Clean Mama's Guide to a Healthy Home: The Simple, Room-by-Room Plan for a Natural Home

by Becky Rapinchuk

EWG.org.

The Environmental Working Group tests and rates products for toxicity and potential side effects, and their website is an incredible database of knowledge and resources. I highly recommend typing your favorite cleaning product into their search engine.

MadeSafe.org. According to their website, Made Safe is an organization that “provides America’s first comprehensive human health-focused certification for nontoxic products across store aisles, from baby to personal care to household and beyond.”4

Think Dirty app (from ThinkDirtyApp.com).

Don’t use insect repellents with DEET; instead opt for insect sprays that use picaridin and IR3535, both at 20 percent concentration (Aunt Fannie’s brand makes cleaning and pest control products).

I love Molly’s Suds Laundry Detergent, and they make the version I sell in my Clean Mama online shop too (CleanMamaHome.net). A couple of other safe recommendations are Better Life and Branch Basics Concentrate.

Toilets—vinegar and water on surfaces and baking soda and soap in the bowl

LEMON + CLOVE My absolute favorite scent combination and signature scent. It’s homey, warm, and inviting. I use 7 drops lemon and 3 drops clove. LEMON + PEPPERMINT + LAVENDER This combo is clean and refreshing. I like it heavy on the lemon and lavender—4 drops each—with just 1 or 2 drops peppermint. EUCALYPTUS + LAVENDER If you like the smell of a spa, try this. It’s probably the combination they’re diffusing. I use equal portions eucalyptus and lavender. TEA TREE (MELALEUCA) + LEMON + ORANGE

Melaleuca, or tea tree, oil is a natural disinfectant, but it has a strong scent. I like to offset the scent with a little citrus to freshen it up a bit. I use 4 drops tea tree, 3 drops lemon, and 3 drops orange. LEMON + CYPRESS I love this combination for washing hardwood floors. The woodsy scent of the cypress and lemon is clean and refreshing. I use 7 drops lemon and 3 drops cypress. ROSEMARY + CLOVE + ORANGE If you’re looking for the perfect kitchen scent, this is it. The herbal rosemary pairs really well with the clove and orange. I use 4 drops rosemary, 3 drops clove, and 3 drops orange. CINNAMON + TEA TREE (MELALEUCA) Cinnamon does a good job of toning down the melaleuca. I use equal parts cinnamon and tea tree for a spicy, clean scent.

Seventh Generation Free and Clear Dishwasher Detergent Packs and Grab Green Fragrance-Free Dishwashing Detergent Pods.

Seventh Generation Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner

CHECKLIST COUNTERS, SURFACES, UTENSILS, AND SMALL APPLIANCES REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER PANTRY AND FOOD STORAGE UNDER THE KITCHEN SINK CABINETS AND DRAWERS KITCHEN TOWELS AND CLOTHS OVEN AND SINK MOST-TOUCHED AREAS FLOORS ORGANIZATION STORAGE AND LABELING PREPARATION AND PRACTICE

“If you don’t love it or need it, don’t keep it.”

How often do you really use each of these items? Do you enjoy using them? How old are they, and do they work as well as they should? Could any of these items be stored in a cabinet?

you don’t use and access the item daily, it probably doesn’t be...

Once your counters are clear, mix up a small container of warm, soapy water, take a bar mop cloth or sponge, and wipe them clean.

group baking supplies together and cooking supplies together. I have a couple of large lazy Susans in the pantry to keep my baking and cooking supplies organized.

I find that the easiest way to put things back is to group them together on the kitchen table or a counter first and then I assess the items and put them back. I’ve even been known to label shelves with sticky notes so I can see where things will go and if it makes sense before I put them back.

Give your sink a good scrub too. Wet it, sprinkle a little baking soda or my Nightly Sink Scrub (found here) into it, and scrub the surface with a sponge or scrub brush. Add a squirt of dish or liquid castile soap, scrub a little more, and rinse thoroughly. Spray and wipe your faucet, and dry the sink. Baking soda is gentle yet abrasive and can be used for any sink surface.

stop microwaving anything in plastic containers—the plastic might leach into your food.

NIGHTLY SINK SCRUB This is one of my favorite cleaning recipes and daily rituals. Once the kitchen is clean after dinner, I do a little sink scrub, and it just gives it that perfect reset at the end of the day. I love lemon and clove for their subtle fresh, homey scent, and you can adjust to suit your taste or omit the essential oils altogether. Use it in the bathroom sink too! 2 cups baking soda 20 drops essential oils (I recommend lemon and clove—I usually use 15 drops lemon and 5 drops clove) 1 to 2 squirts castile or plant-based dish soap In a container with a lid or a shaker top—a mason jar is a perfect container for this—combine the baking soda with the essential oils. Stir and combine them well (remember, do not add the castile or dish soap yet). Put the lid on the jar, and in the evening when your dishes are done and the dishwasher is loaded up, wet the sink and sprinkle this mixture liberally over the sink. Add a squirt or two of the castile or dish soap at this point, and scrub with a sink-safe scrubber (perhaps keep one under your kitchen sink in a mason jar just for sink scrubbing and you’ll look forward to this nightly ritual). Rinse the sink thoroughly. VARIATION: This scrub isn’t just for sinks. Use it anywhere you need a little abrasive cleaning action—add water, cleaning concentrate, cleaning spray, or dish soap, and scrub. Use it dry, sprinkled on mattresses or carpets, as a freshener—let it sit to absorb any odors and then vacuum it up.

