Say it with me, ready?
2-Butoxyethanol.
Honestly, I’m not sure if I pronounced that right, but hey props to you if you did. And if you did do you know what it is used for? I think the title of this blog post gives it away but it’s cleaning products. It’s what gives your Windex that sweet smell and it belongs to a group of chemicals known as glycol ethers (thanks chem class). And whilst this compound isn’t going to kill you on the spot, if enough of it is in the air, it can start to wreck some havoc.
Making your own home spray is better for your wallet, your home, your health, the environment, and chances are you already have the ingredients on hand! 
It’s super important to make sure the cleaning solutions we use in our homes are harsh chemical-free, as we normally spray it where we eat, play, and sit…gross! many of the biggest “cleanâ€� brands out there don’t disclose all of their ingredients or they hide behind eco-friendly colors/branding/ packaging to make you think your buying something better for your home. you will need: •VINEGAR- is cheap, safe for our planet, natural, tough on bacteria, dirt, and mildew. It’s completely non toxic so if you accidentally spray it where you eat – it’s OK. •CITRUS – no need to go out and get essential oils, simply steeping your citrus peels in vinegar for 3-5 days infuses the vinegar, giving it a refreshing scent and helps remove dirt and buildup 1. Peel the skin off 2 citrus fruits (I used lemon and an orange) 2. Place in a mason jar and add enough distilled white vinegar to cover the fruit peels with about 2â€� at the top. 3. Let sit for 3 days on the counter, closed. After 3 days, remove citrus peels and add vinegar to a spray bottle. 4. Top with equal parts water. You’re done! *This solution can be used on many different counter tops EXCEPT marble (just use water or alcohol for marble). i recommend doing a little spray test in a small area of the surface you are about to wipe down to see how it reacts. I use this spray for wood, my white corian counters, and for the tiles in the bathroom. #LFAhome
I think it is safe to say that between car exhaust, cleaning products and even nail salons (I can’t stand the smell of those), there is a heap of toxins in our air. And before you roll your eyes and say, well everything is going to kill me these days if you can minimise the number of harsh chemicals you come into contact with what’s the downside of that? Plus, homemade cleaners with more natural stuff can actually save you some money too. Here are some of our fave ingredients to get you whipping up your own cleaning products in no time.
White Vinegar
Whilst vinegar can be great for salad dressings and poaching eggs, because of its acidic nature it is also great for removing grease and dirt! Just add some essential oils to help mask the vinegar-y smell.
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Tea tree oil
We love tea tree oil. Not only is it a great beauty ingredient but it is also great for cleaning too. It smells great and is also naturally anti-bacterial too.
Lemon Juice
Not only does it smell good (I will admit I have an affinity for citrus scented cleaners) but lemon juice is great for killing mould and mildew as well as being great for all of your other all-purpose cleaning needs.
Baking soda
Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate isn’t just used for making cakes rise but it also is great for deodorising and making things shiny again (my favourite part of cleaning). It’s also great in a natural deodorant or in toothpaste.
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Rubbing Alcohol
For those places like your toilet where a natural cleaner just isn’t quite strong enough, rubbing alcohol is great because it will kill all that bacteria for you. Just add some lavender essential oil and your bathroom will be fresh and clean in no time.
Young Living sells a thieves kit that gets you started with everything you need to have a clean home for you + your fam and man, am I thankful for those products. Swipe over to see the value 
#cleanhome #nontoxichome
Do you have any favourite natural cleaning products? Let us know in the comments below.
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