If this picture is a familiar image in your home, kids licking/kissing windows, hands all over them, then those hands go in their mouth then on their food, then back in their mouths, you get the picture. Then I hope that like me you have chosen to use a chemical free window cleaner.
Chemicals are bad for the environment, we all know that. But that might not be enough of a reason to switch to chemical free house cleaners for some people. So if like me, you have small children that lick windows, roll on the floor, eat food that has been left on the ground under the table for a couple days (don’t judge me, I don’t always choose to spend my time picking up after every meal), maybe knowing that how you clean your house can affect your children, might help you make more conscious decisions with what you use.
I just looked up what is in Windex, the most commercial brand out there. And here is a list of some of the things that are in there: Isopropol Alcohol, Hexoxyethanol, Ammonium Hydroxide, Propylene Glycol, Liquitint Sky Blue Dye. I don’t even care to do the research on why most of those are bad to ingest, I will just believe my gut instinct and not use it in my house. I know there are a lot of companies that make chemical free products, but I find them expensive given I can make my own at home for less than $1.
Instead, I make a very easy, very cheap mixture:
- 1 part water,
- 1 part white vinegar,
- several drops of essential oil to add a nice fragrance safely.
- Put everything in a spray bottle.
Right now I have lavender in the mix, but I like to switch it up. I use it just like a store bought window cleaner. It works perfect. No smudges, dries quickly, a little less quickly than if it had alcohol in it, but it’s till great. And I feel good about my kids licking the windows. (That’s a lie. I wish they would stop doing it so I wouldn’t have to clean them so much, but that’s beside the point).
I use that same cleaner to spray my kitchen floors after having washed them with soap, to disinfect.
What do you use in your home? If you have en easy, cheap, DYI recipe for some household cleaning products, please share!
Pamplemousse 
Great advice and best photo ever!
Thank you!
Cutest boys ever! This is pretty much my go to all purpose cleaner recipe. Sometimes I add some hydrogen peroxide too. I use eucalyptus oil a lot because I love that fresh clean scent. Plus it’s a disinfectant!