Our house has been free of all toxic cleaning products ever since The Environmental Protection Agency released information that the air in our homes is 3 to 7 times more chemically polluted than outdoor air, pollution included.  The average home contains upwards of 25 pounds of toxic cleaning products, and the chemicals in those products have been linked to allergies, birth defects and cancer. 

My arsenal of cleaning supplies is stocked with plenty of fantastic non-toxic options, but these four are the ones I reach for time and again.

1.  The Laundress Scented Vinegar.  I love how versatile vinegar is when it comes to cleaning, disinfecting and deodorizing; what I don't love is its off-putting aroma.  This scented vinegar still smells like vinegar (they didn't call it "unscented" vinegar for a reason), but in a more subtle and quite pleasant bergamot-thyme-eucalyptus-lavender-and-ylang-ylang kind of way.  I use this to clean everything, and I mean everything: it's oddly addictive... once I start disinfecting things I can't stop.  If you're not familiar with the cleaning powers of vinegar check out this post on Food52. 

2.  Goodbye Detergent Original Spaghetti Scrub.  You know how you always dread cleaning the scrambled eggs pan because the eggs will inevitably get stuck in your scrubber and never come out and you'll have to throw away the perfectly good scrubber that you just took out of the package?  Not with the Spaghetti Scrub.  Somehow, nothing gets stuck in it.  Somehow, it doesn't get gross and smelly.  Somehow, it's gentle on scratch-able surfaces yet tough enough to get pots and pans and high chair trays cleaner than you thought possible.  Somehow, it lasts months longer than any other scrubber or sponge.  "How?", you ask?  It's just plain magic.

3.  Nellie's All Natural Oxygen Brightener.  This OxiClean alternative has saved more of M's baby clothes than I can count.  I mix a scoop with warm water in a bucket and soak any stained garments anywhere from an hour to overnight, and the stains just disappear.  Sometimes it takes a couple of soakings, and it's no match for red beet or banana stains (seriously… who knew bananas were such a stain culprit?), but it does a phenomenal job removing stains and brightening and whitening without the use of bleach or chlorine.  A word (or two) of caution though: don't soak dark colored garments with light colored garments in the same bucket, and don't leave the clothes to soak for too long before rinsing and washing.  I did have an issue with color loss once when I forgot I had clothes soaking for more than 2 days.  Oops.  

4.  2am Miracle Nursery Cleaner.  This cleaner and deodorizer isn't just relegated to the nursery, though it really is the only cleaner you will need to tackle everything from the changing table and diaper pail to the highchair and the car seat (unless you need to disinfect, in which case might I suggest The Laundress Scented Vinegar?).  It's made from plant-based ingredients that are safe on all surfaces, including fabric and upholstery, and natural enough to use around baby and the rest of the family. The pure essential oils of lavender and chamomile not only make cleaning a little more relaxing, they also make your nursery/kitchen/sofa/carpet/car smell amazing.