Once mobile babies enter the scene, everything in the house becomes a temptation to wandering hands (and mouths). Instead of attempting to baby-proof every closet and every cabinet (that's never a foolproof fix anyway), toss the toxins, and swap them out for these natural and DIY [1] solutions instead. We've got a kiddie-safe solution for every cleaning product in the house!
Homemade Garbage Disposal Refreshers
There's not a single ingredient in these DIY [3] Garbage Disposal Refreshers [4] that you wouldn't be OK with if your tot put it in his or her mouth (and they smell amazing!).
Use Baking Soda For, Well, Everything!
Baking soda [6] is an inexpensive and versatile cleaning staple that every savvy mom keeps in the cupboard. Use it to get residue out of your coffee maker, remove stains, and so much more.
Bleach, Be Gone!
Store-bought bleach may work miracles in the bathroom and washing machine, but it's also superharsh and hazardous for curious kids. This four-ingredient alternative [8] is the smart mom's choice (and you've probably already got everything you need to make it at home!).
Twenty-One Ways to Use Table Salt (Other Than Seasoning)
Is that carton of salt sitting on your kitchen shelf the most underutilized essential in the house? Possibly. Our friends over at POPSUGAR Smart Living were kind enough to enlighten us with 21 ways to put salt to work [10], including everything from degreasing pots and pans to attacking mildew and rust.
Honest Company Laundry Detergent
Completely free of synthetic perfumes, dyes, and chlorine, Honest Company's detergent [12] ($13) offers a plant-based approach to laundry time.
An All-Natural Oven Cleaner
If you're like us, deep-cleaning the oven isn't the most frequently tackled chore on your chore list. But for those times when you need to give it a solid scrubbing, opt for an all-natural concoction [13] instead of one that's laden with chemicals.
EO Hand Sanitizer
Swap out your current hand sanitizer for EO's plant-based spritzer [15] ($4, originally $5). It's totally chemical-free and has a fresh, lavender scent.
Eco-Friendly Grout Cleaner
Mix up this supereasy Tile and Grout Cleaner [16] (it only requires three ingredients!) and give your bathroom a totally safe deep clean.
Olive Oil Doesn't Just Taste Good . . .
It's also a smart, nontoxic way to shine up your wood furniture.