I have a about a zillion things I want to blog about but I just never seem to get around to writing. I figured I would do a quick post since it is Friday and most people are getting ready to start their weekends.
When Eliza was born I threw out MOST of our traditional cleaners and started cleaning differently. I couldn't stand the thought of using chemicals in the house where her little lungs were breathing. I just don't buy into that open a window nonsense. I always felt like I was about to die after cleaning the bathroom-open window and all. So I started looking into using vinegar and baking soda to clean the house. I discovered that you can pretty much clean anything with these two things- and do it cheaply and safely. Lemon is also a great addition to this duo.
Now that I am pregnant and E is around me all the time I am so happy I use safe cleaners. I never feel worried as I spray vinegar and water on her table or her toys. I can have her help me clean and never worry about her safety or about the tiny little baby growing in my belly. I have never locked my cleaning cabinet because there is nothing in there that could hurt her.
Recently I have started to think about adding essential oils to my cleaning repertoire. I did use lemon and lavender essential oils in my classroom. I would spray a solution with lemon in the morning to give the kids a pick me up and then after recess it was all about lavender to help them settle back down. I am pretty sure I started this after taking a workshop on brain based learning.
ok back to cleaners...
I actually do LOVE the smell of vinegar but I wanted to get a little more creative. I picked up Tea Tree Oil and Lavender because I could also use them in a homemade wipe solution. I started adding a few drops to my kitchen cleaner and it smells wonderful. Tea tree oil is also a disinfectant and the calming properties of lavender are wonderful.
This is how I make my all purpose cleaner...
I mix a solution of 1 part water to 1 part vinegar. Then I add a few drips of essential oils. DONE! And my cute purple spray bottle makes me smile! 
I do have three cats and I have found at times (cleaning up cat puke!) I need something a little more powerful than vinegar and baking soda. I have recently been testing out some WOW Green products and will post about them sometime next week. However, for the most part I am extremely happy with my homemade cleaners.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Keeping it Simple
Posted by Danielle at 4/03/2009
Labels: baking soda, essential oils, green cleaning, lemon, vinegar
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8 comments:
i keep meaning to try this but i am obsessed with germ killing and use clorox cleanup on everything (especially in my bathrooms). although i feel like i am going to die while cleaning them (none of them even have windows so i spend a lot of time choking on the fumes) i feel like they are REALLY clean when i am done so it sort of makes sense. the bleach makes me feel like its clean, you know? you probably think i'm an idiot haha
although i am ok (sort of) with doing this for the time being, i certainly can not continue to clean this way if prego or having little kids around. does this cleaning solution you make really kill all of the bathroom/kitchen germs and grease, soap scum, etc.? luckily i don't need to worry about the cat puke scenario. maybe i will try it this weekend when i clean my stove. and my cheap ass loves that the ingredients are probably about $2
I have bought a few "green" cleaning supplies, but have been wanting to go more on the baking-soda-and-vinegar route. I used baking soda on the carpet to clean up D's puke spots (cut out the smell) and to my amazement it worked really well!
One question, which may be dumb, but where do you go to buy essential oils? I'm not nearly as big a fan of the smell of vinegar, and so am more likely to use it if I can make the whole solution smell pretty. =)
Look at your ticker up there! It's half way already!!
I've switched to hot water and vinegar for my glass tables, windows, mirrors etc and it does a fab job. Next time I'm out I'll be watching for tea tree oil - that would be great to disinfect!
I've used vinegar to clean some of the things around, but I still use good old bleach to clean things too.. I know it kills the mold and mildew and here in FL we get those a LOT
Ohhh, I love that homemade cleaner idea with the lavender/tea tree oil! I've done vinegar before, but this sounds much nicer!
I love vinegar for cleaning - my mom uses it all the time!
I clean with vinegar too. It cracks me up when people say it's expensive to live a green life. We spend so much less since we've become vegetarians and make our own cleaners.
It is important to remember that removing ALL germs from Baby's path can be detrimental to their health in the future. Germs help to train the human body to fight and defend against malicious germs.
Baby will get dirty, Guaranteed!
Essential Oils are perfect as many naturally disinfect and clean while supplying Baby's body with organic, healthy oils!
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