Spring has arrived, which means it’s time to open the windows of your home and chase all the dust bunnies away. However, before you start scrubbing, wiping and dusting be sure that you are not replacing dust and grime with chemical pollutants.

Many commercial cleaning products are not only expensive, but they often contain nasty ingredients that are harmful to human health and end up in the greater environment.  Some of these ingredients are known carcinogens and hormone-disruptors. And to make things trickier, manufacturers are not required to list ingredients on labels of household cleaning products sold in Canada.

So, what can you do to keep a clean house and protect your family from toxic chemicals at the same time? Here are some tips to help get you started:

Learn what you should be avoiding: Harmful chemicals such as triclosan, formaldehyde, and parabens can be found in a number of products. Our Guide to Spring Cleaning provides a comprehensive list of chemicals to avoid in cleaning products.

Simplify your cleaning routine: There is no need to clutter your cupboards with products for every chore in the house. All you need is baking soda, vinegar, lemon, water and a bit of elbow grease to clean everything from your floors and windows to even your toilet. Baking soda is a great deodorizer and surface cleaner; vinegar helps kills bacteria, mould and viruses; and lemon juice can cut grease while cleaning windows.

Don’t dump old cleaning products down the sink: Not sure about what to do with those old, conventional household cleaners? Remember: everything that goes down the drain ends up in our rivers and lakes. A safer alternative is using your municipality’s household hazardous waste collection program to dispose of items that are corrosive (i.e. drain cleaners), flammable (i.e turpentine), explosive (i.e. aerosol containers), and/or poisonous (i.e. cleaning fluids and pesticides).

Purchase non-toxic cleaning products: There are a number of companies that have non-toxic cleaning products on store shelves. When shopping for products, check the label for any certified eco-labels to ensure it meets high environmental standards. 

Or make your own cleaner: Making your own non-toxic cleaner is so simple that your kids can help. Mix 6 tablespoons of vinegar, 1 teaspoon of sodium carbonate (washing soda), 1 teaspoon castile soap, and 4 cups of hot water together. You can find sodium carbonate at the grocery store and castile soap at the health food store.  This cleaner is hard on dirt but easy on you and the environment at the same time.

By greening your spring cleaning routine, you can help keep your home and the greater environment toxic-free. Want more non-toxic cleaning tips? Visit environmentaldefence.ca and sign up for our toxic nation newsletter to receive tips and information all year long.

Maggie MacDonald is Toxic Program Manager for Environmental Defence, a leading environmental action organization that inspires change by connecting people with environmental issues that affect their daily lives in their homes, workplaces and neighbourhoods. Maggie is a campaigner, writer and musician originally from Cornwall, Ontario. Maggie has successfully detoxed her makeup collection, proving you can lose the lead without losing the red. She is now working to rid products of carcinogens and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, once and for all.