Getting Clean

One of my goals for this year was to make our lives a little greener, or at least to remove the more harmful chemicals from our home. This is a goal that seems laughable when you’re working a full time job and just trying to make ends meet. (It seems “green” is code for “expensive!”)

I’d kind of forgotten about this seemingly lofty goal until the American Cancer Society released their report on “20 suspected carcinogens whose potential to cause cancer is as yet unresolved.” late last week.  I read it and wasn’t surprised at some of the items on the list. Then, early this week, Annie Lennord from the “Story of Stuff” video, released a “Story of Cosmetics” video that made me blush.

Not only was she saying that the cosmetics and toiletries I am using everyday are hurting the environment, but they’re hurting me, too. She listed the bad stuff they’re putting in our makeup, shampoo, SPF lotions… it was enough to make me run to Whole Foods to replace all our toxic (cheap) items with safe (expensive) items.

So what’s a girl to do? How can you reconcile a busy life with a green life? Is it possible to look pretty with herbs and oils on your body instead of chemicals and petro-oils? I’m on a mission to find out. Read More…

My first stop was our cleaning pantry. I made a list of all the horrible chemicals I had been using to wipe down counters and get my clothes clean. Here’s how we did:

• All-Purpose cleaner
• Palmolive Dishwashing liquid
• 2 Softsoap handsoaps
• 2 dishwashing detergents
• 3 laundry detergents
• Fruit & Veggie wash (chemical-free!)
• Kleen Windows (chemical-free!)
• 3 mopping cleaners
• Comet Multiroom Cleaner with Bleach
• Febreeze
• 2 pet stain removers
• Bleach
• 2 Kaboom Shower Tub & Tile with Bleach
• 2 Tilex Mold & Mildew with Bleach
• Arm & Hammer Shower Spray
• Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Shower Spray (chemical-free!)

Out of 26 individual cleaners, only three were labeled “green” or “natural.” Not a very good start.

A complete overhaul of our chemical habits seemed a bit extreme for 1.) my time limits and 2.) our budget constraints, so I figured I could whittle down the list to a few basic cleaners, and start from there. I made a new list of the cleaners we could get by on:

• All-Purpose Cleaner
• Disinfectant
• Dishwashing Detergent
• Laundry Detergent
• Hand Soap (Castile soap)
• Dish Soap (Castile soap)

From here I scoured the web for easy, one- to two-ingredient recipes for homemade, all natural, chemical-free cleaners. (Which I’ve compiled below.) I made a trip to HEB and the dollar store (for spray bottles and glass jars,) and got to work. I was surprised how easy most of the cleaners were to mix, and how nice they smelled. They all used the same 4 or 5 ingredients, so It was easy to know what was going in what. (Jump to Recipes)

But would they stand up to my and my picky husband’s cleaning standards?

YES!

The dish detergent was the first thing we tried with amazing results. I have to admit, I always thought the gel would be better than a powder, but we didn’t notice a difference. We still have clean dishes, only now we’re not pouring a bunch of petro-chemicals down the drain when we turn it on.

Laundry detergent was the same deal. Though it was a bit tougher to mix, and is a little difficult to measure out because of the lumps, my clothes came out smelling and looking clean. They even seemed a little softer, which is probably from the Borax I snuck in to the recipe.

The all-purpose cleaner is the only thing I have some issue with, and it’s because of the castile soap. Castile soap is great for a chemical-free soap, but it takes a little more effort to rinse, for whatever reason. I had to make a few passes with the rag to get the cleaner off the counter.

The disinfectant is fabulous. I can’t prove that it works, but I know that my nostrils aren’t burning  every time I use it now!

So the answer to “greening up” your cleaning supplies? Take an afternoon and replace your basics. If you can reach for a chemical-free cleaner the next time you spill coffee on the counter, it’ll feel a lot better, I promise

All-Purpose Cleaner

I found many different recipes for all-purpose cleaners on the internet, but this seems like the most simple and fragrant.

• 2 cups water
• 3 tablespoons liquid soap (castille)
• 20-30 drops Tea Tree Oil

Mix and pour into a spray bottle. Safe to use on everything.

Disinfectant

• 2 TSP Borax
• 4 TBSP Vinegar
• 3 C. Hot Water

Mix and store in a spray bottle.

Dishwashing Detergent

• 1/2 Cup Borax
• 1/2 Cup A&H Washing Soda
• 1/4 Cup Kosher Salt
• Distilled White Vingear

Mix dry ingredients. Use one tablespoon per load, and pour white vinegar into the rise dispenser. Store in a sealed container.

Laundry Detergent (Powder)

• 1 cup White Vinegar (pour this in slowly, it will bubble!)
• 1 cup Baking Soda
• 1 cup Washing Soda
• 1/4 cup liquid castile soap

Mix well and store in sealed container. Use 1/2 cup per load, stirring soap before each use. (This was quite clumpy, but the clumps dissolved in the wash.)

** (Web References: Earth Easy; Frugal Fun; Go Green Street; Tip Nut)