Dr. StrangeRebmann – or how I learned to stop worrying and love cleaning my chemical-free home – Conclusion

Dirty Laundry

Part 4 – The Rest of the House & Laundry

I spend most of my cleaning energy on the bathrooms and kitchen. Sometimes, I feel the rest of the house must feel neglected – like the proverbial middle child. So, I have recently been expressing my gratitude to my living room and bedrooms for not needing so much attention. Luckily, this lack of dirt lends itself well to chemical-free cleaning. Basic vacuuming is a must – but contains no chemicals that I know of. Hooray! I do have a few tips for healthier cleaning and hope you find them helpful.

1. Use a microfiber cloth or glove to dust the furniture, window sills, ceiling fan blades, etc. My addiction to dusting spray was easily overcome by these clothes – they work great.
2. Use homemade all-purpose bathroom cleaner (See Part 2) to clean windows.
3. For spots on carpet and furniture – try a damp cloth first. I know this seems strange, but I have a really old dog and a really crazy two-year-old, and I have not had a stain on a carpet or furniture that a damp cloth has not taken care of. Sometimes I have to address it two or three times – but I have to say – it has always come out. I just pretend that I have carpet cleaner on my rag – even though it is water – and work in circles. Let dry and repeat. I have heard, that for very tricky stains, baking soda and a spray of vinegar will work well, but I am sticking with water for now. (Note – of course this will not work for Sharpie marks and such – but I doubt many harsh chemical cleaners would take that out either)
4. Switch to rags and cloth napkins. I have not bought any paper towels or paper napkins in two years – and it’s really no big deal. It was an easy switch, and now every single time we sit down for dinner or breakfast – the cloth napkins make it a little bit fancy. I throw the dirty napkins in with my jeans and launder once a week.
5. Throw all your air fresheners away! This is easy and important – they are a big source of chemicals in the home. Use essential oils for fragrance instead. If you, like me, do not have a lot of the essential oil supplies or time to dedicate to this study, just find some of the pre-mixed sprays that you like. I have several from my local aroma therapist that are lovely. These are usually a little more expensive than a Glade Plug-In, but last at least five times as long.
6. Think about alternatives for pest control. We, like most folks, have spiders in our basement. I know that spiders are an integral part of the web of life and all – but I really want them to live outside. So, I was thinking creatively and did some research via google and found that osage oranges (which just happen to grow locally around the corner) work wonders for getting rid of spiders. I have also read things about citrus oil and walnut branches working well too.

Laundry
1. Switch to chemical free laundry products. I have used Method, Ecover and Mrs. Meyers products and have still had lovely, fresh smelling clean clothes.
2. If cost is an issue, supplement laundry with Borax. I add ½ cup of borax (for a large load) to the washer as it is filling, and then add ½ as much laundry detergent as the instructions direct. This works great and saves $$ – and the clothes seems extra bright and fresh to me. For small loads – proportion down.
3. To kill mold on the shower curtain – add ½ cup of Borax to the washer on the soak setting. Let the shower curtain soak for 30 minute to an hour. Switch to the regular was cycle, add Borax and detergent combo and let it go. This has worked for me much better than regular bleach used to.
4. Limit the use of the dryer when possible. Did you know that Energy Star does not give ratings for dryers because they are so inefficient? I have not made the leap to a laundry line yet – but I plan to soon, and encourage you to do so if you can. If not, go ahead and think creatively about when to use the dryer. You can combine small loads, and dry things like rags on a drying rack. Give yourself a pat on the back, or a fair-trade latte, when you are able to reduce your dryer’s usage.

In conclusion, the best thing to do is to think before reaching for household chemicals. Do some research and try some different things. You can make a huge difference in your household air quality by being creative and choosing to be chemical-free.