A clean-looking home doesn’t always mean a healthy home. Many store-bought cleaners are harmful and full of toxic chemicals that you and your family breathe in long after the cleaning is done. Even though they clean the dirt away, your home might even be less healthy than when you started. Luckily, our Healthy Home Experts have tips to keep your home both clean and healthy with non-toxic cleaning techniques that are often much cheaper than toxic products. Below are some tips from our Healthy Homes experts on toxic-free ways to keep your house clean.

All-Purpose Cleaner (for spots on linoleum, tile and woodwork)

Ingredient:

• Murphy’s Liquid Soap

1. Squeeze a drop of soap on a wet Easy-wipe
2. Rub the area to be cleaned briskly. An Easy-wipe will last longer and create less waste than a sponge or paper towels. 

Refrigerator

• Place a small open block or container of baking soda inside the refrigerator to eliminate bad odors

Air Freshener

• Place small containers of baking soda around your home to absorb bad odors.

Carpet Freshener

Ingredients:

1. Sprinkle small amounts of baking soda on the carpet.
2. Let it set for an hour
3. Vacuum the baking soda up – do not use on wet carpet!

Tub And Sink

Ingredients:

• Baking soda
• Murphy’s Liquid Soap

1. Sprinkle it on porcelain fixtures and rub with a wet rag.
2. Add a little soap to the rag for more cleaning power.
3. Rinse well to avoid leaving a hazy film

Drains

Ingredients:

• Baking Soda
• Boiling Water
• Vinegar
• Fresh Lemon

1. This recipe will free minor clogs. Treat your drains on a regular basis to prevent future clogs.
2. Pour half a cup of baking soda into the drain first.
3. Pour half a cup of vinegar into the drain.
4. Let it fizz for a few minutes.
5. Then pour one to two quarts of boiling water into the drain.
6. Repeat if needed. If the clog is stubborn, use a plunger. If very stubborn, use a mechanical snake. Avoid letting fats, oils or grease into the drain to prevent clogs.

To keep drains smelling good, grind thin lemon slices in the garbage disposal. If you do not have a garbage disposal, squeeze the lemon juice into each drain.

Ovens

Ingredients:

• Baking Soda
• Water
• Scrubbing pads

1. Mix one cup of baking soda with enough water to make a paste.
2. Apply to oven surfaces and let stand a little while.
3. Use the scouring pad for scrubbing most surfaces.
4. A spatula or bread knife is effective to scrape off large food deposits.

This recipe will require extra scrubbing. Clean up spills in the oven after each use or spot clean it regularly. Do not use this on self cleaning ovens. 

Other Helpful Tips

• Use the spray bottle to hold a mixture of vinegar and water for quick clean-ups in the kitchen and bathroom.
• Spray the bathtub, shower walls and curtain with vinegar and water to reduce or eliminate mold and soap scum.
• Keep different colored gloves in the kitchen and bathroom for use only in those areas to avoid spreading germs.