If you’ve been following me for any amount of time, you’ll know how problematic traditional cleaning supplies are. They contain SO many toxic chemicals that could be causing a myriad of health issues for you and your family. But even though you know this, swapping to non-toxic cleaning products can feel scary or inconvenient. Well, today, we will commit and make some super easy swaps! After reading this, you’ll know why switching to non-toxic cleaning products is important, the top three products to swap first, and some DIY recipes you can make at home. Let’s dive in!

Why Make the Switch?

I’ve talked a lot about the toxins present in traditional cleaning products you find at Target, Amazon, or your local grocery store. In a published study by Chemosphere, scientists tested 30 cleaning products that included a mix of multipurpose cleaners, glass cleaners, and air fresheners. The analysis detected 530 unique VOCs, including 193 with the potential to cause health harms, such as:

• Respiratory system damage
• Asthma
• Increased cancer risk
• Developmental and reproductive problems
• Infertility

And that’s what you’re using to clean your house! We think we’re doing something good by keeping our house sparkly clean, but we’re actually spreading toxins around our homes. Switching to non-toxic cleaning products is a necessary step in your journey towards toxin-free (ish) living.

Evaluate Your Current Cleaning Products

Before you invest in new, non-toxic cleaning products, let’s take a look at what you already have. These two free guides will help you determine which products you need to straight up throw away:

• Tossing the Toxins
• 25 Toxins to Avoid

To summarize these free guides, these are some common ingredients in cleaning products that should be removed from your home immediately.

• Phthalates
• Ammonia
• Formaldehyde and other VOCs
• Fragrance/Parfum

As a general rule of thumb, big brands like Tide, Clorox, Windex, and Dawn aren’t non-toxic cleaning products. They contain tons of toxic chemicals and ingredients. Learning how to read labels will help you make toxin-free shopping simple. You can also always refer to my Toxin-Free Shopping Guide for Wendy-approved non-toxic cleaning products.

Start With the Basics: Easy Swaps

If label reading is making you nervous, let’s talk about some easy swaps you can make in your home. Remember, you don’t have to swap everything all at once. I totally understand that purchasing new, non-toxic cleaning products is an investment. If you want to start by swapping one or two, that’s great! Just keep making small swaps to eventually have a toxin-free home.

So what are the most important products to swap first? I recommend an all-purpose cleaner, dish soap, and laundry detergent. These are used most often in the home and conventional brands have tons of toxic ingredients. 

Thieves and Truly Free are two of my favorite brands to help you make the swap in all three categories. Use code SHAREYL to get 10% off your Thieves first order or code WENDY30 for 30% off Truly Free products. 

DIY Solutions for a Budget-Friendly Transition

I’m a die-hard fan of Thieves household cleaning supplies. These simple and affordable products help me clean every surface of my home and last a long time! 

These are some of my favorite Thieves Cleaner recipes:

• All Purpose Cleaner: Add 1 capful of Thieves Cleaner to a 16 oz spray bottle and fill with water. Spray and use on any surface.
• Heavy Cleaning: Add 2 caps of Thieves Cleaner to a 16 oz spray bottle and fill with water. Spray and let sit for 5 minutes, then wipe down.
• Floor Cleaner: Add 1 capful of Thieves Cleaner to 6 cups of warm water. Add three drops of lemon essential oil.
• Stainless Steel: In a spray bottle, mix ½ capful of Thieves Cleaner and 2 TBSPs of olive oil. Buff the cleaner in the stainless steel with a damp, lint-free cloth. Wipe off excess with a clean, dry cloth.
• Disinfectant: In a spray bottle mix 1 capful of Thieves Cleaner, 2 cups of water, ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide, and 5 drops of thyme essential oil. Spray, clean, and rinse with warm water.
• Shower Deep Clean: In a spray bottle, mix ½ capful Thieves Cleaner, ½ cup vinegar, 1 TBSP Thieves dish soap, 1 cup water, 3 drops each lemon and tea tree essential oil. Spray and scrub.
• Glass and Mirrors: In a spray bottle, mix 3 cups of water, 5 drops of lemon essential oil, 1 TBSP of vinegar, and 1 capful of Thieves Cleaner.
• Laundry Soap: In a 32 oz pump bottle, fill ½ of the bottle with Thieves laundry soap, and add 6 caps of Thieves Household Cleaner. Fill with warm water and 20 drops of your choice of essential oil for scent. Use 4 pumps per load of laundry.

If you want to create these amazing DIY cleaning recipes, you’ll need some supplies, which you can find in my Amazon shop. You can also use code SHAREYL to get 10% off your first order of Thieves Cleaner. Happy DIY’ing!

Swapping to Non-Toxic Cleaning Products

Do you feel more prepared to switch to non-toxic cleaning products, even if it’s just your all-purpose cleaner, dish soap, and laundry detergent? I hope so! It’s my goal to make transitioning to a non-toxic lifestyle feel more attainable. You don’t have to throw away everything in your home all at once or spend a fortune on new, non-toxic cleaning products. Take small steps (because something is better than nothing!), and soon, you’ll create a happier and healthier home for your family. 

Dive Deeper with Wendy’s Toxin-Free Resources

Ready to dive deeper into your wellness journey? Whether you are at the very beginning or a seasoned toxin-free pro, I have resources that will meet you where you are.

• Join my insider email list to be the first to learn about new healthy living resources, blog posts, exclusive offerings, and discounts.
• Subscribe to the podcast for weekly episodes on living toxin-free.
• In the Toxin-Free Shopping Guide, you can find truly toxin-free products with ingredients you can trust—fully vetted by me and the very same brands that I bring into my home. Check out everything from my skincare, haircare, water filters, protein powders, electrolytes, and so much more!! 
• Download this free guide on my top 25 toxins to avoid and how to spot them on labels.
• Get a deep-dive education on how toxins impact your health with Toxin Free in 3. When you become a student, you can access the full course, my private community, discounted 1:1 sessions, and live monthly Q&As with me!