I am a cleaning wizard sometimes. Other times, I couldn’t be paid to clean my house. This is a double-edged sword depending on what day it is. You can come into my house and find me on my hands and knees scrubbing the kitchen floor using an all natural cleaner or trying to get my kitchen to smell like the commercials. There is something for me that smell does when I am cleaning. If it doesn’t smell clean, I am not convinced that it is clean. Now I am aware that there are a lot of products out there that have a pleasant smell but don’t clean for anything. And then there are those products out there that smell like a fresh rain or a just-washed load of laundry. Do you know what chemicals those smells are hiding though?
I have been thinking a lot about my cleaning regime and how I could make it more “green” and “all natural”. I kept thinking that maybe I wouldn’t be able to change all of my cleaning products. How could I replace my best friend in a blue bottle? I used it everywhere. I would spray every window in the house with my “blue bandit” and wipe it away with a paper towel or newspaper (shocking this is the best window wiper)and volia! a streak free shine.
However, when I started to clean out under my sink where I keep all my cleaning products, I started to read what my “secret weapon” contained and was shocked to see so many products that I couldn’t pronounce the name of and when I started to research what the active ingredients were I was even more stunned.
Do You Know What is in That Bottle?
The main active ingredient in my little bottle of ‘goodness’ was ammonium hydroxide. If you don’t know what this is you are in for a treat. Ammonium hydroxide is a known respiratory irritant that can damage your eyesight and skin. It can affect organs while the fragrance can lead to allergies, skin irritation and nervous system problems.
No thank you! I think I will deal with a couple of streaks than deal with not being able to breathe or even worse, my little dog, or even my toddler licking a window, that I just cleaned with that chemical. I need a cleaner that is non-toxic and effective.
Streak Free Window Cleaner
Ingredients
- 16-ounce glass spray bottle
- 1 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup distilled water
- 10 drops of any citrus oil of your choice
(Recommended: dōTERRA Lemon, Grapefruit, or Wild Orange)
Directions
- Add water and white vinegar to 16-ounce spray bottle.
- Add essential oils
- Shake well.
- Ready for use!