Eco Friendly Multipurpose Cleaner

Onward and upward in the Green journey we go!

Picking up a cleaner at the market that isn't riddled with 25 letter ingredients, of which you are sure translates in to poison, was one of the most daunting tasks in the Green Journey for me. When I found and tested this recipe series I was elated! I knew most of these ingredients, my mom and grandmother used them in our home growing up!

But before we get on with the recipe, let’s play a game of hide and seek!
Take a trip around your home, read some labels and seek out where Sodium Lauryl Sulphates (also known as Sodium Laureth Sulphate and here on out referred to as SLS) may be hiding!

Hints: Shampoo, dish soap, laundry soap, household cleaners, toothpaste, bubble bath, cosmetic cleansers, you get the idea.
How many times did you find this creepy chemical hiding?


“A study at the University of Georgia Medical College, indicated that SLS penetrated into the eyes as well as brain, heart, liver, etc., and showed long-term retention in the tissues. The study also indicated that SLS penetrated young children's eyes and prevented them from developing properly and caused cataracts to develop in adults...”
..."Sodium lauryl sulfate is used throughout the world for clinical testing as a primary skin irritant. Laboratories use it to irritate skin on test animals and humans so that they may then test healing agents to see how effective they are on the irritated skin."
http://www.healthy-communications.com/slsmostdangerousirritant.html

"In the same way as it dissolves the grease on car engines, SLS also dissolves the oils on your skin, which can cause a drying effect. It is also well documented that it denatures skin proteins, which causes not only irritation, but also allows environmental contaminants easier access to the lower, sensitive layers of the skin.This denaturing of skin proteins may even be implicated in skin and other cancers."
http://www.natural-health-information-centre.com/sodium-laureth-sulfate.html

MSDS Sheet on SLS:
http://www.healthy-communications.com/msdssodiumlaurylsulfate.html

My other SLS related blogs:
Dread Heads, Shampoo Sorrows and Lab Rats
Natural Hair Care Part I- Why Bother?

I was shocked and disgusted when I researched this one!
Next step, TAKE ACTION!
One of the best ways to get this harmful chemical OUT of our homes once and for all is this easy to make, easy to use, homemade, Eco friendly Triple-Action Multipurpose Cleaner! Again, please be sure to label all containers properly with an ingredients list and keep ALL cleaners out of reach from the curtain climbers!

Triple Action Multipurpose Cleaner
¼ c baking soda
½ c borax
½ c white vinegar
1 g warm water
1.5 g or larger container

Add the warm water to your bucket, add in all other ingredients and stir until dissolved. This solution can be diluted by halving the ingredients if desired.
THAT’S IT!! Now, your ready to clean any hard surface in your home including tile, grout, counter tops, floors, cabinets, this is GREAT for the fridge because it takes any residual smells with it. One could add essential oils to it for aroma therapy or to even boost the cleaning properties..the possibilities are endless! Note: the vinegar smell is a neutralizer, it will fade quickly and take any stink with it!

HAPPY CLEANING!