Use This, Not That

In today’s world, where health, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness are top concerns, revolutionising your cleaning routine becomes not just a choice but a necessity. Enter Lisa Bronner, renowned expert in green cleaning and advocate for holistic living.

Lisa reveals a game-changing approach to household cleaning, leveraging the power of simplicity, and sustainability. Lisa Bronner’s method centres around one key product, our Pure-Castile Magic Soap. This versatile solution, coupled with everyday ingredients like white vinegar, baking soda, and lemons, compose a complete collection for all your cleaning needs.

Lisa’s recommendations cover every aspect of household cleaning, from all-surface sprays to toilet cleaner. Each suggestion comes with a detailed breakdown of recommended alternatives and why we should be steering clear of the conventional cleaning products.

Lisa’s approach offers a range of benefits: saving space, cutting costs, and enhancing peace of mind. She emphasises the profound impact of fragrance-laden products on indoor air quality, highlighting the hidden dangers posed by undisclosed chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene, and phthalates. Her expertise highlights the urgency of transitioning to fragrance-free alternatives for a cleaner, greener future.

Here’s how to scrap the harsh chemicals and go on board your sustainable cleaning journey using Lisa’s tips:

All-Surface Cleaning Spray

Use This:

  • ¼ cup (60 mL) Castile Soap
  •  1 L water
  • Optional: 20 drops tea tree essential oil (for extra cleaning power)

Combine in a spray bottle. Spray surfaces and wipe with a damp cloth. This works on countertops, faucets, appliances, doorknobs, light switches, and more!

Not That: Skip harsh bleach and antibacterial sprays. Most surfaces only need a mild soap or detergent to clean effectively.

Carpet Cleaning Solution

Use This:

For spot treatment make this “Lite” version of the All-Purpose Spray (or use the All-Purpose spray lightly):

Spray on spots and work into carpet. Use a wet clean cloth to remove stain and rinse. Use “Lite” solution as a pre-treatment ahead of a full cleaning.

Not That & Why:

Skip the carpet cleaning solutions containing ethoxylated (“-eth”) ingredients and “fragrance.” In carpet cleaning solutions you again will find quats and ethoxylated surfactants with their carcinogenic stowaways, plus the fragrances used to cover odors instead of effective cleaners used to remove the cause of odors.

Toilet Cleaner

Use This:

  • Method 1: All-Purpose Spray: Using the All-Purpose Spray listed above, spray the bowl thoroughly and brush with a toilet brush.
  • Method 2: Full strength Castile: Squirt a very small amount of the undiluted Castile Soap directly on to the toilet bowl brush. Brush the bowl thoroughly.

Boost for Methods 1 or 2: For extra scrubbing, sprinkle baking soda onto your toilet brush before scrubbing.

  • Method 3: Using the GIY Soft Scrub above, squirt the foam around the bowl and under the rim. Brush well.

Not That:

Skip the toilet bowl cleaners with bleach, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, or hydantoin antimicrobials. Toilet bowl cleaner is one of the harshest of household cleaners. It’s meant to cling to surfaces, even under water. It’s meant to eat through various biological or mineral coatings. It takes durable and intense ingredients to do this.

Septic systems, rely on helpful bacteria and enzymes to work. Killing them all with bleach or other antimicrobials kills the working of the system. While the impact is more invisible with a municipal sewer system, at least invisible to us when we flush the toilets, the impact to the downstream aquatic environment is significant.

 

 

Read Lisa’s book named “Soap & Soul” where she shares more of her eco-friendly, non-toxic solutions for cleaning and caring for body, home and beyond.