Harm Free Home (Safer Scrubber Recipe)

Harmful chemicals found in most commercial cleaning and home products including surfactants, solvents and fragrances are not only known to contain irritants and corrosive substances, but also frequently release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contaminate indoor air, and contain harmful ingredients like ammonia, formaldehyde, microplastics and phthalates which are linked to asthma, cancer, and endocrine disruption. 

Changing the products you use in your home is one of the easiest ways to enter living more sustainably for you and the planet as well as reduce exposure to micro-plastics and toxins. 

So what to use instead? Some of our favorite natural cleaning pantry staples at Kindred Vancouver are baking soda, vinegar, castile soap, citric acid and hydrogen peroxide. 

Baking soda is alkaline, slightly abrasive and helps to neutralize acids, absorb odors and lift stains. It can be used as an all-purpose surface scrub, oven/stovetop cleaner, carpet and furniture deodorizer, and even used to buff stainless steel or chrome and as a laundry booster. 

Vinegar at the grocery store is typically about 5%. We offer a concentrated cleaning strength 30% horticulture vinegar that you can dilute to your needs. Vinegar can be used as an all-purpose surface cleaner, hard water and limescale removal, glass and mirror cleaner, laundry odor and stain removal as well as outdoor uses like cleaning patios, bricks, driveway stains and non-selective weed killer. 

Our concentrated Castile soap is free of synthetics and palm oil while being hypoallergenic and vegetable based. It can be used to make an all-purpose spray, clean floors, walls and woodwork, make a scrub for tubs and sinks and also washing dishes and laundry. 

Citric acid works a lot like baking soda but is slightly better at descaling things like hard water stains. It can also be used to descale kettles and coffee makers, dishwashers, bathrooms and faucets, toilet bowls and stainless steel (avoid on brass). 

Hydrogen peroxide is a chlorine-free liquid bleach alternative. It can be used to disinfect surfaces and appliances, cutting boards, bathrooms and grout, mildew and mold and for stain removal in laundry. Make sure to store hydrogen peroxide in a brown bottle, as light breaks it down rendering it ineffective. 

Safer Scrubber Recipe 

Ingredients:

1/4 C Castile Soap

3/4 C Baking Soda

1 TBSP 5-10% Vinegar

1 TBSP Water

Optional 10-15 drops of essential oil 

Instructions:

1.) Mix together Castile soap and baking soda.

2.) Stir in water and then add vinegar.

3.) Mix well and add essential oils if using. 

4.) Transfer to an air tight container or use right away. 

*Add more water or baking soda to achieve your desired consistency. 

For more eco-friendly alternatives that are free of plastic, toxins and fillers come see us at the refillery at 2213 Main St in Vancouver, WA or see more on our website kindredvancouver.com.