I want to have less house-cleaning chemicals in the house!

[cookiedough23]

So, I'm really keen to start reducing the chemicals and would love some advice. After being away for a week, my psoriasis started to visibly clear up, and I think it was to do with being away from the chemicals - (as well as being in the sun, but we've had a lot of sun here too). My DH died a couple of years ago from cancer, so just want to reduce toxicity in the house.

Realistically, I'm not going to be able to get rid of them all - I don't have lots of money, or time to make my own, although happy to try - but do want to get rid of the really toxic and strong ones.

I already use Method all-purpose spray and Cif in the kitchen, but also have bleach and anti-bac sprays...do I ditch them? Is Method still known for being less toxic? I recently bought Zoflora disinfectant spray as my cat had fleas, but realise it's kind of chemically...but got a full bottle - do I just ditch that too? can I do without an anti-bac?

And I use Flash Spray, Wipe, Done and Cif Bathroom in the bathroom -in the shower, on the toilet seat etc and use Harpic Bleach white and shine in the loo, as well as straight bleach.

I actually don't know what to use anymore on furniture, wood, floors, toilets! I'm kind of overwhelmed with not much knowledge - can you tell I'm confused, and I'm sure it doesn't have to be complicated! Thank you.

I use white vinegar for glass, tiles, shower walls and furniture, followed by beeswax furniture polish for wood.

I use cif for sinks,washbasin & bath. A dilute washing up liquid in a spray for kitchen surfaces and floors, and bleach for the loo.

I don't use fabric softener or fabreze. Heavy disinfectant for anything outside - drains etc. We don't have pets.

We're all healthy, no allergies, and DS (16) hasn't caught anything nasty yet. I think you need to decide what works for you.

I literally use one multipurpose cleaner for practically everything you have mentioned.

I do use a separate toilet cleaner.

i currently use Purdy and Fig

I wouldn't use Zoflora anywhere near live entities (from insect to humans).
I am also convinced fabric conditioner is really really really bad for us (and for waterways).
Use less washing up powder than you think you need.
Rinse surfaces well after using cleansers.
I'm sure there is a lot you could do but I'm no expert.

Most of the branded cleaners are pretty similar - they just stick different labels on them. You certainly don't need as many as you are using. We are conditioned to reach for those different spray bottles. Those that contain an abrasive, like CIF, or bleach are actively damaging your surfaces over time.

Most cleaning tasks can be done with hot water and washing up liquid. Give it a go on something you might have put a branded surface cleaner on.

I moved over to this after I got a wooden worktop. I found a washing up liquid and water spray removed everything and so started using it more widely. If you get a stubborn bit, like on the hob, put a damp cloth over it and walk away for a bit. When you get back it will just wipe off.

It's a nice aspiration but as someone with psoriasis too I really expect it was more likely the sun and relaxation. Did you do any sea swimming too? That always helps mine!

That said, it's always great to reduce harmful chemicals! Personally I recommend using a gentle shampoo and conditioner and plain soap where you really need it but minimising too much soap on your skin. I also recommend no fabric conditioner as others have said.

I don't use bleach, wipes , fabric conditioner or zoflora .
I am not militant but largely use hot water , washing up liquid, method or home things products. I try different ways of reducing plastic and have some cif refills which have been good in this regard. We use bar soap and DC uses bar shampoos, I buy a huge bottle of regular shampoo and decant it. I use powder in the washing machine but am trialling some sheets rather than powder; haven't decided yet on the long term for those.I haven't tackled dishwasher tabs yet .I don't believe in overnight changes they can be wasteful in themselves.

Vinegar for mirrors and glass.
Diluted washing up liquid to clean sinks, toilet seats, outside the bowl and the cistern, follow with vinegar for shine.
Citric acid to clean the toilet bowl.
Diluted washing up liquid for surfaces.
No fabric conditioner or disinfectant here either.
I do use Aristowax beeswax furniture polish on wood, just dust anything else.
M&S hob cleaner.
Bio washing powder for whites and brights, liquid colour detergent for darker clothes.

I just use an all purpose cleaner diluted in a spray bottle for pretty much everything. I have a loo cleaner and glass cleaner. That's it. I don't use fabric conditioner and I find that hot water and a microfibre cloth is very effective at cleaning.

99% of my cleaning is with hot soapy water and a dishcloth. I make sprays of washing up liquid diluted in a spray bottle for quick cleans, and 50/50 washing up liquid and white vinegar for shower tray, oven or anything else that needs more than soapy water.. No disinfectants, bleach or anti-bac although I did use some anti bac spray from my daughter when we had covid. I've got some multi purpose cleaner from Miniml for dusting and wiping and some beeswax for wood.

Also some bio washing powder for floors if they need more than a regular mopping. some pink stuff mixed with salt to clean underside of frying pan or anything burned. Citric acid to descale coffee maker.

There was a time when I used to use Kilrock for limescale, but I clean more frequently now, so it's not needed.

