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I recommend natural beauty, baby, and cleaning products that are just as effective as toxic ones.

Non-Toxic Cleaning Guide 2021

Non-Toxic Cleaning Guide 2021

Strong disinfectants, bleach, and fragrant cleaners are major contributors to poor air quality. They emit hundreds of harmful volatile organic compounds, cause respiratory irritation and migraine headaches among other adverse health effects.

Switching to natural and non-toxic cleaning products can significantly improve the air quality in our homes. These cleaning essentials are just as effective without unnecessary fragrances and harmful ingredients.

Bathroom

Bon Ami Powder Cleanser

For toilet bowls and dirty sinks, sprinkle Bon Ami powder, add water, scrub or brush the surface, and then rinse.

Branch Basics Bathroom And Oxygen Boost

Clean countertops and the outer surface of toilets with Branch Basics Bathroom. To whiten grout, spray Branch Basics Bathroom then scrub with Oxygen Boost and wipe away. For mold spots in grout, follow up with hydrogen peroxide and let dry.

Save 15% on Branch Basics start kits with code switchnatural.

Force Of Nature Disinfectant

To disinfect surfaces spray, Force of Nature (which uses hypochlorous acid) or 3% hydrogen peroxide. For best results, wait 10 minutes before wiping. Always clean surfaces before disinfecting. To learn more about disinfectants, read this blog post on how to safely disinfect.

Save 25% off the Force of Nature Extra Value Bundle + free shipping with code SWITCHNATURAL.

Squeegee

For glass shower doors, use a squeegee after showering to prevent water stains and build up.

 

Laundry

Vinegar For Fabric Softener

Add vinegar to the fabric softener section of your washer. Vinegar adds cleaning power, softens fabrics, and leaves them smelling and feeling fresh. The vinegar smell dissipates in the wash.

Branch Basics Liquid Laundry Detergent

For a regular load of laundry, use one cap full of Branch Basics Laundry. For extra dirty loads and to brighten whites, add a scoop of Oxygen Boost to the main section of your washer.

Branch Basics Oxygen Boost Stain Remover

For clothing stains, spray with All Purpose, sprinkle Oxygen Boost and agitate with a brush (or rub in gently for delicate fabrics). Follow with a regular wash cycle. For tougher stains, soak overnight.

Save 15% on Branch Basics Starter kits with code SWITCHNATURAL.

Kitchen

Attitude Dish Soap

For handwashing dishes, use Attitude dishwashing liquid to effectively clean without harmful preservatives.

Bon Ami Powder Cleanser

To remove stubborn spots on cookware and to clean sinks, sprinkle Bon Ami, brush with a small amount of water, then rinse.

Blueland Dishwasher Tablets

For dishwasher detergent without fragrance, try Blueland tablets. Learn more about why you want to avoid fragrance in this post.

Eco Me Rinse Aid

For dishwashers that require rinse aid, use Eco Me, which is made with a few simple ingredients.

Branch Basics All Purpose Spray

Branch Basics All Purpose cleaner is great for countertops, stovetops, ovens, and highchairs. It is effective yet gentle, even for marble countertops. All Purpose is safe for food surfaces, pots, and dishes.

Dr. Bronner’s OR Branch Basics Foaming Hand Soap

Mix your favorite Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap (comes in unscented or an array of scents) with 1/4 soap and 3/4 water into a foaming soap pump.

A Branch Basics starter kit includes a refillable foaming hand soap pump. Follow the fill lines when mixing water with Branch Basics concentrate. Add essential oils for scent if desired.

Force Of Nature Disinfectant

To disinfect surfaces spray, Force of Nature (which uses hypochlorous acid) or 3% hydrogen peroxide. For best results, wait 10 minutes before wiping. Always clean surfaces before disinfecting. To learn more about disinfectants, read this blog post on how to safely disinfect.

Branch Basics Glass Cleaner

Combine distilled water with a drop of Branch Basics Concentrate for a streak-free glass and window cleaner.

Save 15% on Branch Basics Starter kits with code SWITCHNATURAL.

