Baby Steps Day 3- Household Products

Well, yesterday we learned all about why NOT to use mainstream cleaners.

Today I want to cover what products we CAN use! I am not paid by any of these companies... I'm not that important. I just want to help you mommas know the best options for your families.

If we're talking about getting rid of toxins, pretty much every bathroom cleaner, floor cleaner, and all-purpose cleaner is out. So are laundry detergents and dusting sprays. So are window & glass cleaners.

SO WHAT CAN WE USE?

Well, the first thing I'd like to mention is "GREEN" cleaners.

It's important that we always read the labels first, even with organic, natural, eco-friendly, all-natural, green products.

If they don't list ingredients... RED FLAG!

If you don't recognize any of the ingredients... either skip that cleaner, or look it up! We all have smart phones now. There's no reason that you can't do a quick google search in the grocery store aisle. In fact, this skill will come in handy when we get to Natural Food Choices in a couple weeks. So why not start practicing now?!

Next, I have to mention NORWEX.

If you haven't heard of Norwex, they are a type of micro-fiber cloth. Here's what their website says:

We realized early on that household pollutants negatively impact our health and our environment. Most of the chemicals in products in our homes have never been assessed for their impact on human health. Indoor air pollution is one of the top five highest ranking environmental health problems in America with chemical levels up to 70 times higher than outside. Research and information on the health effects of manufactured chemicals has not kept pace with their development and use. In the last 50 years, the global production and use of manufactured chemicals has increased substantially. More than 80,000 new chemicals have been created. Indoor air pollution is one of the top five highest-ranking environmental health problems in America. Evidence shows homes have chemical levels up to 70 times higher than outside. Most of the chemicals that people are exposed to every day have never been assessed for their impact on human health. Parabens utilized in personal care for decades have been shown to have potential harmful effects. What we do know is the harm chemicals have on humans is extensive. Most concerning are the growing links to chemicals that surround us in everyday life. They are linked to serious diseases such as birth defects, cancer and psychological abnormalities. Many today believe the extensive use of chemicals indoors contributes to many of our ‘modern’ diseases such as allergies and asthma. Our mission at Norwex is to improve quality of life by radically reducing chemicals in our homes. In addition, the Norwex products make cleaning faster and more cost effective than traditional cleaning products.

I am so encouraged to know that there are companies out there that have this at the root of their business! Basically, the way they work is by weaving SILVER into the actual microfibers. Silver is antibacteral by nature. So when you use their anti-bacterial micro-fiber cloths WITH NOTHING BUT WATER, you are getting just as clean... actually studies show it cleans BETTER... than your typical mainstream cleaners. I encourage you to check out their website & see for yourself. These are what we use for dusting, cleaning windows, floors & as a replacement for body wash! No joke. These things are the real deal!

They have a whole line of products as well. And you really wouldn't need to go any further, except for it is not very cost effective if you are on a tight budget. We really had to save up for the cloths we have & even now we do not have as many as we need.

Another GREAT, slightly more affordable BRAND is
Honest Company

They are who we use for dish detergent, dish soap & hand soaps. They used to be a web-only company, but have recently begun having certain items at Target!

Here is what their website says:

We believe the products people use should be safe and non-toxic (surprisingly, many companies don't!) — not filled with questionable, risky, untested, or harsh ingredients. We also believe it's better to be safe than sorry when deciding what goes in our products and we're vigilant about the latest science regarding chemicals and health to ensure we're being mindfully cautious.

Based on these beliefs, we created our Honestly FREE Guarantee — a core commitment we make to you and your children. And, it's another way for us to be Honest — educating, empowering and inspiring people to make better choices for their health & families. Providing clear, credible, transparent information. No smoke and mirrors. No confusion.

What's it mean? In a nutshell:

You can rest easy knowing The Honest Company DOES NOT USE health-compromising chemicals or compounds.

Now that I've covered some great companies, 
one last way to do it is... YOURSELF!

Honestly, all you'd have to do is go onto Pinterest & search DIY Cleaners. You'd have tons of results. Some with vinegar. Some with Essential Oils. Some with Baking Soda. Some with Apple Cider Vinegar. It's all on there. I'm gonna hook you all up with some great links though! Many of these are what we use at our house!

Laundry Detergent

(we skip the borax)

http://dreawood.com/2008/10/homemade-detergent/

All Purpose Cleaner

(I use Lemon EO in mine & once a week use OnGuard EO from doTERRA)

http://www.mommypotamus.com/household-cleaning-supplies-greener-cheaper-better/

*also, the link above has en e-book from Mommypotamus for DIY cleaners

Here are a bunch of great recipes: 

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/20-diy-green-cleaning-recipes-141129

And of course, check out my Pinterest page for great DIY ideas!

See you all tomorrow!!