I am the kind of person that you may call a “clean freak”. Having two large, shedding, active dogs in my home presents a challenge to my sanity. I used to buy every household cleaning product on the market that claimed to deodorize, sanitize and get rid of every bacteria know to man. After having two of my rescue dogs die from cancer, I began to question everything. One of the things I questioned was of course what I fed them (part of why I started Your Dogs Diner), and the second was the environment they lived in. No, I could not control every aspect of their environment, especially outside of our yard, but I could control their environment inside our home.
So what gave me concern? Both of my dogs developed cancers and tumors. What were they exposed to I wondered that could have contributed to this? Sure, I will never know the answer to this, or if heredity or something else beyond my control was the culprit. But I was determined to do everything I could to insure my next furkids had the best chance at a longer, healthier life. And it was alot easier than I thought to change just a few simple things, and economical too.
What if you walked around barefoot all day on that industrial strength floor cleaner and then licked your feet? Do you think you would get sick? So why subject your dog to that? Their paws, their fur, all collect those cleaning products in their skin, which they lick and injest.
What about that carpet cleaner you use? Oh, your carpet may smell nice, but is it worth those years it may take off of your dog’s life? If you are reading this, chances are that you do care. So here are my favorite cleaning solutions that I, a certified “clean freak” have been using for years now. My house is still clean, my dogs are more healthy, and it’s fun to pass up the cleaning aisle in the grocery store! Saving money and saving years to spend together with my boys are totally worth it.
Window and Glass Cleaner
3 tablespoons lime or lemon juice
1 tablespoon white vinegar
3/4 cup water
Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle. Use to clean windows and glass, wipe dry with paper coffee filters or newspaper to reduce streaking.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Pour 1/2 cup white vinegar and 3 tablespoons baking soda in toilet bowl. Let stand for at least 30 minutes. Scrub and flush!
Oven Cleaner
Scrub the inside of your oven with a mixture of equal parts baking soda and coarse salt and water to make a paste. Then place 1/4 cup lemon juice over mixture and leave overnight. Next day, wipe away any remaining grease.
Stove Top Air Freshener
Take cinnamon, cloves, allspice, bay, juniper, orange, lemon or mint into a pot of water and bring to a boil. Simmer on stove for two hours to freshen the house!
There are many inexpensive, easy-to-use natural alternatives which can safely be used in place of commercial household products. Here is a list of common, safe products which can be used alone or in combination for a wealth of household applications.
Baking Soda – cleans, deodorizes, softens water, scours.
Lemon – one of the strongest food-acids, effective against most household bacteria.
White Vinegar – cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains and wax build-up.
Isopropyl Alcohol – is an excellent disinfectant.
Cornstarch – can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs.
Happy cleaning everyone!
Rachael Johnson
Owner, Your Dog’s Diner
www.yourdogsdiner.com