Ever since Everett was born I have been rethinking a lot of the choices that we make around our house, specifically anything having to do with chemicals. I do not like the idea that some of the products we use have harsh and harmful ingredients that would definitely cause panic if my children got a hold one of them.
At first I wasn’t sure what to do; I did not want to buy the traditional household cleaners anymore and I also did not want to shell out the big bucks for the green cleaners that I saw on the shelves at the store either. I was worried that I would spend a ton of money for products that I hadn’t heard of before and could potentially not work. I did a little bit of research and found that making my own cleaners would not only be cheaper but safer and effective. Score!
You don’t have to be fancy when making your cleaners, in fact you can clean most areas around your home with a mixture of one-part vinegar and one-part water. Vinegar can do some amazing things and the best part about it is that it is non-toxic and it also works as a disinfectant. If you don’t like the smell of vinegar you can add citrus peels to the mixture, however once the vinegar dries the smell dissipates. For more tips on cleaning with vinegar, check out this link!
Another great item that you can use to clean with is baking soda. You can mix baking soda and water until it becomes a paste and use it in the kitchen and bathrooms as a scrub to remove soap scum or buildup. You can also add baking soda to your laundry to help remove stains and add brightness. Baking soda can also be combined with vinegar (who didn’t love making volcanoes in science class in middle school?!) to create a paste that can be used in on tough stains around the house.
The two items above (three if you count citrus fruit, four if you count water) you probably already have in your home already. How easyis this?! Grab a spray bottle from the cleaning section at your local superstore and you are in business. Want to step it up a bit? While you’re in the cleaning aisle look for liquid castile soap- my personal favorite is Dr. Bronner’s Lavender. This soap is amazing and can be used for so many different purposes! I was going to type up my own list but I found this one on their website that covers more than I even realized: “You can use Dr. Bronner’s soaps for washing your face, body, hands and hair, for bathing, shaving, brushing your teeth, rinsing fruit, aromatherapy, washing dishes by hand, doing laundry, mopping floors, all-purpose cleaning, washing windows, scrubbing toilets, washing dogs, controlling dust mites, and killing ants and aphids.” (Found here.) We use the lavender scented soap as body wash and hand soap at home (check out this dilution chart for instructions) and it smells lovely! This is a product that you will want to have on hand all the time because it is so versatile!
Now that you’ve got your household cleaner made what about the floors? You certainly can use some of the suggestions above however once a year it is important to have your carpets, rugs, tile, and upholstered furniture professionally cleaned. Day after day at your home your dead skin cell particles shed from your body and embed into the soft surfaces like couches, carpets, and rugs. If you have pets their hair (along with your own hair) is left in your carpets along with any spilled food or accidents that your children or animals might have had! The daily traffic going in and out of your home can also bring in dirt and germs that can leave stains and be potentially harmful to the health and well-being of your family. Vacuuming will help to remove some of that buildup but it will definitely not remove all of it.
Traditional carpet cleaning uses hot water mixed with soaps containing various chemical agents that leave your carpets heavily saturated with harsh residue. I am excited to have found Zerorez of Greater Fredericksburg, a carpet cleaning company that is able to clean carpets, upholstery, and tiled surfaces better than traditional carpet cleaning companies but without the use of high-residue soaps, detergents, shampoos or chemicals. “Zerorez cleaning services are based on its unique Empowered Water technology. Empowered Water is enhanced water that is electrolyzed and oxidized to create a powerful cleaning solution without harmful toxins or chemicals.” (Found here.)
When Aaron, the technician, came to my house he was very friendly and knowledgable. He took the time to explain how the Zerorez system worked and answered my questions. While he was in my home he was careful to protect the walls and provided great customer service. The areas of my home that he cleaned had such amazing results that I can’t keep from telling everyone about their services! Zerorez of Greater Fredericksburg is extending an offer to all of my readers of 10% off any service and one free area! Be sure to mention “Not So Average Momma” when booking your service!
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This post was sponsored by Zerorez of Greater Fredericksburg, all content and opinons are my own.
This post originally appeared on Not So Average Momma on Fredericksburg Parent.net!
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