Starting the journey to a more natural home can seem pretty daunting. There is a ton of natural products on the market that are expensive and convince us that they are 100% necessary. They really really aren’t.
When I first got the bug to detox my home I bought a lot of “natural” products that only added to the clutter in my house and weren’t all that better than your traditional chemical filled products. Over time I learned how to narrow down the products in my house and appreciate the simplicity of a few versatile and natural products.
Now this isn’t an extensive list but this is what I’d call a great jumping off point. I’m pretty sure you have a few of these in your house already!
1. Vinegar
Vinegar is ultra cheap, you can buy it in bulk, and can be used in every room of your house. Vinegar makes an excellent cleaning agent because of its acidity levels. It is a completely natural product that is made through a fermentation process. You can also make your own scrap apple cider vinegar at home.
A few ways I use vinegar:
- All purpose cleaner (counter tops, toilets, glass, dusting, ect)
- Fabric softener
- Hardwood floor cleaner
- When vinegar is mixed with baking soda it creates a powerful chemical reaction that is perfect for tough messes.
2. Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of those products that I try to always have on hand in bulk. Not only do I use it often in the kitchen, I use it everywhere in the house as well. Baking soda (also known as ‘sodium carbonate’) an important part of my homemade laundry detergent.
How I use baking soda:
- Fabric deodorizer (carpets, couches, rugs, etc)
- A cleaning and scrubbing agent mixed with vinegar (excellent for ovens, bath tubs, toilets, and hard water stains)
- Mattress cleaner
- In my homemade laundry detergent
- 1/4 cup as a laundry booster when I wash my whites
- In homemade toothpaste
- Stainless steel cleaning
- Deodorize shoes
3. Castile Soap
I always have liquid Castile soap, along with the bar form, on hand. I am particularly fond of Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Castile soap.
I recommend buying the unscented version so there isn’t any added essential oils that may not be safe for everyone and you can customize the essential oils yourself.
How I use Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Castile Soap:
- Body wash (also baby body wash)
- Foaming face wash
- Back-up laundry detergent
- Back-up all purpose cleaner (this is a great alternative for people that can’t stand
- the temporary vinegar smell)
- Foaming hand soap
- Foaming dish soap
- Wash the dogs (be sure to use the unscented version)
- Fruit and vegetable rinse
- Homemade shampoo
4. Essential Oils (Tea Tree, Lemon, and Lavender)
I do have a collection of essential oils that I use all the time. But I think there is a lot of pressure for people to buy all the essential oils right away. When I think it’s best that you start off with a few key oils that have a variety of uses, get used to using them in your daily life, and then purchase more.
The three that I find I use most often are:
Melaleuca/Tea Tree Essential Oil:
- Hand sanitizer
- Cutting board sanitizer
- Surface sanitizer
- Minor cuts and scrapes
- Insect repellent
- Spot treatment
- In my homemade cleaners
Lemon Essential Oil:
- Deodorizer
- Surface sanitizer
- Cutting board cleaner
- In my fruit rinse
- In my homemade cleaners
Lavender Essential Oil:
- In all my homemade body products (whipped body butter, sugar scrub, foaming soaps)
- On my dryer balls to boost the scent
- On sore muscles
- Boost scent in my vacuum
- In my iron
- In homemade shampoo
- Mild allergy relief
These are four very cheap, natural, and versatile products that you can use all throughout your entire house. When it comes to create a more natural and simple lifestyle I find that products that aren’t uni-taskers is important.
I hope this inspires you to get rid of some of the harsh chemicals in your home and replace them with something more natural and simple. It’s all about baby steps. Maybe try adding one of these products to your home at a time.
Thank-you so much for taking time out of your day to hang out here!