Cheap Detergent

It's been almost two months since I started using homemade cleaners and detergent. I've saved a ton of money, and my house is just as clean without the dangerous chemicals. I'm also not experiencing the bad headaches from all the fumes on cleaning days.

My favorite homemade cleaner so far is the laundry detergent. It's probably saved me the most money. (I do about three to four loads a day.) Our clothes are just as clean, and stains come out better than with the All Free and  Clear I used to buy.

Laundry Detergent Recipe

One bar soap (such as Ivory), grated to powder

One cup Borax

One cup Washing Soda

Mix together. Use one TBSP per load. 

Window and Glass Cleaner

Mix equal parts vinegar and water. 

(If that sounds too easy, add a bit of rubbing alcohol. Makes the surfaces dry faster.)

Bathroom and Kitchen Counter Cleaner

See above.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

See above.

Hardwood Floor Cleaner

Yep. See above.

Basic Tub and Tile Cleaner

1 2/3 cup baking soda

1/2 cup liquid soap

1/2 cup water

2 TBSP vinegar

Mix well.

Basic Mildew scrub

1/4 cup vinegar

1/4 Borax

1 cup warm water

Shake well.

Furniture polish

Varnished: 1/2 cup warm water, add few drops lemon juice

Unvarnished wood: 2 tsp olive oil, 2 tsp lemon juice

Apply with soft cotton cloth.

Natural Drain Cleaner

1/2 cup baking soda- pour first

1/2 cup vinegar- pour second

follow with 2 quarts hot water

(I've not tried the drain cleaner myself.  I will when the time comes though. Store bought drain cleaner is one of the most toxic products found on the market.)

I couldn't find a spray bottle that worked well. I have an old Mop n Glow squeeze bottle that I've been using for homemade floor cleaner over the past several months. It's the same combination of vinegar, water, and rubbing alcohol that I use to clean pretty much everything else in the house now- so I just don't bother with a spray bottle.

It took a little getting used to on the first day- but I promise- my house is just as clean as before. I've saved gobs of money. It's been completely worth it. 

On another note: I was reading old blog posts earlier this evening, and couldn't stop smiling. I decided that I need to blog more about my kids. I've been through a lot of struggles over the past two years dealing with Lydia's health, and while I'm glad I have this blog for therapeutic writing, I've strayed from the reason I started this blog nearly three years ago. I'm going to try to write more about the cute things my kids say, the fun things we do as a family, and talk about why I love being their mommy. I'm sure I'll still talk about food allergies and organic food- that's a big part of what I like to talk about- but I want to bring the focus back to where it was from the beginning. My cute babies- Brooke, Madeline, Isaac, and Lydia. 

Chemical Free

I gave away just about every cleaning product in my house yesterday. It feels great.

After watching the documentary Chemerical on Netflix, Bill and I decided to eliminate just about every chemical possible in our house. Sounds drastic- maybe. Here is something else that's drastic- protecting our youngest child from multiple deadly food allergies on a daily basis, and administering numerous medications while going in and out of doctor offices and hospitals. I wonder all the time what is in our food and environment that contributes, if not straight out causes, her medical problems. If this small step helps keep Lydia and the rest of our family safer from known carcinogens -as in scientifically proven CANCER-causing chemicals- then it's most definitely worth it. Not to mention the benefit toward cleaner water and air.

Plus the financial savings!! The homemade cleaners I used yesterday cost a fraction of store-bought products. Best part- I know exactly what is in them. Companies are weirdly secretive of what they actually put into their products. For example, over the past several years I've used an "allergen free" laundry detergent. This weekend I followed a rabbit trail to find out the ingredient list, with no success. Their website proudly boasts that it is hypoallergenic, safe, recommended by doctors...but no disclosure of what is actually in it. Nearly every cleaner in a typical household keeps the same secrets. (I don't like secrets.)

I cleaned my bathrooms and floors yesterday, and dusted the furniture. I only used various combinations of water, vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and washing soap. I didn't have a single headache that I usually do while cleaning, and my house is squeaky clean without the worry of toxic fumes.

If anyone had told me a few years ago I'd be on this path of organic/natural living (and a warning: I'm getting in deeper by the day) I would have rolled my eyes, muttering something about tree huggers under my breath. I'm changing. I think American society as a whole is way too trusting of the companies that serve us. It should scare us senseless that manufacturers put carcinogens in our household cleaners. They don't even have the decency to label their products, because they're hiding behind "trade secret" laws. Our government protects big business over citizens. Shocking (eye roll). Would it scare anyone to know that several of the chemicals in our cleaners are ILLEGAL overseas? As my sister said, Europeans demand that they not be poisoned, while Americans squeal, "Yay, pink bubbles!"

Here are some sites I turned to for the dangers of chemicals, plus cleaning recipes and advice:
Huffington Post Green
Cleaners Hall of Shame
Back to Basics Cleaning
Wellness Mama

And if you want to try your luck at finding an ingredient list (granted, I didn't go the extra mile and actually call the company- I was too ticked off by that point) here's the website given on our detergent bottle:
Sun Products Corp

 Smiling for a picture after improving during her recent hospital stay for bronchiolitis.

Big brother's turn to get breathing treatments for RSV.

Yep- definitely worth it!