Everyone can agree, a clean house keeps its inhabitants healthy. But, did you know those products we use every day to keep our homes clean can be damaging to our health? Often household cleaners contain dangerous volatile organic compounds (or VOCs) that can linger in the air for hours or even months. And these products include dish detergent, bleach, and air fresheners. Is it any wonder that people have begun looking for natural alternatives to keep their houses clean and their families healthy?

Clean Out Those Cabinets

Firstly, to keep your family healthy, go through all of your cleaning products to understand what chemicals the manufacturers included. Also, consider which products are most useful. Manufacturers often advertise their products for a single purpose, but the truth is, a single multipurpose cleaner can manage the kitchen counters and the bathroom. Having few products means fewer chemicals sprayed in the air, fewer plastic bottles cluttering your cabinets or being thrown away, and fewer trips to the store to buy that one cleaner you only use occasionally.

Try DIY

Another option to consider is mixing your own cleaning products. Many DIY cleaner recipes include commonly found products that may already be in your home, such as vinegar, baking soda, and Castile soap. Vinegar and tea tree oil are natural cleansers while baking soda helps bring out any tough stains or caked-on dirt. And while the scent of vinegar may not be that clean-scrubbed smell, adding a few drops of any essential oil can counteract that smell. These few ingredients can create a wide range of cleaning products, even for your toilet. And instead of an air freshener, try an oil diffuser as air fresheners do not remove any smells but rather cover them up with chemicals.

When you use essential oils, it is important to select high quality oils for the best results. The doterra oil distillation involves a cold press to express the oils from the plants. Low quality oils may not produce the desired result. It is also important to note that essential oils should always be used as directed as some oils can be especially acidic or interact with medications (such as grapefruit oil). Using essential oils can increase the cleaning power of your products or give a clean scent to your home without putting dangerous chemicals into the air.

High Quality Tools

It isn't just the cleaners that impact your home and health, but the sponges, towels, and mops that have a major impact on our homes. While these products have a less direct effect on the indoor air quality or health inside of our homes, that have a considerable impact on the environment outside. All plastic takes an incredibly long time to decompose and there is growing evidence that micro plastics are ending up in our food chain. While studies have not been conclusive on the effect all this plastic has on our digestive system, it is well-known to have negative consequences for the animals that eat them. Microfiber towels, washable mop heads, and cellulose sponges have a much lower impact on the world outside our homes, which can only benefit the people inside them.

The volatile organic compounds in cleaners can irritate eyes and throats, and lead to more serious health concerns. Safely disposing of unused chemicals, limiting the number in the home, and even switching to homemade cleaning products can greatly improve the air you breathe and your health. Eliminating unnecessary plastic products improves the world around us. Is it any wonder that interest in buying, using, and making natural cleaning products is growing?