It’s 2017, which means we know a lot of things we didn’t know 20, 10, or even five years ago. One of those things? Most store-bought cleaning products are laden with toxic chemicals that are bad to bring into the house, especially if you have pets or kids.
Despite that knowledge, picking up your go-to spray cleaner at the grocery store just seems like the easiest thing to do. You WANT to make the switch to all-natural products, but they’re pricey to buy and time-consuming to make. Right?
Well, not always.
Melissa from Clean My Space always has our back with brilliant, simple cleaning solutions, and she’s done it again. She’s going to show us in the video below five of the most toxic cleaning products you can find in any given store and a homemade alternative that’s safer to use.
And, thankfully, all these DIY cleaners are cheap to make and take no time at all. Most importantly, you’re getting dangerous chemicals out of your home without sacrificing cleaning power!
Here are a few of the most toxic cleaning products on shelves and some DIY alternatives.
1. Drain Cleaner
While drain cleaner seems like the only way to keep your pipes clear and clean, it’s also one of the most dangerous things you can have in your house. This traditionally blue goo contains chemicals like bleach and sodium hydroxide, which can severely injure your skin or eyes if you’re not careful.
And, as anyone who’s seen the 1988 film Heathers knows, drinking drain cleaner can easily prove fatal.
There is an alternative solution that will keep drains clear and smelling fresh, without any of the dangers of store-bought drain cleaners.
Combine 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 salt, and 1/8 cup cream of tartar. Pour half the mixture down the drain followed by 2 cups of boiling water. Wait a few minutes and then repeat with the rest of the mixture.
2. Toilet Bowl Cleaner
It’s bad enough that you have to clean a toilet, but using a product that could harm your skin, eyes, and your respiratory system just adds insult to injury. Luckily, there’s an easy way to make a homemade toilet bowl cleaner that doesn’t have the harmful side effects.
This all-natural cleaner works great and doesn’t have any toxic chemicals, so you can rest easy. Unfortunately, you are still cleaning a toilet, but we can’t help you avoid that.
Add 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup water, 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup dish soap, and 15 drops of tea tree oil into a container; it’s easiest to use a funnel to make sure it neatly goes in the bottle.
Shake this mixture up and apply it to the inside of your toilet bowl, making sure to get under the rim. Let it sit for a moment or so, give the bowl a scrub, flush, and you’re done!
To learn about three more dangerous products lurking in the cleaning aisle of the store, make sure to watch the video below. Each one will come with a handy DIY alternative cleaner which is as simple to make as these two!
What do you think of these homemade products? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.