Detoxing in the Spring isn’t just about your body and your health, but where you live as well. This is one of the reasons people like to do Spring Cleaning – it gives you a fresh start on your home, with a clean slate, and organized life. Keep reading for some healthy, green and natural ideas for cleaning and detoxing your home.

 

 

Welcome in the Fresh Air

The first way to help detox your home is by airing it out. Open all of the windows to let in as much fresh air as you can. It will begin circulating throughout your home, helping it to be less stuffy, and feel clean and refreshed. This also improves the smell inside your home, especially if you have been using the heater all winter long.

Forget commercial air fresheners because they are full of toxins. You can easily make your own DIY Air Freshener. See the recipe below.

Another way to get cleaner air in your home in the spring is to change or replace air filters in your HVAC system and mobile units. Some of them will have air filters you wash, while others are disposable and need to be replaced. This includes in your heating and air conditioning unit, and portable units like fans, portable air conditioners, and dehumidifiers.

 

Bring in Fresh Flowers and Plants

Spring is the perfect time to start bringing in the outdoors. They also serve multiple purposes: they will make it beautiful, really get you into the spring spirit, smell great, and can help clean the air in your home. Some good plants and flowers for spring include lilies, daffodils, bergenia, primrose, and viola. Though there are many different varieties if you check your local nursery.

 

How to Safely Spring Clean and Detox Your Home

1. Avoid the Health Affects of Toxins in Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning products are a huge source of harmful chemicals. When you consider traditional chemical cleaners contain bleach and ammonia, it’s worth looking into natural alternatives. The fumes released from cleaning products can lead to respiratory issues and they are also extremely dangerous for children.

A large and growing body of evidence links frequent use of many ordinary cleaning supplies at home or on the job with development of asthma and other respiratory problems. It is already known that cleaning product fumes may trigger attacks in persons previously diagnosed with asthma.

Common cleaning ingredients can be laced with the carcinogenic 1,4-dioxane. Other products contain preservatives that release low levels of cancer-causing formaldehyde.

Despite these health concerns, cleaning product labels often do not give consumers enough information about their ingredients to allow people to make informed decisions on which ones are safer and which ones might harm their health.

More than 232 industrial chemicals have been found in the cord blood of newborns according to a 2009 study. Children are starting off at a disadvantage due to all of this chemical exposure!

 

2. Find out which products are the most toxic

The first step is to go to https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ and enter in most-used cleaning, laundry, bath and beauty products to see their toxicity ratings.

 

3. Throw the Top 5 Worst Offenders in the Trash

Now pick 1-5 of the most toxic products, based on the EWG ratings, and throw them in the trash! This may seem wasteful at first, but this is a big step in the right direction to make your home safe for you, your family and even the pets. If you’ve got the budget to replace more than five, go for it! Otherwise, stick with replacing 1-5 products a month to keep it affordable (under $20 a month!)

You have a choice:

Do you want to buy replacements for those products, or make replacements?

If you want to buy replacements, visit my Amazon Natural Essentials Storefront to see which products I recommend!

If you’d like to really save a lot of money, then you can use the list of recipes on the next page to replace your products with.

4. Clean with Green, Natural, Nontoxic Cleaners

As we discussed, many conventional cleaning products are a huge source of harmful chemicals. However, did you know you can now purchase natural cleaning solutions? There are more natural cleaning solutions out there than ever before.

There are lots of natural alternatives you can try. As well as pre-mixed natural solutions, you can also choose to make your own. Vinegar, baking powder and lemon juice are the main natural ingredients used in alternative cleaning solutions. Read on for many DIY green and natural cleaning recipes to use.

Deep cleaning is the next logical step, where you go beyond just cleaning the kitchen, vacuuming floors, and dusting furniture. Deep cleaning often includes washing the baseboard and trim, washing curtains and blinds, washing windows, and cleaning rooms that don’t get much attention, like the basement or garage.

It is important to deep clean these areas at least once a year, though more might be needed.

