Cleaning our home safely and with no toxins has become a project of mine. We want to kill the germs and bacteria in order to keep Maggie healthy, but we don’t want the chemicals getting into her lungs and causing her any breathing trouble either. So after her diagnosis of cystic fibrosis, I went on a mission to remove the chemicals and keep the clean.
I have to say that my favorite products are by Seventh Generation; however, there are other great companies that offer the cleaning power of regular products without the harshness. In addition, I use hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria effectively but all naturally. Our home is free of bleach as well as this is a major lung irritant. Here are some of my favorite cleaners.
In the Bathroom:
Seventh Generation Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner and Wipes. I spray shower after every use and about 15 minutes before Maggie’s bath. The foam gets into all the crevices nicely. Before her bath, I just give the tub a spray; let it sit for 10 minutes, and rinse. Then I use the wipes to get rid of any hair that might be sticking to the tub. I also use the spray on the showerhead since they are known to harbor dangerous respiratory bugs. I also spray the sink and use the wipes on the toilet, flush handle, faucet, light switches and doorknobs.
In the Kitchen:
Seventh Generation Disinfecting Wipes. I use these wipes to clean everything in the kitchen: the faucet, cabinet knobs, doorknobs, counter, light switches, garbage can, and stovetop and handles.
Seventh Generation Automatic Dishwasher Gel. I avoid the steaming of chemicals into our home’s air by using this dishwasher gel, which is safe for the environment too. There are also detergent packs available. To wash the dishes by hand I use either Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid or Costco’s Kirkland Signature Environmentally Friendly Dish Soap.
Hydrogen Peroxide. After the dishes are done and the sink is scrubbed out (with a sponge that hasn’t been around for more than a week or has been zapped in the microwave to kill bugs), I use hydrogen peroxide to kill any lingering yuck out of the sink. Block the drain and spray some peroxide in. You will see it bubble as it kills the bugs. I also spray around the faucet and edges of the sink where water can gather and bacteria can grow.
Around the House:
Method’s Wood for Good. I use this to dust with. It works well and without all of the chemicals of traditional wood cleaning sprays.
Method’s Squirt and Mop Wood Floor Cleaner and H2O mop. I spray my wood floors with this cleaner and then use an H2O steam mop to get my wood floors clean. Be sure, however, to clean out the H2O mop’s water tank well as water left in there can grow bacteria.
That’s it for the products I use, except for a vacuum with a hepa filter – ideal for getting all of that stuff that you are vacuuming up actually out of your life. Without the hepa filter, the same dust you think you are cleaning out of your carpet will blow right out the back of the vacuum. Defeats the purpose, doesn’t it? All ingredients are available on the company’s web sites.