of spring marks a time of taking inventory of our space, getting rid of those things that don’t serve us anymore and doing a deep clean to start the new season. While well-intentioned, we sometimes clean our spaces with chemicals that can harm our bodies. Common household cleaners like bleach and ammonia that our elders used can spark respiratory problems when inhaled or irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat when we come in contact with them.
Although vinegar and baking soda can be used to clean virtually everything, there are hundreds of great products currently on the market to do the job just as effectively, minus the harmful side effects.
Here are a few of our favorite toxin-free cleaners:
- Vinegar: the grease-cutting power of vinegar is great on tough tasks. Use to disinfect. To clean stainless steel sinks, pots and pans, or your shower, put vinegar into a spray bottle and cover surface. Sprinkle baking soda and allow to sit for a few minutes. Scrub with a sponge until clean, then rinse completely.
- Baking soda: great as a gentle abrasive. Use as described above.
- Essential oils: Peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree oil, lemon, and grapefruit are all great, antibacterial essential oils to use to clean.
- Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds, Peppermint or Tea Tree Oil Castile liquid soap: a good product to use for cleansing bathrooms or floors.
- Good Vibes All-Purpose Cleaner *Black Owned*: great to clean tubs and showers, refridgerators, surfaces, floors and car exteriors.
Read more on toxin-free cleaning here.
