Do you know if your cleaning products are safe? Are they non-toxic?

I am very fortunate. I have someone to come in and clean my house twice a month. I love a clean house…. just hate getting it there. I don’t mind laundry, ironing, picking things up and keeping the house neat on a daily basis. It’s the sheet changing and toilets that are on the bottom of my list. How about you?

For some reason though, when I moved into my new house a year or so ago, the smells of the cleaning products my cleaners were using seemed very strong and over powering. One day, when I came home expecting a clean and fresh smelling house I was completely assaulted! Because when the smells of Clorox Clean Up and Fabuloso collide…. it is utter chaos on the senses.

So, I began to do some research about cleaning supplies that did their jobs but were non-toxic. There is so much information out there – I had NO idea. I was just using what I have used for 30 years giving it no thought whatsoever. Are you still using your same products? The ones your mom used maybe?

I then began to think about all the chemicals that we pour down the drain… which then gets ‘filtered’, bleach is added, and it becomes our drinking water. Or those chemicals seep in the water and our rivers, lakes and streams. If those cleaning products are terrible for me I can only image what our fish must think.

I’ve been thinking about my cosmetics. My shampoo. Body wash. Body lotion. Face lotion & foundation. (I made a skin care change about 6 months ago – and I still LOVE them all)

I’ve been thinking about paper and all of those trees it takes to make paper too.

Do you think about your cleaning products being safe, too? Or is it just me?

As I was thinking, I was also researching environmentally friendly cleaning products. Have you ever heard the saying ‘out of sight out of mind? Well, I am now wondering if I was better off BEFORE I started researching. Because what I found out is frightful. (Story for another day). As a result, I decided to change what I could. The easy things. And, hopefully some of the most harmful things will be eliminated.

I wanted to move into environmentally friendly cleaning products.

I felt that that even though I am only one person (of a family of two) maybe I could begin to make a change and then let others know how it all worked out. So this is what I did (and found out) –

• I decided that I wanted to find home cleaning products that took the planet (and me) into consideration.
• I wanted to be able to order on-line (because I live out in the middle of cow country). I was also looking for a company that did not require me to have this HUGE minimum order every month. Now, come on….how many dish washer pods can a family of 2 use every month! Same with you?
• I wanted products that were ‘human safe.’

I tried…. and cancelled, quite a few. Either the minimums were too high, shipping costs too much, or I just did not like the products. I did find two companies that I LOVE and I want to share them with you….just in case you are looking to make a few small changes too. Maybe you are searching for sustainable products that minimize harm to the environment AND to yourself. So who did I choose?

I chose Grove Collaborative AND Branch Basics

I wrote separate articles about each company and what it is about them that I love so much. Choose your button…or both. I I think you will LOVE either one. Find out which company fits your needs best. They are both different and offer different things.