Do non-toxic cleaning products work as well as other products? Short answer? Absolutely! On top of having a sparkling clean home, you’ll have the benefit of knowing that your home isn’t teeming with toxic fumes! At Going GreenHouse, we have been in the non-toxic cleaning business for over 10 years.
We have procured a green cleaning kit that we arm all of our team members with that allows them to clean any surface thoroughly, without harm to the surface or the indoor environment—and, leaves it fresher and cleaner than before.
One objection that I hear from people is that they just can’t understand a clean home without it smelling “clean.” Some say that it’s not clean unless you are blasted with the scent of pine trees and bleach upon entering the home. The smell of clean has evolved, and if it smells strongly, that’s a good indication that it is also toxic to your environment. Not just in the air that you, your children, pets, and guests breathe, but also waiting on those countertops and floors to absorb into your skin when you touch it.
If you are one of those who grew up with this philosophy but want to give non-toxic products a shot, we have a couple of tricks up our sleeve. We use peppermint castile soap to clean the shower, as well as mop the floor. It leaves a lovely, gentle mint essence that can only be described as a clean scent.
One product—which also took us a while to perfect—was our stainless-steel cleaner. You can’t really skimp or substitute here, and if you do, the streaks left behind on your fridge door will show that the product isn’t perfect. A lot of stainless-steel cleaning products are wipes, which we find wasteful, or aerosol cans, which were only acceptable back in the ’80s AquaNet hairspray days. We finally found a soy-based cleaner made by the good people at Ecos that cleans and shines stainless-steel surfaces so they look like they’re brand-new! In a pinch, olive oil can be used to clean stainless steel surfaces—but keep in mind a little goes a long way!
Finally, our secret weapon. We use a pumice stone for a couple of different things when we deep clean. That funky ring in your toilet that you can’t seem to get rid of? Pumice stone, baby! We like the one with the handle for this purpose especially.
Our other favorite use for a pumice stone? To remove all of those baked-on food remnants from the interior of your oven. No more need for abrasive aerosol spray oven cleaner—just pre-soak the door and floor of your oven with your favorite all-purpose spray, moisten the pumice stone, and go to town!
At Going GreenHouse, we are passionate about making the world a greener place, one step at a time. If you have any questions about the products you are using or would like suggestions on alternatives, please feel free to reach out to me, the founder and CEO, at april@goinggreenhouse.com and I would be happy to help. For more information about the services from Going GreenHouse, visit www.goinggreenhouse.com.
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