Floors, Rugs, And Upholstered Furniture

Branch Basics Floor Cleaner

For small spots and spills on floors, use All Purpose. As an all over floor cleaner, mix Branch Basics Concentrate with water in a spray mop or bucket. For vinyl, linoleum, and tile floors, use 1 teaspoon for every 2 cups of water. For synthetic finished hardwood, use 1/4 teaspoon for every 2 cups of water. Branch Basics indicates that this solution is likely to remove natural finishes on hardwood floors (those that have a natural oil or wax finish) and these should only be cleaned with the manufacturer's recommended cleaner.

Baking Soda For Odors

For odor removal on furniture and rugs, sprinkle baking soda after cleaning the area. Allow baking soda to sit for an hour, then vacuum.

Ingredients To Avoid In Household Cleaners

Cleaning products in the home are a large source of exposure to toxic ingredients. The majority of cleaning products contain ingredients that are linked to undesirable health effects.

Here are some common ingredients found cleaning products that are not only potentially harmful but unnecessary for effective cleaning: 

About Branch Basics

Branch Basics uses a single concentrate that you mix with water to create several cleaning products. The bottles are refillable and Branch Basics now offers glass bottles as well.

One bottle of the concentrate makes the following:

  • 3 All-Purpose bottles (24 oz.) at $2.90 each

  • 3 Bathroom bottles (24 oz.) at $5.80 each

  • 3 Streak-Free bottles (24 oz.) at $0.20 each

  • 3 Foaming Wash bottles (10 oz.) at $2.90 each

  • 64 laundry loads at $0.24 per load

Purchase a Branch Basics bundle for $69 which includes their concentrate, oxygen boost and 5 refillable bottles for all purpose, windows, bathroom, foaming hand soap, and laundry. Free shipping over $39.

Or

Purchase a trial kit from branchbasics.com for $5 which includes the All Purpose spray bottle and 2 oz bottle of concentrate.

Branch Basics Dilution Ratios

Do you have your own bottles? All you will need to purchase is the concentrate. Here are Branch Basics’s suggestions for dilution ratios:

  • For an All-Purpose Cleaner - 1 part Branch Basics Concentrate to 11 parts water

  • For a Bathroom Cleaner - 1 part Branch Basics Concentrate to 5 parts water

  • For a Streak-Free Cleaner - 1 drop Branch Basics Concentrate to 24 oz. distilled water

  • For a Foaming Hand Wash - 1 part Branch Basics Concentrate to 4 parts water

  • For Laundry Soap - 1 part Branch Basics Concentrate to 2 parts water

Save 15% on Branch Basics Starter Kits with code SWITCHNATURAL.

References and Resources

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4096065/

[2] https://cosmeticsinfo.org/ingredient/ethanolamine

[2] https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/0835.pdf

[3] https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/consumer-product-safety/cosmetics/labelling/safety-ingredients.html#a4.3

[4] https://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/category-details?table=copytblagents&id=288

[5] https://www.echa.europa.eu/substance-information/-/substanceinfo/100.105.687

[6] https://www.ewg.org/guides/substances/151952-AlcoholethoxylatesC10128EO

[7] https://www.heraproject.com/files/34-F-09%20HERA%20AE%20Report%20Version%202%20-%203%20Sept%2009.pdf

[8] https://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2010/02/3163-ingredients-hide-behind-word-fragrance

[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14572300

[10]https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Sodium-borate#section=Safety-and-Hazards

[11] https://echa.europa.eu/substance-information/-/substanceinfo/100.129.152

[12]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16547166#targetText=Methylisothiazolinone%2C%20a%20neurotoxic%20biocide%2C%20disrupts%20the%20association%20of%20SRC%20family,kinase%20in%20developing%20cortical%20neurons.&targetText=Methylisothiazolinone%20(MIT)%20is%20a%20biocide,with%20potential%20as%20a%20neurotoxicant.

[13] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23340392

[14] https://cen.acs.org/articles/94/i16/Preservative-leavecosmetics-banned-EU.html

[15] https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1_2-Benzisothiazol-3_2H_-one#section=Safety-and-Hazards

[16]https://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_099.pdf

[17] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6126357/

[18] https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Triclocarban#section=Toxicity-Summary

[19] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29514330

[20] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28885313

[21] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29348075

[22] https://academic.oup.com/toxsci/article/163/2/490/4921230

[25] https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Benzethonium-chloride#section=Skin-Symptoms

What non-toxic cleaning products are you using? Leave a comment in the section below!

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