Winter Guide To a Healthy Home

When it reaches the point of the year when many people come down with the common cold, it may be tempting to use harsh chemicals to clean your house. 

You know, the ones that promise to kill 99.99 percent of germs, but should only be used while wearing a haz-mat suit in a well-ventilated area.

You may find yourself wondering, is it possible to actually sanitize with natural products?

Yes, it is!

There are some really great, non-toxic cleaning products available that don’t contain dangerous chemicals but will still you give you the same level of cleaning power. 

We’ve rounded up a few of our favorites, as well a few options you can make yourself!

Check them out below!

 

Mrs. Meyers All Purpose Spray

 

Mrs. Meyers combines garden inspired scents, essential oils, and plant-derived cleaning ingredients to clean kitchen messes and all over the house. Great on all non-porous surfaces such as finished wood and tile floors, countertops, walls, porcelain, bathroom fixtures, sealed natural and synthetic stone, and more!

Buy here!

Seventh Generation Wipes

Seventh Generation Disinfecting Wipes are a convenient solution to cleaning! With their patented disinfecting technology based on Thyme Oil, these wipes will kill household germs such as: H1N1, Methicilin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Buy here!

 

Method Bathroom Cleaner

 

Made specially for the bathroom, this spray is optimized to target soap scum and hard water stains. Despite the tough guy routine, it’s gentle on hard non-porous surfaces.

Buy here!

 

Biokleen Laundry Detergent

 

Biokleen Free and Clear Laundry Detergent is a fragrance free formula that’s gentle on senses and skin without sacrificing cleaning power. Plant-based surfactants and extracts of grapefruit seed (has no scent) clean tough stains and odors. Rinses clean and leaves no harsh fumes or residues on fabrics.

For stubborn stains, you can try their Bac-Out Stain Remover as well.

Buy here!

Spruce & Co Screen Cleaning Wipes

 

Our personal devices are covered in germs and bacteria, especially our smartphones.

Give all of your tech a good cleaning with Spruce & Co screen cleaning wipes. Theyare free of harsh chemicals like alcohol and ammonia. Plus, they work for glasses too!

Buy here!

3% hydrogen peroxide

3% hydrogen peroxide is a fantastic disinfectant because it kills bacteria, mold, and fungus! Hydrogen peroxide is water, but with an extra oxygen molecule.

Most of us have a bottle under our sinks for cleaning small scrapes and cuts, but it disinfects surfaces too!

Many people attach a spray cap to a bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide and just spritz and wipe. It will bleach fabrics and some surfaces so make sure you test in a small area first! 

 

Distilled White Vinegar 

For a simple DIY cleaner, you can mix 1 cup of ordinary distilled white vinegar and 1 cup of water to clean most surfaces in your home. Spray it on and scrub.

Do not use on natural stone or wood, as the acid in vinegar may damage these surfaces. 

You can also add a cup of distilled white vinegar to a load of laundry to work as a deodorizer for sour towels or gym clothes. 

To use as a fabric softener, just add half a cup of distilled white vinegar to your washer’s final rinse cycle!

Steam Clean

Steam cleaners use high heat to kill bacteria in a simple, effective way. You do not need a cleaning solution as steam cleaners use only water heated to a very high temperature.

This is an effective method for sanitizing, but it is not really effective for removing dirt or debris.

Try using steam cleaners as a final once-over for especially germy spots.

A Reminder

Please remember that, although these products are natural and non-toxic, all cleaning products should be kept away from children and pets.

You should also always be wary of mixing cleaning products. For instance, mixing vinegar and hydrogen peroxide can result in a toxic gas called paracetic acid. 

Use one product at a time and don’t combine them.

Areas To Clean:

Certain spots in our homes can be hotspots for germs and bacteria, especially in winter, so make sure you are regularly disinfecting them. 

If you are recovering from a sickness, make sure to give them a good scrubbing! 

Don’t be afraid to crack open a window and let some sunlight and fresh air in.

Spots you should sanitize include:

- Door handles
- Railings
- Light switches 
- Faucets 
- Kitchen Table,
- Cabinets
- Counters 
- Kitchen appliances
- Windows, especially full length ones 
- Entire bathroom especially appliances and toothbrush holders
- Toys, (you can dishwash plastic ones, washing machine for stuffed animals)
- Electronics, ie. smartphones, keyboards 
- Landline phones
- TVs and remotes 

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a lot of great options available to help you make your home safe and sanitary. 

Non-toxic, natural cleaning products can be just as effective as killing germs and bacteria, without the dangers of harsh chemical cleaners.

Happy Cleaning!

 

PS. Let us know if we missed your favorite product!