Pregnancy got me out of cleaning the toilets for eight months because of the powerful and pungent cleaner we use to remove the orange ring left by excess minerals in our hard water. I miss that excuse! There are a lot of cleaning agents out there that pregnant women should avoid because of the fumes. Other household chemicals, like weed killer, should also not be used by a pregnant woman. Most of us, however, can’t just stop cleaning. The solution is to use natural cleaners. Green cleaning isn’t just good for the environment; it’s good for pregnant moms and kids, too.
All you need are a few common household products to clean your house without the dangerous chemicals and fumes. Most messes can be cleaned with a combination of water and baking soda or vinegar. Sprinkle a damp sponge with baking soda and you have yourself a powerful scrub that will cut through grease and grime in the kitchen and in the bathroom. Soak pans with baking soda and water for five minutes to remove baked on messes. To unclog a drain, pour a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by one cup of white vinegar. Cover and allow it to sit for five minutes then pour a gallon of boiling water down the drain. Vinegar has even more uses than baking soda. It can typically replace just about any household cleaner. You can remove mineral deposits, make windows sparkle (use newspaper instead of paper towel), remove kitchen odors (boil a tablespoon of white vinegar and one cup of water), clean a dirty microwave, and those are just a few examples. Pick up an empty spray bottle from the gardening section of your store and fill it with equal parts vinegar and water for a great all purpose cleaner.
Come back later for some more green cleaning tips that won’t put you or your little bundle at risk!