When Callie joined our family, we took the time to review all the products we used, in order to make optimal choices for her health. Then, when the children joined our family, we pushed the reflection even further, in order to take into account the environmental impact of the products that we choose and keep in our cupboards.

A few years later, I share with you some of the recipes that we have adopted, as well as some products that we appreciate.

 

Our recipes

First of all, here are 2 recipes taken from the book Vivre simple by Élisabeth Simard that we use on a regular basis at home. As the author mentions, these recipes are simple, quick, toxic-free and very economical.

 

All Purpose Cleaner

  • 500 ml (2 cups) distilled or boiled water
  • 60 ml (1/4 cup) liquid castile soap
  • 15 drops of lemon essential oil* or fresh lemon
  • Pour all the ingredients into a spray bottle. Mix and use. The product keeps in the cupboard for a few months.

I love the smell of this product and use it daily in the kitchen, to clean my counters, cabinets or table.

*Lemon essential oil can be toxic to cats if ingested so you can opt for fresh lemon juice which is much less concentrated, sprigs of rosemary, basil, mint or thyme if your pets have access to areas cleaned with this product.

Glass cleaner

In a 500 ml bottle, pour:

  • 125 ml (1/2 cup) rubbing alcohol or vodka
  • 80 ml (1/3 cup) white vinegar
  • Then, fill the rest of the bottle with distilled or boiled water
  • You can also add a few drops of fresh lemon*, sprigs of rosemary, basil, mint or thyme.

An easy-to-prepare recipe that can be used directly on windows and wiped with a cotton cloth.

*Lemon may be toxic to cats if ingested. Prefer aromatic branches if your animal has access to the cleaned areas.

 

little tip

For the floors, we opted for a steam mop. We thus avoid toxic cleaners for animals and children, in addition to saving money and avoiding the use of plastic containers.

 

The products we buy

We have significantly reduced the number of products we use at home. So, in addition to the products we make ourselves, we use those of the Attitude brand and The Unscented Company which are produced locally and which offer eco-refills.

When we want to disinfect surfaces, this Attitude cleaner, made with ingredients of plant origin and renewable raw materials, is perfect for us. Certified ECOLOGO®, it is a sustainable and biodegradable choice, especially when opting for the refill type format.

99.99% Disinfectant Multi-Surface Cleaner

Then, for dishes, we adopted Unscented products several years ago. We love our refillable bottle and this fragrance-free, dye-free, and phosphate-free product that washes well and is gentle on skin. Since we have the space at home, we opt for the largest refill format, and we avoid burying 13 bottles.

Tableware - 10 L refill

 

It was our pleasure to share some of our favorites for home maintenance.

And you, what products do you use?

Melissa