Like many parents, you might be concerned about the number and type of harsh chemicals that your child is exposed to everyday.  Children, in particular, are vulnerable to the potentially long-term and detrimental impact of repeated chemical exposure because their young bodies are still developing.  If you’d like to reduce the number of chemicals in your own home, consider switching to natural cleaning solutions. Here’s our round up of the best natural cleaning products on the market, as well as common household products that also can be used for cleaning and are probably in your pantry already.

Store Bought Natural Cleaners

Mrs. Meyer’s All Purpose Cleaner is made from plant-derived, all natural essential oils and is biodegradable and phosphate-free.  It is a concentrated formula that can be used safely on all non-porous surfaces, such as floors, counters, and bathroom fixtures.

Method All Purpose Surface Cleaner is made from biodegradable, non-toxic and plant-derived ingredients that have “powergreen” technology.  This cleaner is made from corn and coconut and claims to break down dirt naturally. Unlike Mrs. Meyer’s, which must be diluted for use, Method’s Surface Cleaner can be used straight from the bottle.

Seventh Generation Free and Clear All Purpose Cleaner effectively removes grease, grime and dirt on surfaces such as marble, granite, and stainless steel.  Like the other products listed above, it is also non-toxic and biodegradable.

Biokleen Super Concentrated All Purpose Cleaner is, as it states, a highly concentrated formula.  It can be used safely on most types of surfaces, works in cold water (which saves on your water heating bill), and leaves no harsh residues or fumes behind.

Simple Green Naturals Multi-Surface Care is made from 100% naturally-derived ingredients that penetrate oils and an alkaline mineral builder that fights organic stains.  It is non–toxic, biodegradable and suitable for cleaning a variety of hard surfaces such as countertops, tables, walls, fixtures and appliances.

Common Household Ingredients that Do Double-Duty as Cleaners

Baking Soda: You may already know that baking soda absorbs odors, but you may not know that it also has proven virus-killing capabilities and is a mild abrasive. Baking soda can be used on many surfaces to scour, cut through grease, and remove stains.  When used in conjunction with white vinegar, it makes a thick paste that offers extra-cleaning strength.

White Vinegar: Thanks to its acidity, vinegar does an excellent job of cutting grease and removing mildew, odors, and some stains. Mixed with salt and water, vinegar can be used as an all-purpose, disinfecting cleaner.  When mixed with olive oil, vinegar also can be used to remove water rings and other stains from wood.

Lemon Juice: Like vinegar, lemon juice is acidic, allowing it to cut through grease.  It also can be used to kill bacteria and mold. Because lemon is a natural food product, it is the safest way to clean and sanitize your cutting boards.

Olive Oil: Olive oil mixed with lemon juice or vinegar does a bang up job of polishing and cleaning wood.  Combined with coarse salt, olive oil is also the best way to clean cast iron pans.

At SmartSeat we are committed to making a family-friendly and safe product.  Our covers are made from a toxin-free, medical grade fabric that will not off-gas or produce toxic fumes. If you’d like learn more about our product or our company, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions or contact us for more information.

Photograph by Dan, courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net