Cleaning Day!
Ours is on Tuesday, and I’ve been working to incorporate the boys more and more into the actual cleaning….it’s slower but it sure is fun.
Since I have the kind of guys in my house who insist on licking the windows, eating off the floor, and rolling around all over the place, I am pretty picky about cleaners. When they’re zerberting the window pane for the 10th time today, I just like to know they are not licking off a good dose of neurotoxins or endocrine disruptors. And I want the boys to be able to clean alongside me (without fear of them growing a third arm.) It’s not so much to ask, is it?
I used to buy expensive non-toxic formulas for the house, but lately we have really enjoyed learning to make our own earth-friendly, kid-friendly cleaners.
These are some of our favorite recipes…and they work!
All purpose cleaner
2 Tbs. Baking Soda
1/4 C. White Vinegar
A squirt of Castille Soap (Dr. Bronner’s is good, and the lavender flavor is most excellent.)
A few drops of essential oil (Tea Tree oil is a great antiseptic, but we love Orange Oil, too.)
Glass cleaner
2 tsp. white vinegar
1/4 Gallon hot water
3 drops of essential oil (citrus oils are great for cutting grease – lemon or orange)
Toilet cleaner (mix on spot, it doesn’t store, and the sizzle you get is big fun for the kids)
1/4 C. baking soda
2 C. White Vinegar
Dishwasher Detergent
Mix equal parts Baking Soda and Borax, and store in a jar
Use 1Tbs per wash
Fill the “rinse aid” of the dishwasher with white vinegar
This proved to be a great way to get my boys interested in our weekly cleaning day. After watching the vinegar and baking soda fizz up all science-experiment-style, I even got one to scrub toilets…ha!
– Traci
(You can visit Traci’s blog, Educated For Love, or see the daily rhythm charts she creates for families at A Kid’s Day.)