clean up!

I have always been interested in keeping my home as safe as possible, but that doesn't mean old habits are hard to break. With my pregnancy I have been trying harder than ever to rid our house of unnecessary chemicals. We still have a lot of old school cleaners and I have since retired them to the garage. They can be used out there until they run out and then we won't replace them.

I guess I should say that if you aren't intimated by making your own products, these items are mainly what you may need to clean your whole house! I am not here yet, so I buy lots of products from Method and similar companies.

Glass cleaner swap. Ditch the Ammonia-containing Windex. 

Ammonia exposure is linked to liver and kidney damage and 

the EPA says it's a toxic chemical that causes lung and eye damage.

Powder Cleanser swap. Ditch the bleach-containing Comet. Bleach, where do I even begin? First, most people don't know that it takes 30 minutes before the active ingredients in bleach to work/disinfect. I doubt most people are just letting bleach or bleach-containing cleaners sit for 30 minutes before scrubbing anyways.

All-purpose cleaner swap. I have been most concerned about cleaners sprayed on my kitchen counter tops. Think about it, its near food and where you prepare food. Why would you want any chemicals being spritzed nearby? I have been using Method all-purpose or their kitchen cleaner for years and love all the different scents. 

Some other favorites. The woman who helps cleans our house a couple times a month actually suggested the product on the far right for bathtubs. The Method bath line is aggressive on what it needs to be, but you don't feel like you're choking on the fumes. Mrs. Meyers is another great brand we love. 

We typically use Method laundry detergent but I read great things about Charlie's Soap, especially for baby items. Plus I prefer powder over liquid detergents because traditional jugs have over sized caps and vague instructions to encourage overuse. Also, if you smell detergent on dry clothes, it means you used too much.

What do you use at your house? Any tips or great products to add to my ever-evolving list?