Thank you all, this is really helpful. Will try to simplify everything...How do I use citric acid to clean the toilet?
Also, I have a cat who regularly leaves fur balls and sometimes sick...method anti-bac or something stronger? I've always mopped them up with dettol wipes before, but happy to be less toxic about it if it means it works!

I use white vinegar for mirrors and glass, and also cleaning limescale, which we get a lot of. I have the Bio D multi purpose cleaner which I use for everything, I dilute it in a spray bottle and use for floors to. Furniture I just use a damp micro fibre cloth. I do have some emergency anti bacterial wipes for cat related mess but rarely use them.

Have a look at Purdy & Figg and Neat clean, less plastic waste too

Follow Nancy Birtwhistle on Instagram and website. She has several cleaning naturally books and tips, her pure magic toilet cleaner is really good, as is her cream cleaner. She has a few books (either hard backed or kindle versions). She has really helped to reduce my use of chemicals in every way.

I was going to suggest Nancy birtwhistle too. She has a book with cleaning recipes that's fab.

White vinegar-Bicarbonate of Soda-Citric Acid-Washing up liquid-Lemon Juice -Salt (as an abrasive) Make up my cleaning collection.Used in various combinations for different areas/cleaning needs.Also plenty of elbow grease!!!!Bar Soap-No Fabric Conditioner

Similar here.

White vinegar for nearly everything. A bit of isopropyl alcohol for disinfecting basin and spigots in bathroom. Bit of bicarb if I need an abrasive cleanser. Hot water for floors and most other surfaces.

Never use laundry conditioner, wipes, etc. tiny bit of bleach occasionally in toilets.

Lots of open windows. My home is clean and fresh and non toxic.

Get a steam.mop with attachments. It just uses steam from boiling water and no chemicals at all. The attachments can be used to clean the top of the cooker, grill pan etc. I also steam the grout between the tiles in the bathroom. It works.

Nancy Birtwhistle’s cleaning recipes and methods are great-I’ve been using them about 9months and my house has never been cleaner or fresher

Good point; I se mine everywhere.

I use a tbs of clothes washing powder to scrub my bathroom and wash down walls. I don’t own fabric conditioner and one bottle of bleach has lasted me ten years. I use an earth friendly toilet duck from the supermarket.

I use hot water with a splurp of methylated spirit to do my floors. I have a spray bottle of metho and a spray bottle of vinegar in my bathroom that I use to keep the mould down in season between washes.

Bicarb in the oven in solution with more or less water does my oven and stove top.

With your furniture, just a wipe with a cloth to remove dust is usually all that’s needed unless you have small children.

I really, really don’t see a connection between Zoflora (awful stuff) and fleas on your cat. Treat the fleas with something that kills fleas and throw the Zoflora out.

Vinegar in the kettle and around taps for limescale.

Your list has a LOT of stuff with artificial perfumes. Get rid of it all.

https://www.fedup.com.au/factsheets/factsheets-by-symptom/eczema

https://www.fedup.com.au/factsheets/factsheets-by-additive/inhaled-salicylates

Please could you link to what you have? I assumed steam mops were just for floors - I am interested to know what else you can clean successfully with steam attachments and what you can’t use them on!

As others have said Nancy Birtwhistle on instagram. She is fabulous. She's always showing how to make non chemical cleaners. And showing them working. She also does cooking stuff to make use of having the oven on and using it to the max so not wasting heat.
She's absolutely brilliant

You are using lots of different chemicals OP. Water is a good cleaner. Vinegar is good. I use this a lot. It's pure soap - I use it in the washing machine plus diluted for cleaning the bath, floors etc. https://www.dri-pak.co.uk/cleaning-products/liquid-soap-750ml/

Another vote for Nancy Birtwhistle.
She’s so down to earth with her tips, like an older sister or aunt.
Her cleaning products are dynamite. I use her general vinegar++ spray, liquid clothes detergent (good for soaking roasting tins) and pure magic for limescale and the toilet. All non toxic for the environment.
They take minutes to make and have taken the place of all washing products (never used unstoppables etc.) Windolene, Viakal, Cillit Bang, toilet duck and rim blocks.
Her recipes often use citric acid and green bleach (percarbonate of soda) which can be expensive if you don’t buy in bulk, but they do a great job. On washing powder alone, I can say I’m saving about 80%
compared to branded products.

Omg I'm a zoflora addict and had no idea!! I do also have pets so will be throwing it all away (got about £20 worth at the moment 😬)

I only use zoflora for cleaning really (use it diluted as a surface spray and to clean floors..) and sometimes diluted bleach on floors and obviously neat bleach for sinks, bath, loo...

Can anyone recommend a non toxic all purpose cleaner I can use instead for surfaces and floors please?

What do you use instead of bleach and is the objection that bleach is bad for you (how, if going down the sink?) or bad for environment?

Sorry if this sounds silly but if you use vinegar doesn't it smell?

Thanks 🙏