Cleaning Green & Kid Safe

Cleaning Green & Kid-Safe

By Billie Karel

Like it or not, cleaning is a part of life…especially life with kids! Many products are available on store shelves to help you in the battle against dust, dirt, mold & mildew, and soap scum. But, how do you know if that “clean smell” is really clean, or if it’s the smell of toxic chemicals?

Sadly, many cleaning products are full of chemicals that can be hazardous to our health. The fumes from cleaners containing bleach or “fragrance” chemicals are likely to be:

-       Irritants that can raise the risk of getting asthma, or cause asthma attacks in those who have it.

-       Carcinogens that can raise the risk for cancer.

-       Hormone mimicking chemicals that are associated with birth defects.

There’s nothing clean and healthy about hazardous chemicals! Baking soda, lemon juice, white vinegar, and even club soda can all be used as cheap, non-toxic alternatives to harsh cleaning chemicals. Here are some of Toxic Free NC’s favorite green cleaning recipes to help you get started. All of these products are safe for use around kids. They’re even safe for older kids to mix and use themselves, so long as they have adult supervision!

Make-it-yourself All-Purpose Cleaner

2 cups hot water
2 tsp borax* powder

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp lemon juice

½ tsp liquid soap (dish soap works great!)

Directions: Mix all ingredients thoroughly, then put in a spray bottle. Label the bottle so you know what’s in it. Great for table and counter tops, and spot cleaning wherever you need it. This cleaner gets rave reviews from child care providers because it takes marker ink off tabletops!

Mold & Mildew Killer

½ cup white vinegar

½ cup borax* powder

2 cups warm water

Directions: Mix the ingredients up, then pour or spray them onto the moldy area. Leave for about 10 minutes, then scrub! If mold is still visible, you may need to repeat the application. This mixture loses its cleaning power quickly, so don’t save the leftovers, just pour them down the drain.

Slow Drain Cleaner

Baking soda – about 1/3 cup

White vinegar – about 1/3 cup

Hot water

Directions: Sprinkle baking soda down the slow drain. Then, drizzle in white vinegar. The mixture will bubble up, releasing carbon dioxide gas. Leave it alone for a few minutes until the bubbling stops. Then, pour very hot water down the drain to rinse. Using this process every so often will help prevent slow or clogged drains!

* Borax powder is a low-toxicity powder typically sold in the laundry aisle at the grocery store. The biggest advantage to borax for cleaning is that it does not create any fumes – it is what is called “non-volatile.” However it is mildly toxic, so store and handle it with care, and don’t let children or pets put it in their mouths.

For more green cleaning tips, visit ToxicFreeNC.org or NCHealthyHomes.com.

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Billie Karel is program director at Toxic Free NC. In her free time, she gardens, cooks, and cleans up after her dog using only kid-safe (and dog-safe) green cleaners!

Toxic Free NC is a non-profit organization in Raleigh fighting pesticide pollution by advocating for common-sense alternatives that protect our health and environment. Toxic Free NC works extensively with child care providers and parents to reduce toxic pollution in children’s environments. You can find out more about their work at www.toxicfreenc.org, or by calling 919-833-1123.