Affiliate Policy

As the collective consciousness begins to finally open like the crusted eye of sleeping giant, some things have become glaringly and alarmingly apparent.

Almost everything we touch can be toxic. From the clean, linen scented fresheners we spray in the air, to the lemon-sour disinfectant wipes we slide across every surface, the chemical components have begun to ring some very scary bells. You start to hear new terminology – carcinogen, endocrine disruptor, toxicant. However, one such term that has become popularized with the public awakening to the ingredients we see each day, is Non-Toxic. 

What does Non-Toxic mean? It could refer to quite a bit.

When you hear the term Non-Toxic, what you’re likely hearing is reference to a substance, product, or material that is not harmful or poisonous to humans, animals, or the environment when used as intended.

Non-toxic items are generally considered safe to handle, inhale, or ingest in small quantities, although this does not necessarily mean they are entirely free from potential risks if misused or overexposed. That goes with everything, unfortunately, and all we can do is our best to minimize our and our family’s exposure. That can be hard, especially when toxins are in everything. Scary, right? Welcome to Non-Toxic Living!

My family has been health and safety conscious from the get go, and I’ve got some carefully honed recipes up my sleeve that are used across family members and close friends. I’m going to share these recipe’s down below, so you don’t have to spend your hard earned money on household items whose disinfecting properties spread more widely than you bargained for. I am also going to provide links to my chosen alternatives, when I just don’t have the energy to make a batch of something specific. 

1. Herbal All-Purpose Cleaner

This one is an obvious answer. All purpose cleaners come in a strong variety of colors, scents, ingredients, and prices.

This simple, minimally involved recipe uses the naturally occurring antibacterial and antiviral properties of a few key ingredients.

If you end up running low or don’t have the time, a fantastic option is this multipurpose cleaner from Blueland, an eco-aware brand that prioritizes non-toxic and low waste production.

 Check out the Cleaner here!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white vinegar. White vinegar is a natural disinfectant and degreaser that helps break down grime, bacteria, grease, and odors. 
• 1 cup distilled water, for dilution. Distilled is important because it lacks the common impurities present in tap water that can leave marks or streaks. We’re going for a winner here. 
• 10 drops tea tree essential oil (antimicrobial properties)
• A few peels from the rind of a lemon, for grease cutting and antibacterial properties, and that yummy smell. (grease-cutting and antibacterial)
• A handful of fresh rosemary or thyme. These herbs are powerful antimicrobials, and also smell incredible.
• Sage. Optional, but I like to add it for that extra kick of microbe-killers.

Instructions:

1. Combine the vinegar, water, and essential oils in an amber jar. You will use this jar to refill spray bottles and other cleaning containers.
2. Add the herbs and lemon peels.
3. Give her a heart shake. Spray on countertops, sinks, or any hard surface that needs a good cleaning.

2. Herbal Laundry Detergent

I get so goddamn picky about my laundry detergent, and this recipe took forever to nail down. I couldn’t nail down a liquid one very well, and eventually went for a dry recipe. If you aren’t feeling up to making a big batch or you don’t have the time, Molly’s Suds is essentially the same thing, a high-quality and stringently clean brand that I always feel safe to fall back on. 

Buy Molly’s Suds Laundry Detergent Here

Ingredients & Purposes:

1. 1 cup washing soda. This will lift dirt and grease from fabrics and act as a softener for the water, to make cleaning more effective.
2. 1 cup baking soda. Baking soda is an odor-slayer, I use it to clean my upholstery too. Gentle on fabrics!
3. 1 bar of castile soap, grated. You can also use liquid castile soap and make a liquid detergent, but I prefer a dry one, it lasts much longer.
4. 10 drops lavender essential oil. Antimicrobial queen, and so so soothing. 
5. 10 drops lemon essential oil. A grease cutter, but also, optional.

Instructions:

1. Grate the bar of castile soap into fine, small shreds using a cheese grater. Get them as tiny as you can, they will melt better in the washing machine.
2. In a large bowl, mix the grated soap, washing soda, and baking soda until well combined into a dusty, powder like mixture.
3. Add the essential oils and stir thoroughly, to ensure it is all completely homogenous.
4. Store in an airtight container. Use 1-2 tablespoons per load of laundry and you are good to go, bye bye hyper-concentrated chemical detergent!

3. Herbal Toilet Bowl Cleaner

The cleaning agent we never think about, but one of the major offenders for toxic chemicals.

Replacing this will be a game changer for you. Again, if you aren’t quite there yet, you can use Blueland’s Toilet Bowl Cleaners, another incredible, low waste non-toxic cleaning product brand. I used their tablets long before I braved the world of homemade toilet cleaners.

Check Out Blueland’s Toilet Cleaner Tablets Here 

Ingredients & Purposes:

1. 1/2 cup baking soda. Baking soda, if you haven’t noticed, is an essential ingredient to any home cleaner recipe. She is a star. 
2. 1/4 cup white vinegar, for those bacteria-smashing properties, and its reaction with baking soda creates a fizzing, bubbly response that is great for scrubbing.
3. 10 drops tea tree essential oil, antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial, and I know I want ALL of the anti’s for my bathroom. 
4. 10 drops peppermint essential oil. Its refreshing, and possesses mild antibacterial properties. 
5. 1/4 cup distilled water. This helps blend the ingredients into that thick paste consistency you want, giving it the grit to scrub.

Instructions:

1. Mix the baking soda and essential oils in bowl. Easy.
2. Slowly add the white vinegar and distilled water to form a thick paste. It WILL FIZZ. Please go slow. 
3. Apply the paste to the inside of the toilet bowl using a toilet brush and start scrubbing.
4. Scrub thoroughly, let sit for 10 minutes, and flush. This paste will last awhile if you make too much, just rehydrate when you need to use it again.

Conclusion

The world we live in gets scarier by the day, especially for those with children in their lives.

Being vigilant of what we put in our body, on our body, and around our body is playing an ever-increasing role in our day to day navigation of existence. By eliminating these items in your home, you are taking one more breath of fresh air, literally and figuratively. 

What products do you make at home? share your recipes below ~