 

Key Home Cleaning Detox Steps: 

1. Always Read The Label

When purchasing new products, always read the label:

• The shorter the number of ingredients on the label, the safer the product usually is
• The higher the ingredient is on the list, the more of it the product contains
• Added fragrances and colorings in household products are often toxic
• ‘Flavor’ and ’Fragrance’ on a label can indicate a group of (toxic) chemicals
• ‘and other ingredients’ is often used to protect a patent, & may indicate numerous toxins
• The words ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ are not always enough – mold is ‘natural’ and ‘organic’;
• The words ‘non-toxic’,’petroleum-free’,’paraben-free’ or other such terms are legally binding and can be trusted

2. Recognize & Reduce Toxic Ingredients

Go through your cleaning products and toiletries at home. Look out for the following ingredients when checking the label. Where possible, avoid. There are always toxin-free alternatives available. They may (sometimes) be more expensive, but are worth their weight in gold, brain power, and avoiding future medical bills.

The list below is extensive. It is also not complete. But it is surprising how quickly you will begin to evolve an ‘instinct’ for toxic chemicals. They really are everywhere (and especially where you least expect them). If you want more information about identifying the most and least toxic household and personal care products, visit www.ewg.org

• Anything ending in ‘Paraben’ or Phenoxyethanol (parabens mimic estrogen, leading to hormone imbalance)
• Petroleum, Mineral Oil or Paraffin (derived from crude oil, neurotoxic, blocks skin pores)
• Formaldehyde (illegal, so look out for its pseudonyms; a powerful carcinogen, neurotoxic)
• quaternium-152-bromo-2-nitropropane-l,3 diol (Bronopol)
• DMDM hydantoinglyoxal
• imidazolidinyl and diazolidinyl ureaoxaldehyde sodium hydroxymethylglycinate
• Triclosan (antibacterial which increases bacterial resistance, lower fertility)
• Benzalkonium chloride (hormone imbalance, carcinogen)
• Hydroquinone (carcinogenic, neurotoxic, melanin inhibitor, irritant)
• Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QUATS; skin irritant, asthma)
• Thimerosal or merthiolate (aka mercury, found in some cosmetics and medications)
• DBP, DEP, DEHP (aka phthalates; cause organ damage, birth defects, hormone imbalance)
• Propylene glycol (neurotoxic, allergic skin and respiratory reactions, organ damage)
• BHA, BHT (carcinogenic, hormone imbalance)
• Ammonia (respiratory disorders)
• Talc (can cause lung cancer)
• FD&C plus color plus number (carcinogenic)
• Chlorine (hormone imbalance, respiratory problems, irritant)
• Polyethylene glycol or PEG (lowers immunity by stripping skin of natural oils, carcinogenic, allergic reactions)
• Sodium hydroxide (respiratory burns, carcinogenic)
• TEA, MEA & DEA (lots of side effects, including fetal brain damage)
• Urea (joint pain, psychological disorders, lowers immunity, allergies)
• Ends in ‘siloxane’ (lowers fertility, hormone balance, lowers immunity)

3. Find Nontoxic Alternatives

Find alternatives to toxic toiletries and cleaning products. When searching for alternatives, products which list something as being ‘-free’ are legally bound to not contain that product. This helps when looking for new items for the home.

Now that you know which harmful toxins are hidden in your toiletries and household products, you might want to dedicate a morning’s shopping, or an hour or two online to look for alternatives to potentially toxic products. To save time and energy (at least until you have developed a nose for toxins), specialty stores selling health products are a good idea (so is visiting www.ewg.org ).

• Phthalate-free
• No BPAs (plastic-free bottles)
• Paraben-free
• Toxin-free
• No VOC or Low VOC (paints & solvents)

Note: For alternatives to fragrances or air fresheners, essential oils are the perfect solution. Essential oils often have additional benefits such as antimicrobial properties, concentration-enhancing effects, relaxation, and improved digestion.

4. Do a Home Air Check

It is important to improve your indoor air quality. Now you have removed the worst toxic culprits from your home and bathroom, it’s time to improve the quality of the air you breathe. It’s simply not possible to clean the planet’s air. But there are other ways to improve air quality, some of them much more expensive than others. To improve air quality within indoor spaces where you spend a lot of time, choose at least two of the following, and continue to add whenever the opportunity arises:

• Air purifier
• Complete home-ventilation system with HEPA filters
• Open the windows (not in areas with medium to high traffic, or smog)
• Add trees, bushes or large green plants to your gardens (plant high hedges or trees in front of roads, replace some areas of lawn with large bushes or flower beds, add evergreens for winter protection)
• Purchase indoor plants (NASA Clean Air Study winners include Peace Lily, English Ivy,  Chrysanthemum Morifolium, Mother-in-law’s tongue
• Regular dusting, vacuum cleaning (with HEPA filter) and cleaning (with toxin-free products)
• Dehumidifiers or humidifiers
• Remove high-VOC wall finishes (mask & ventilation): repaint with No-VOC

 

5. Use DIY Green Cleaning Recipes

There are lots of natural alternatives you can try. As well as pre-mixed natural solutions, you can also choose to make your own. Vinegar, baking powder, castile soap, lemon juice and essential oils are the main natural ingredients used in alternative cleaning solutions.

