Cleaning Swaps Guide From Live Simply Cleaning Swaps Guide ... · the cleaners full of artificial fragrances and mystery ingredients and make your own or buy an all-purpose cleaner

1

Cleaning Swaps Guide From Live SimplyCleaning Swaps Guide From Live Simply

In the US, cleaning and body products do not go through rigorous testing or approval. Cleaning companies are not required to disclose their ingredients (beauty products are required).

When you take a deep dive into researching these products and ingredients, it can be concerning to read about the impact they have on the body. For example, “fragrance” is considered a trade secret that is commonly found on the ingredient list (if disclosed) of products. This ingredient (which can be made with hundreds of different chemicals, including phthalates which disrupt hormones) is top secret and incredibly concerning in terms of toxic ingredients. This is just one example of the concerning ingredients that can be used to make a product and the lack of transparency in this industry.

Maybe a small amount of these ingredients aren’t harmful (as companies claim), but when you consider how many products we use in a day (or week or month), we aren’t using a trace amount of these chemicals in our homes and on our bodies. We’re burdening our systems with these ingredients and the cumulative effect of using so many potentially-toxic chemicals.

There are also ingredients that aren’t as concerning and don’t negatively impact our health and body. Chemicals aren’t bad (after all everything has a chemical composition). We just want to make sure that we’re not using the chemicals that have been shown to negatively impact our home environment and health.

CLEANING SWAPS GUIDE

2

Cleaning Swaps Guide From Live Simply

CLEANING SWAPS

Swap 1: All Purpose Cleaner An all purpose cleaner can be used to clean just about any and every surface in your home. I use this cleaner to spray down my counter tops in the evening after the messes of the day, to clean the bathroom, and to wipe up the doggie accident (we have a sweet, elderly dog, it happens). This cleaner is the most reached for product in the home, so it’s the most essential to swap out. Ditch the cleaners full of artificial fragrances and mystery ingredients and make your own or buy an all-purpose cleaner from a trusted company.

DIY Option

Option 1

2 cups distilled water2 TB liquid castile soap15 drops essential of choice, such as: lavender, tea tree, orange, or peppermint16-ounce glass spray bottle

Pour the water into the spray bottle (use a funnel, if needed). Add the castile soap and essential oil. Gently shake the cleaner. This cleaner may be stored at room temperature. This is safe to use on most surfaces.

3

Cleaning Swaps Guide From Live SimplyCleaning Swaps Guide From Live Simply

Option 2

1 cup white vinegar1 cup distilled water15 drops essential of choice, such as: lavender, tea tree, orange, or peppermint16-ounce glass spray bottle

Pour the ingredients into the spray bottle (use a funnel, if needed). Gently shake the cleaner. This cleaner may be stored at room temperature. This is not safe to use on marble or granite.

Store-Bought Option

Branch Basics: Not only are the founders of Branch Basics super transparent about their ingredients and have a deep passion for teaching people how to get rid of toxic chemicals in their home, the products they sell really work. I say products, but really there is only one main cleaning product: the concentrate. With this one product, you can make multiple cleaners, from all-purpose cleaner to laundry soap to hand soap. Branch Basics sends you all the bottles (which include how much concentrate to water you need to mix together) along with the actual concentrate. Once you have the bottles, you simply need to replace the concentrate as needed. Check out my podcast interview with Branch Basics here.

Seventh Generation: This is an easy-to-find all-purpose cleaner in most stores. I’m not a fan of all Seventh Generation products, but their all-purpose cleaner is a winner.

4

Cleaning Swaps Guide From Live Simply

Swap 2: Glass Cleaner This is another cleaner that’s used frequently in the home. Windex or similar generic brands are generally the go-to option in most cleaning caddies. This particular cleaner receives a D grade from the Environmental Working Group (that’s not good). Among the concerns are ingredients that cause respiratory issues and skin irritations.

DIY Option

1/2 cup rubbing/isopropyl alcohol1/3 cup white vinegardistilled water16-ounce glass spray bottle

Add the alcohol and vinegar to the spray bottle. Add water until the bottle is full (use a funnel, if needed). 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. This cleaner may be stored at room temperature. If you don’t feel comfortable using rubbing alcohol, use more vinegar instead.

Store-Bought Option

Branch Basics: Again, Branch Basics pulls through on the store-bought option. As I mentioned, the beauty of Branch Basics is one cleaning concentrate makes multiple cleaners, depending on the ratio used.

5

Cleaning Swaps Guide From Live SimplyCleaning Swaps Guide From Live Simply

Swap 3: Scrub CleanerA scrub cleaner can be used to clean toilets, tubs, and sinks. This multi-purpose cleaner is definitely one that I recommend going the DIY route with since it’s so easy to make.

DIY Option

Simply sprinkle some baking soda in your toilet, let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub with a toilet bowl brush. Want something more? Add a spritz or two of all-purpose cleaner. For sinks and tubs, sprinkle baking soda on the surface area and then scrub with a dish towel or cleaning brush. Watch the dirt and grime slip away from the surface. Need something more? Add a squirt of castile soap or Sal Suds (or your favorite “more natural” dish soap) to a rag or brush and scrub away.

Store-Bought Option

Once again, the best option for a store-bought scrub cleaner is Branch Basics. This time, I recommend the Oxygen Boost. If baking soda alone isn’t working for you, the Oxygen Boost will be the extra power you need.