Once home from the store, I started checking what I had casually put in my shopping cart, I was unimpressed with myself to say the least! For a man who likes to live consciously and make conscious choices, I hadn't made such conscious choices here. In c/o Gerd episode 23, I challenge Anna-Lena to take a look at the possibilities if we can't come up with a small, clean cleaning line. Until then, I googled old, wonderful tips on what you can do to avoid toxic cleaning products!

THE KITCHEN

1. Clean the stove

Sprinkle baking soda on the dirty areas around the plates. Then pour in vinegar until it starts to bubble and fizz. Wipe off (wear gloves) when the bubbling stops and rinse with water.

2. Clean the refrigerator

Wash the refrigerator with lukewarm water and, for example, our Hand Soap. Don't forget the defrost hole, which in the worst case is clogged. If so, clean it with a cotton swab, pipe cleaner or similar. If you have mold problems or problems with bad odors - wipe with a 3 percent acetic acid solution (1/2 dl 24% acetic acid + 35 dl water).

3. Clean the microwave

Mix the juice from a lemon with water in a bowl and place in the microwave. Run on full power for a few minutes and the ingrained dirt will dissolve and can be wiped away with a cloth.

4. Clean the sink

Mix half vinegar and half water in a spray bottle. Spray on and let it work for a while. Then wipe with paper towels and the result will be sparkling clean! (Follow up with Body Shower Rosemary to get a little scent if that's important)

5. Stripes in tea and coffee cups

Pour boiling water into the cup. Stir in a spoonful of baking soda. It will fizz. Use a dish brush or sponge to brush away the deposits. Sparkling clean!

BATHROOM

6. Drain blockage

Mix 1dl water and 1dl baking soda, pour into the drain, wait a quarter of an hour and flush with hot water.

7. Limescale deposits

You can remove these by rubbing lemon on the surface of the sink or bathroom. Wait a few minutes and wipe it off with a cloth. If there are ugly deposits in the toilet – pour a couple of tablespoons of baking soda, let it work for a while and then scrub clean.

GENERAL CLEANING TIPS

8. Use baking soda on musty fabrics & carpets

Instead of using toxic chemicals, sprinkle baking soda over your sofa or carpet to remove the smell. Brush around for a while, let it sit for a few minutes, and vacuum away the baking soda! This tip has the nice side effect of also removing the smell in your vacuum cleaner.

9. Clean the windows with vinegar

Mix 2 teaspoons of vinegar with a little over a deciliter of warm water in a spray bottle. Spray and wipe to get rid of fingerprints and grease. Remember to use a cloth that can be washed and reused.

10. Make an all-purpose cleaner with natural ingredients

Tea tree oil and lemon juice both have antibacterial properties. Make a great all-purpose cleaner by mixing 10 drops of lemon juice (or lemon zest left over from cooking) with 20 drops of tea tree oil in 1 deciliter of water. This works great for cleaning tile kitchen surfaces and floors. If you want it to smell extra good, you can mix in a few drops of lavender.

11. Make a "concoction" that spreads a good aroma

Many air fresheners contain phthalates, which are not good for your health. For a more natural, good-smelling experience, you can put your favorite herbs and fruits in a pot of water and bring to a boil. For example, try vanilla beans or cinnamon and orange peel or cloves and apple pieces. You can also add a few drops of essential oil.

Johan Wiklund

Psst... Don't forget that you can order organic skincare , organic massage oil, organic hand sanitizer and more from Care of Gerd!