Note:
You should never use vinegar solutions on stone surfaces such as granite or marble, cast iron, aluminum, or waxed surfaces. The acid in the vinegar can etch, pit, and strip finishes or otherwise damage these surfaces.

6. Buy the Supplies

If you’re making some or all of your own products, then you’ll need to buy supplies. Here are the things I suggest starting with first:

*Baking Soda
*Castile Soap
*Super Washing Soda
*White Distilled Vinegar
*Rubbing Alcohol
*Vodka
*Witch Hazel
*Essential oils
*3-4 Industrial or Glass Spray Bottles

 

Which Essential Oils to Use?

You can use a combination of essential oils to provide the natural scent (and other valuable properties) in cleaning recipes, including:

Citronella
Eucaplutus(or Raven blend)
Lavender
Lemon
Lemongrass
Lime
Peppermint
Purification blend
Tea Tree
Thieves blend

Here are a few easy DIY green cleaning recipes to get you started:

DIY Natural All Purpose Household Cleaner  

Ingredients 

2 cups water
2-4 tablespoons liquid castile soap
15 drops cleaning essential oil, such as: lavender, lemon, orange, tea tree, peppermint, or grapefruit.

Directions

Pour the ingredients into a spray bottle.
Gently shake the bottle to combine the ingredients.
Shake the cleaner before each use.
Spray the cleaner on a dirty surface.
Wipe the surface with a damp cloth.
Store up to 2 months.

 

DIY Natural Disinfectant Spray 

DIY Natural Glass and Mirror Cleaner

Ingredients 

1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
1/3 cup white vinegar
Water

Directions

Add the alcohol and vinegar to a 16oz. spray bottle.
Add the water until the bottle is full.
If you don’t care for a vinegar scent, although it goes away once the surface dries, add a few drops of your favorite cleaning essential oil.
Spray the cleaner on a glass surface or mirror, then wipe the surface with a microfiber cloth.
Store up to 3 months. .

 

DIY Natural Vinegar Floor Cleaner

Ingredients

2 gallons hot water
1/2 cup white vinegar
5 drops cleaning essential oil, such as lavender, lemon, orange, tea tree, peppermint, or grapefruit.

Directions

Add the hot water, vinegar, and essential oil to a bucket.
Gently stir the ingredients together.
Dip a mop into the solution, then mop the floor.
Don’t saturate the floor while mopping.

Important Note:
The pH of vinegar is around 2.2 (a pH of 7 is neutral).
Always spot test first!
You should never use vinegar solutions on stone surfaces such as granite or marble, cast iron, aluminum, or waxed surfaces.
The acid in the vinegar can etch, pit, and strip finishes or otherwise damage these surfaces.

More Green Cleaning Recipes to Check Out:

Green Cleaning 101: Healthy, Green and Natural Ways to Clean Your Home – Infographic

 

Chemicals in Your Cabinets: The Dangers of Typical Cleaning Products

How to Clean Green: DIY Lemon Citrus Vinegar All-Purpose Cleaner

9 Natural Cleaning Recipes for the Bathroom

How to Make Your Own DIY Natural Orange Citrus Cleaner

 

Quick Steps on How To Make Natural Drain Cleaner

 

Natural Alternatives for Top 10 Cleaning Toxins

 

5 Ways To Make Green Cleaning Easy And Effective

5 Ways to Use Homemade Cleaning Supplies

5 DIY Natural Cleaning Recipes for a Green and Clean Workout – Infographic

5 Eco-Friendly Carpet Cleaning Techniques: Best Tips From The Experts

Cleaning Clutter Without Endangering the Environment

7 Ways to Upcycle in Time for Spring Cleaning

 

What are your favorite spring cleaning and detoxing tips?

Share your thoughts and comments with us.

 

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