Do you buy several different cleaning solutions for various areas of your home? One for the kitchen counters, one for glass, one for the bathroom? Are you aware of the harmful chemicals found in most commercial household cleaners?
Many of us are unknowingly spraying and spritzing all kinds of toxic, allergy-inducing, hormone-disrupting poison all over our homes—the homes we work hard to make a safe haven for our families. We know, we used to think these products were safe too. We were shocked to learn just how toxic common household products can be.
Now we know better, and we have tried a variety of DIY solutions over the years. Some worked better than others, and we finally settled on this All-Purpose Solution for countertops, fixtures, glass, tile, and many others surfaces. It’s super simple, inexpensive, and non-toxic.
You will need
- Glass spray bottles (We like these from Amazon. They come in amber or cobalt.)
- White Vinegar (we buy it by the gallon at the grocer or discount store)
- Essential Oils (We like Now Brand Essential Oils for all of our home products.)
- One drop of non-toxic dish soap (Earth Friendly Dishmate is our favorite.)
- Water
How to mix
Fill your spray bottle one-third of the way full with vinegar. Add 25-30 drops of the essential oil of your choice (lemon, orange, grapefruit, and cinnamon oils all have antiseptic properties and are great for cleaning). Fill almost to the top with water (leave room to shake). Add the one drop of dish soap (if you add this before the water, it may foam up before you can get the bottle filled). Screw on the trigger and shake.
We keep one of these in just about every room of the house so it’s handy when we need it. Shake well before each use and spray and wipe with a cotton or microfiber cloth. Your counters will be clean, your fixtures will sparkle, and your glass will be streak free! Best of all, you will be filling your home with the healing properties of essential oils instead of harmful chemicals.
We have even used this formula successfully on painted wood surfaces. Just make sure to spray the cloth and not the furniture to avoid damaging the paint.
If the smell of vinegar is unpleasant to you, try using a little less vinegar and adding a few extra drops of essential oils until you get used to the change. Feel free to use a combination of essential oils to get a scent you really like.
In case you were wondering, we use glass bottles because essential oils can break down plastic. The heavier container may feel a bit odd at first, but most people get used to it pretty quickly.
We keep our vinegar in a glass container with a spigot for easy access since we use white vinegar in our laundry too. This way, you can put the vinegar into your glass spray bottle or Downy Ball with no mess. Plus, it’s an attractive storage solution.
If you are curious as to how your toxic your current cleaning solutions are, the Environmental Working Group is a great resource. They provide information about many name brand products including the ingredients and the business practices of the company that produces them. This is a helpful resource for household and personal care products so you can make the safest choices for you and your family.
