The bathroom is the one place in my house that I have to keep immaculate. Yes, my kitchen is spotless, but having children makes things clumsy (or messy) very easily. But if everyone pitches in a little, the bathroom can stay spotless.
Ever since my children were old enough to brush their teeth independently, they have been required to completely rinse out the sink after using it and gather all of the towels. Now that they are getting older, they are also responsible for assisting me in cleaning the bathroom. (They won't have to learn how to do it incorrectly from the beginning, like my husband does.)
What’s In Toilet Bowl Cleaner Anyhow?
Bathroom products can be full of harmful chemicals, bleach is hard on growing lungs (as evidenced by this study). And I don’t want that anywhere near my kids. I don’t want it anywhere near me either.
The chlorine in the bleach, mixed with any sort of acid, can create toxic gas (like the stuff they used in the World Wars). Bleach is a notorious irritant and corrosive: it harms your hands and any other parts of you it may come in contact with.
They contain between 10% and 50% hydrochloric acid – the stuff in your stomach. Hydrochloric acid is linked to kidney damage and irritation to your respiratory tract if inhaled.
Certain brands also contain fragrances, which can cause allergic reactions, headaches and lung irritation. They may also contain hormone disruptors.
The Natural Solution:
Knowing all of that, I set out across the internet to find my absolute favorite toilet bowl cleaner. This is what I’ve found:
Ingredients
- ½ cup baking soda
- ½ cup citric acid
- ½ cup cornstarch
- water in a spray bottle
- gallon size zip-top bag
- 25 drops essential oils – your choice but I recommend lemon or orange for its cleaning properties, plus two others for nice-smelling purposes.
Supplies:
- mold of your choice – I like to use a muffin tin with cute liners for easy, individual storing
- giant Ziploc baggie
Steps:
- Throw all of your ingredients EXCEPT the essential oils together in the bag and shake, shake, shake.
- Open the bag back up and add 2-3 spritzes of water. Close the bag and knead.
- Repeat step 2 5-7 times. (If the bag gets puffy, just let the air out, it’s the baking soda and the citric acid combining)
- You want the mixture to feel like pie dough – squeeze a handful and if it stays together you’re ready.
- try not to over-water
- Now add your essential oils and re-knead the mixture.
- Pack firmly into your molds (very, very firmly. I use a second muffin tin to press them down).
- Let them dry for two days. Then move them out of the molds (hey, muffins!) and then put them somewhere up high to finish drying for another day or two.
- Store in a sealed container until you need to use them!
Using these is easy. Just drop them into your bowl until they stop fizzing. You can use a scrubby brush to clean off anything else and then flush. Good for you, good for the environment.
Anything else you want to read about? Let me know in the comments!
Sources:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/news/how-toxic-are-your-household-cleaning-supplies
http://www.ehow.com/info_8166259_dangers-toilet-bowl-cleaner.html
http://www.diynatural.com/diy-toilet-bombs-bowl-cleaner/