How to Make Family Friendly Cleaners at Home

 
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How to Make Family Friendly Cleaners at Home

So you started using The Chore App, huh? You may have discovered that your kids are not only helping out around the house more, they are also able to do WAY more jobs than before. And as your kids start to do more chores, it’s important to keep them safe. We have compiled a list of safe, DIY cleaners that can be just as effective as store brands. These products will not only save you money, but they will also keep your family safe from toxic chemicals. Win-Win!

Chemicals To Avoid

If you’re buying store-bought cleaners, there are certain cleaner chemicals that should be a no-go for children.

  • Bleach

  • Glycol ether

  • Parabens

  • Petroleum solvents

  • Phthalates

  • Phosphates

  • Sodium lauryl sulfate

  • Triclosan

  • VOCs

Also, gloves and good ventilation is always important if you’re ever unsure.

 
 

Always use new bottles and labels

Before making any home cleaners, make sure you have new spray bottles and labels for each cleaner you make. It’s really important not to mix chemicals even with the simple ingredients found here. Vinegar is an acid and it is never safe to mix it with other chemicals.

Here’s a more detailed guide on chemical safety for families by the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital.

https://www.chla.org/blog/rn-remedies/keep-your-child-safe-from-household-cleaners-and-chemicals

Homemade Cleaners

Although there are many child-safe brands out there, our favorite cleaners are of the DIY (Do It Yourself) variety. Here are a few to get you started!

You’ll notice that these cleaner recipes use distilled water, this is because tap water tends to have dissolved solids that can leave residue or stains when the water evaporates. It’s usually fine if you do not leave much water behind.

 
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All-Purpose Cleaner

  1. 1 Cup distilled water

  2. 1 Cup distilled white vinegar

    • You can use less vinegar, but it may not be as effective for tough cleaning jobs. We like using about half this for regular cleaning jobs.

  3. (Optional) ½ a lemon juiced.

  4. (Optional) 15 drops of lavender essential oil, or another favorite

    • This helps reduce the vinegar smell if it bothers you.

 
 

Glass and Stainless Steel Cleaner (same as all-purpose without lemon or oils)

  1. 1 Cup distilled water

  2. 1 Cup distilled white vinegar

Have a cleaner suggestion that you think we should add? We would love to hear from you! You can either share it with us at support@81monkeys.com or write it in the comments section below.

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