As new parents, we know that all you want is to keep your baby safe and healthy, including ensuring your home is clean and free of harmful chemicals.
With so many household cleaning products on the market, it can be overwhelming to figure out which ones are safe for your little one. In this guide, we'll provide some top tips on choosing baby-safe cleaning products and highlight some of the best natural options out there to keep your home squeaky clean.
How to Choose Baby-Safe Household Cleaning Products
When choosing cleaning products to use in your home, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure they're safe for your little one:
- Look for natural ingredients: Products made with natural ingredients rather than hard-to-read chemicals are much less likely to contain chemicals that can be dangerous for your baby. Some common natural cleaning ingredients to look for that shouldn’t pose a risk to your little one include vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and essential oils.
- Avoid some harsh chemicals: As mentioned; many cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that can be toxic to babies if ingested or inhaled. Avoid products that contain bleach, ammonia, phthalates, and any other synthetic fragrances.
- Choose fragrance-free products: Fragrances can be great for leaving your home smelling fresh, but they can be irritating to a baby's sensitive skin and respiratory system. Look for products labelled as fragrance-free, as they’ll do just as good a job at keeping things clean!
- Read the labels carefully: It might take some time initially, but try to read the labels on any cleaning products to ensure they are safe for your baby. To save time on which ones to look out for, focus on cleaning products that are labelled as non-toxic, biodegradable, and eco-friendly.
- Consider using homemade cleaning solutions instead: If you’re struggling to find cleaning products in the shops that seem safe for your little one, you can always use natural ingredients like vinegar and baking soda. Homemade solutions are often cheaper and safer than store-bought products, and it saves you spending hours in the cleaning aisle reading the fine print!
Best Natural Baby-Safe Cleaning Products
Here are some of the best natural baby-safe cleaning products:
- Seventh Generation Natural All-Purpose Cleaner: This all-purpose cleaner is made with plant-based ingredients and is free of synthetic fragrances, dyes, and harsh chemicals.
- ECOS Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergent: This laundry detergent is made with plant-based ingredients and is free of dyes, phosphates, and optical brighteners.
- Method All-Purpose Natural Surface Cleaner: This all-purpose cleaner is made with natural ingredients and is free of harsh chemicals, dyes, and synthetic fragrances.
- Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Multi-Surface Cleaner: This all-purpose cleaner is made with natural ingredients and is free of harsh chemicals, dyes, and synthetic fragrances.
The natural cleaning products listed above are a great place to start when building a baby-safe cleaning routine. Plenty of other baby-safe cleaning products are out there, and they don’t have to come with a hefty price tag. Look for products with natural ingredients, avoid harsh chemicals, and always read labels carefully.
At-Home Baby-Safe Cleaning Ingredients
While these are great options, cleaning your house doesn't have to mean always using shop-bought cleaning products. You probably already have plenty of natural ingredients in your kitchen that can help you keep your home clean and fresh.
Here are some of the best natural and baby-safe cleaning ingredients:
- Vinegar: White vinegar is a great all-purpose cleaner that can clean windows, floors, countertops, and loads more-it can do everything! Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle to clean and disinfect surfaces around your home.
- Bicarbonate of Soda: Another household ingredient you probably have sitting on your baking shelf, baking soda is a natural abrasive that can clean everything from sinks to pans. Mix it with some water to make a paste consistency, and scrub away the grime and stains.
- Lemon Juice: Lemon juice is a natural bleach that can whiten clothes, clean wooden chopping boards, and freshen up your drains. Just cut a lemon in half and rub it over the surface you want to clean.
These natural household ingredients are a great alternative to supermarket cleaning products and are often a lot cheaper too! So, next time you do a deep clean, try using some of these natural ingredients instead of picking up all the new products in the shop. Your home (and your purse) will thank you!
