I never knew that a DIY stain remover could change our lives until what my husband and I call “The Season of White Baseball Pants”. Our homemade stain remover has eliminated stains that most people would think impossible. At first, I was going to be the mom who didn’t care if the pants weren’t perfectly clean. After all – they’re just going to get dirty again, probably before they ever even run on the field. I would sit at the games and listen to moms talk about stain-removing soap, bleach, Shout, Dawn dish soap, etc. None of these health-hazardous stain removers were on my laundry ..read more

The term body burden refers to the total accumulation of toxins in the body. From dangerous metals like lead or mercury to pesticides and food additives, our bodies can carry quite a heavier burden than they were meant to. You may eat only organic, limit processed foods, and try to buy more natural body care products. But have you ever wondered what your chemical body burden or toxic chemical load is? I’d been writing about toxins in everyday products such as baby lotion, antibacterial soap, sunscreen, and in our food, water and air intensively for years. When a friend from the Vermont Public ..read more

Phosphates, Triclosan, surfactants, and plastics… not exactly what you want touching your food. Avoid these chemicals (and save money) by making DIY dishwasher detergent. Finding a good dishwasher detergent can be quite a task, let alone one that is safe, eco-friendly, and affordable. Some cloud, some don’t clean, some need rinse aids, and so on. Why would you want to avoid conventional dishwasher options? While they’re small and you don’t actually eat them, their residue can remain on dishes, meaning your family will likely ingest them. This is especially concerning for kids and pets because ..read more

DIY foaming hand soap is a great, natural alternative to store-bought hand soaps that contain harsh chemicals. Plus, it’s easy to make, affordable, and eliminates waste when you use your foaming soap dispenser again and again. Why Switch to DIY Foaming Hand Soap? You may be wondering what’s wrong with your store bought hand soap. If you’re using a conventional brand – there’s probably a lot wrong with it. And if you buy a natural brand, you’re probably still wasting money and plastic. So, here are the reasons to DIY. Harmful ingredients in store bought hand soaps The first reason that we use ..read more

Are the mosquitos already feasting on you or your little ones? You’ll be relieved to know our favorite DIY natural insect repellent is easy to make AND it works. You’ll also find other homemade natural bug spray recipes and a few brands that make safe versions in case you’re not into DIY. We keep a glass bottle of DIY bug spray in our cars, near the back door, the kids’ sports bags, mom’s purse, and our natural first aid kit. Ending up with a bunch of mosquito bites because you were unprepared is no fun. So try to make a bottle for all your usual on the go summer places. Commercial insec ..read more

Pet dander (plus pets tracking in pollen) can aggravate seasonal allergies. We’re looking at how to reduce pet dander in your home and lower your risk of sneezing and feeling miserable this spring. photo by Kim Rosas While we may think it’s impossible to have an allergen-free home with pets inside, there are some simple steps you can take to make your home livable. Here are some simple (and a couple of more involved) ways to reduce the pet related allergens inside your house. BATHE YOUR PET REGULARLY Regardless of how much you clean your house, if you have dirty pets (and dirty pet bedding), y ..read more

With this green spring cleaning checklist, you’ll be ready to tackle the dirt, dust, and clutter safely and without exposure to dangerous chemicals. Every day, many of us spray, wipe, and clean with products that contain impossible-to-pronounce ingredients and impossible-to-identify chemicals. These cleaning products do the job they were designed for, but what about the health and environmental impacts? Is a smudge-free window worth a wheezing toddler? How you clean your home matters. Cleaning with bleach and harsh chemicals impacts your indoor air quality. Have you read the labels on some of ..read more

Castile soap is an increasingly useful and versatile item to have around – especially if you’re trying to avoid harmful chemicals. There are so many DIY uses for Castile soap, from body care to green cleaning, laundry, and even pet care. If you’re like many of our readers, you’re already on board with Castile as a soap or body wash for your family. If you’re not as familiar yet, here’s what Dr. Rachel Nazarian, a dermatologist with the Schweiger Dermatology Group in Manhattan has to say, “Cleansers don’t need to be harsh to effectively clean.” In terms of ingredients, she says to “avoid parabe ..read more

Ah, those first attempts at scrubbing the bathtub with homemade cleaners instead of the store-bought standbys our moms taught us to clean with. Vinegar and baking soda may have seemed a little underwhelming compared to their chemical counterparts… but that was before we knew how to use them. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best homemade cleaners plus helpful advice on how to actually use them effectively. Most of us have an assortment of cleaning products under our sinks, on the laundry shelf, and in the garage. There’s a different product for everything that needs to be cleaned… one product ..read more

If you’ve heard stories of mold building up in Keurigs, you’re probably interested in finding the best ways to efficiently clean your coffee maker. The problem with the k-cup machines is the fact that the inner tank, water hoses, and valves are all hidden inside and they can’t be reached (or cleaned) without completely disassembling the machine. You can only rinse them during descaling or run occasional vinegar rinses and hope this will keep your coffee maker mold and germ-free. Over time, hard water mineral deposits, old oils from the previously brewed coffee and other impurities start to bu ..read more