GARBAGE DISPOSAL CLEANER Use this in your disposal or drain when it gets a little stinky. ¼ cup baking soda ¼ cup lemon juice or white vinegar In a glass bowl, stir together the baking soda and the lemon juice or vinegar to make a pasty liquid. The liquid will start fizzing—then quickly pour it down the disposal. Let it sit for at least 5 minutes. Run cold water, then turn on the disposal and run it for 30 seconds.

STAINLESS STEEL CLEANER We love the look of stainless steel until it’s time to clean it. This is the simplest, easiest way to wipe off the grime. Alternatively, you can try club soda applied the same way. White vinegar Spray white vinegar directly on a microfiber cloth, and wipe the cloth across the stainless steel in the direction of the grain until you’ve buffed away any fingerprints and smudges.

STAINLESS STEEL POLISH Once your stainless steel is clean, it might need a little shine. Use olive oil to brighten it up and to remove any mineral deposits near a water dispenser. Couple of drops of olive oil Apply a drop or two of the olive oil to either a paper towel or an old, but clean, T-shirt. Wipe in the direction of the stainless steel grain, and buff it to a shine.

NO-RESIDUE DISHWASHER TABLETS

The recipe makes about 30 to 32 tablets.

2 cups baking soda 2 cups borax Optional, for hard water: up to ½ cup Epsom salt or kosher salt About ½ cup white vinegar (you might not need quite so much) 20 to 30 drops lemon essential oil

In a glass bowl, combine the baking soda, borax, and optional Epsom or kosher salt. Slowly add the vinegar—fizzing is normal—until the mixture is a thick and almost crumbly consistency. Add the essential oils, combining them well. Push the mixture into ice cube trays, and allow it to dry thoroughly for at least 24 hours—outside in the sun works the best. When the cubes, or tablets, are thoroughly dry (they should be hard but crumbly), remove them from the tray and store them in a glass jar with a secure lid. Place one in the soap dispenser of your dishwasher. If you notice...

REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER DEODORIZER Want something a little more attractive than an orange box in the fridge? Keep “that” smell away with this easy alternative.

2 cups baking soda Pour the baking soda into a mason jar, and screw a shaker top on it. Or cut out a small circle of fabric, place the fabric over the top of the jar, and secure it with a rubber band. Place this in the back of your fridge so the baking soda can absorb any inadvertent odors. Replace the baking soda seasonally. (If your refrigerator or freezer is especially stinky and you don’t know the culprit, remove all the contents and wipe it down thoroughly.)

REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER CLEANER Am I the only one who is overwhelmed with bringing all the groceries home and then trying to put everything away? Wipe down your refrigerator before you go grocery shopping, and you’ll thank yourself when you return and can just slide the goods in with ease. This cleaner is for those times when you need to really do a deep cleaning. Empty the fridge out, put the drawers in the sink to soak, and give it and your freezer a thorough cleaning. 4 cups warm water 1 teaspoon liquid castile soap 1 teaspoon baking soda In a glass bowl, combine all the ingredients. Wipe down the shelves and walls with a well-rung-out microfiber or dish cloth soaked with this cleaning solution. Dry if necessary.

Lisa Leake’s 100 Days of Real Food—I love this website (100Days ofRealFood.com)—as

Danielle Walker at Against All Grain (AgainstAllGrain.com)

Melissa Hartwig’s Whole 30 (Whole30.com)

Look up the product on the EWG database or the Think Dirty app.

CLEAN AT SEPHORA seal

Clean your toilet without really cleaning it by pouring ½ to 1 cup white vinegar in the toilet bowl, let it sit for an hour or so, and give it a little scrub if necessary. Or my favorite? Use a bleach alternative (I like Molly’s Suds): put a scoop right in the bowl, let it sit overnight, and give it a good scrub in the morning.

Pumie (a pumice stone on a wand, just for toilets) on hard-water stains.

CHECKLIST COUNTERS AND SURFACES CABINETS, DRAWERS, AND MEDICINE CHEST LIGHT FIXTURES, WINDOW TREATMENTS, BLINDS, AND VENTS TOWELS

FLOORS STORAGE AND LABELING PREPARATION AND PRACTICE

Spray a cloth with a mirror cleaner (Peppermint Pop Glass and Mirror Cleaner,

If the tub or the sink needs a good scrubbing, use my Nightly Sink Scrub (found here)—it’s perfect for both kitchen and bath use.

I love Beautycounter for personal care products and makeup you can 100 percent trust.

‘The Never List ™’—all

Schmidt’s Naturals toothpaste—I buy the Wondermint

PEPPERMINT POP GLASS AND MIRROR CLEANER Looking for clean, streak-free windows and mirrors? This quick-drying spray will do the trick! I promise you’ll never go back to the blue stuff after trying this. Use a lint-free cloth with it, like a flour-sack towel or microfiber cloth. 1½ cups water 1½ tablespoons white vinegar 1½ tablespoons rubbing alcohol 3 drops essential oil, your choice of scent (I like peppermint or spearmint for windows—there’s something about peppermint and clean windows that is just delightful) In a glass spray bottle, add all the ingredients and shake the mixture. Spray it liberally on windows. For mirrors, spray it on your cloth and wipe the mirror clean from top to bottom.

CITRUS DAILY SHOWER SPRAY

This cleaner will make any shower or tub easier to clean and keep that soap scum at bay. Hooray! Peppermint essential oil is also a refreshing option for this recipe. 1 cup water ½ cup vodka or white vinegar (if you have marble or granite in the shower, use vodka) 10 drops lemon essential oil 2 drops orange or lime essential oil In a glass spray bottle, add all the ingredients and shake the mixture. Spray your shower or tub daily after showering. No rinsing is required.

Let it sit for 10 minutes and then rinse or wipe the surface clean.

Icky grout? Spray hydrogen peroxide on the grout, sprinkle the area with baking soda, and scrub, then rinse clean.