Why are “Green”  and “Toxin Free” Important?

Somehow when I became a mom there must have been some sort of switch that was flipped on in me to make me concerned about toxins and being environmentally friendly.  Suddenly I started REALLY thinking about what my kids were getting in their little bodies when they were eating food right off of their tray, the table, counter, or heck…even the floor sometimes!  I started worrying about what they were breathing in or getting on their skin and how it could be harming them.  We obviously can’t be perfectly green and toxin free all the time.  However, we can make some simple changes to do our part.  Here you will find products and methods that I have found extremely helpful with our family.

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reasons to be toxin free?

• Toxin Overload– The toxins that get into our bodies through products used are known to cause allergies, cancer, psychological disorders, birth defects and hormonal disruption.
• Poison Control- Household products make up 95% of childhood poisoning incidents.  With little ones in the house, having toxin-free products takes away the worry of accidental poisoning.  Many toxin free products are completely harmless if ingested.
• Environmental Impact- Petrochemicals are found in household items such as cleaners, skin care items and cosmetics, as well as plastic containers we use every day.  Many of the chemicals we are exposed to every day end up making their way into our water ways and end up affecting our fish and wildlife.

benefits of using “green” products:

• Sanitation- Many ingredients used in “green” products are powerful sanitation workhorses!  They have been proven to kill off viruses and bacteria just as well or better than their toxic competition.  I recently had a generous gift of a housecleaner for a day (thanks mom!).  She used my own natural cleaning products and messaged me afterwards asking for the recipes because she was SO IMPRESSED with them!
• Reduce Allergies- Many people may be sensitive to chemicals in household products and experience allergy symptoms from them.  Additionally, by using products I love and know are not toxic to us, I am more motivated to keep my house clean.  This helps keep our house clear of dust and other allergens lurking around.
• Reduce Stress- Any chance to reduce stress in our lives is welcome, right?!  By taking away the worry of what chemicals we’re being exposed to and knowing my kids are safe in our home is one less thing to worry and stress about.  Knowing that we’re doing our part to help the environment for our kids’ future doesn’t feel too bad either.

Best Products for a green and clean home

Kitchen & Bathroom: 

kitchen:

The Purposed spray is perfect for wiping up all those daily messes– You know the ones…the sticky fingerprints on the fridge handle, the countertops, the kitchen table, or that dreaded messy high chair or booster seat. I have put this product to the test and absolutely love it!

bathroom:

Once again you’ll find me using the Vida Verde Home products in the bathroom. The Breakthrough spray is amazing at cleaning those tough spots in the shower, tub, and sinks.  It’s like a super strong workhorse version of the Purposed spray.  This is great in areas like the bathroom where you’re going to rinse after cleaning.  It feels so nice to be able to clean the bathroom yet not be gasping for air from all the harsh chemicals.

To get that beautiful shine on the mirrors or glass in your bathroom, look no further than the Vida Verde Shine Bright spray. Somehow it gets things even shinier than typical glass cleaners without the chemicals.  Aaahmazing!

laundry:

I have gone back and forth between so many different laundry products over the years trying to find a non-toxic solution that I am happy with.  One of my favorite scents is the good ‘ole fresh laundry smell.  It just kills me to know that the smell I love about fresh laundry is so toxic to us!  Fortunately, I have finally found a non-toxic  solution that gets our clothes CLEAN- even the messy kids clothes and dirty been working outside man clothes!  I love that I’m still able to have a lovely scent when it comes out of the dryer.  Win, win!!  Here’s my solution:

I use this top rated product that lasts for 720 washes!

After the clothes get all nice and clean from the Egg, I toss them in the dryer with some wool dryer balls that I put a few drops of Lemon and Lavender Essential Oils on.  Our clothes come out fluffy clean and smelling amazing!

floors:

For my hardwood and tiled areas in the house I prefer to just sweep, then use a mop with a refillable spray bottle attached.  I am able to make my own easy, yet amazing solution to fill it with.  Here’s what I love to use that gets my floors beautifully clean.  It is so easy to make and totally non-toxic for the family.

This mop has held up and works super well for me!  I love that the pads are washable and reusable and the container is refillable with your own solution.  A huge cost savings over the disposable alternatives!

For the solution I use:

• A 1:1 Ratio of vinegar and water
• 30 Drops Essential Oils- My favorites are OnGuard and Wild Orange

Pretty simple, right?!

air freshening:

When you’re done with all that cleaning your house should smell incredible!  In between cleans, or to relax after a long day, there’s nothing better than a soothing aroma.  Typical candles and spray air fresheners are incredibly toxic to us and cause all sorts of health concerns.  To avoid using these I’ve switched over to some cleaner solutions.  Here are my faves!

Essential oil diffusers:

I have one in the main living area of the house, as well as smaller ones in each bedroom to use with oils that help promote a restful night of sleep.  We all definitely sleep better with it.

Sprays:

There are a couple sprays I like to have on hand for quick freshening.  One for the bathroom to purify the air, and one for linens to spray on and freshen the sheets in between washes.

• • Bathroom Air Purifier: Use a 4-ounce glass spray bottle and fill with 3oz. distilled water, then add 15 drops of Purify essential oil.
  • Linen spray: Use a 4-ounce glass spray bottle filled with 3oz. distilled water and add 15 drops Serenity essential oil.

• I like to test my crafty side occasionally and use my handy vinyl cutting machine to label things like my spray bottles.  It looks so professional and is actually not that hard to use!
  

Candles:

I love to enjoy that cozy, relaxing feeling with a lovely fragrance in the air and know I’m not breathing in anything harmful.  The Vide Verde Home candles are my absolute favorite for both their scent and design.  The seasonal scents are always spot on with my mood. They burn for such a long time, not to mention the great minimal design that will look well anywhere.

Common Questions About Natural cleaning products 

Many natural, non-toxic cleaning products are made using vinegar and essential oils.  The common question regarding this is how effective are they in cleaning and disinfecting.  Here is the answer for you:

• Vinegar- because of the acidity of it, vinegar is extremely effective in killing germs and bacteria. You can tackle salmonella, E. coli and other bacteria with vinegar.
• Essential oils- their basic chemical components make them extremely effective in cleaning and sanitizing.

The Last Thing You Need to Know about a green and clean home

It can be very simple and effective to switch to natural products for keeping your home clean.  There are some great alternative products that I’m sure you will find even more pleasant than the toxic version.

I would love to hear about any favorite products you like to use for your green, clean home.  If you have any favorite alternatives to toxic household products, please feel free to share in the comments!

Be sure to check out my post on “How To Create A Cleaning Schedule to Simplify Your Life” and download your free printable weekly cleaning checklist here!

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