Bump-Friendly Cleaning: 5 DIY Pregnancy-Safe Cleaning Products To Keep Your Home Clean and Sparkling
Faithfully taking your prenatals. Eating plenty of veggies. Flossing twice a day.
You’re doing everything you can think of to grow a healthy baby, including looking for non-toxic, chemical-free cleaning products.
But reading label after label is exhausting and makes you wonder if it’s even safe to clean while you’re pregnant.
TidyUp Portland! is here to help you preserve your precious brain power, time, and money. Here, you’ll find natural, green alternatives that give you a clean home plus the peace of mind that comes with using safe house cleaning supplies during your pregnancy.
Can I Clean My House While Pregnant?
Absolutely! Your house doesn’t have to completely go to pot while you’re expecting, but you’ll definitely want to stick with pregnancy-safe cleaners and avoid:
Aerosol and spray cleaners
Air fresheners
Harsh solvents, like oven and tile cleaners, and products containing glycol ethers (2-butoxyethanol) or phthalates
“But I have no clue about safe cleaning products for pregnancy,” you say! We hear you, and we’ve got you (and your sweet baby) covered.
What Are Green, Pregnancy-Safe Cleaning Products?
For many, green cleaning is a big deal all the time, but it’s especially important when you’re expecting. Generally, green cleaning means using chemical- and toxin-free products, but more specifically, green cleaning includes supplies that are also free of:
Chlorine
Artificial colors and fragrances
Green, pregnancy-safe cleaning products contain ingredients like:
Vinegar
Lemon
Clear dish soap
Rubbing alcohol
Cornstarch
Baking soda
Castile soap
Essential oils
Kosher salt
Water
Further down, we’ll share some great recipes for pregnancy-safe cleaning products, but if you’d rather hand off the housecleaning to someone else, Tidy Up Portland! is here to ease the load (and save your already aching back). We pride ourselves on a thorough cleaning job using environmentally friendly, non-toxic cleaning products that are safe for you and your unborn little one.
How To Choose Pregnancy-Safe Cleaning Products
In a discussion about safe cleaning products for pregnancy (and life in general), the Environmental Working Group is hugely helpful. Also known as the EWG, this organization provides information to consumers regarding substances used in cleaning products and more.
With a handy search engine and details on nearly every cleaning product imaginable, EWG makes it easy to see which products contain safe ingredients and offers recommendations for the greenest products on the market.
Before purchasing the cleaner your mom-friends are raving about, send it through EWG’s rating system to see if it’s a pregnancy-safe choice.
Do Pregnancy-Safe Cleaning Products Actually Work?
Many people think the idea of green cleaning sounds cool and trendy, but aren’t sure it really works. Can everyday, green substances clean as well as those laden with chemicals?
We’re here to tell you the answer is a resounding yes!
Green cleaning supplies can be super-effective in providing the clean you’re looking for without the added harm of harsh chemicals and toxins.
Just a quick note to remember: While a clean and fresh home is totally possible when using 100% green cleaning supplies, you may need to use more of them to achieve the same effect.
5 Easy-To-Make DIY Pregnancy-Safe Cleaning Products
#1: All-Purpose Cleaner
Found in stores across the country, Formula 409 is a popular anti-bacterial, all-purpose surface cleaner for good reason. It’s touted as a cleaner that can be used on multiple surfaces to:
Clean
Deodorize
Disinfect
But cleaning with 409 isn’t a good idea for expectant mothers, since it may contribute to:
Asthma and respiratory issues
Skin allergies and irritation
Environmental risks
Mix up this quick and easy substitute for 409 to get the same clean and disinfected home, without risking your health or the footprint on the planet:
2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon Borax
⅛ cup Original Dawn dish soap
1 cup hot water
Cool water (to fill)
Combine the vinegar, borax, and hot water in a 16-oz spray bottle, gently swirl until the borax powder is completely dissolved, then top off with cool water and add the dish soap.
#2: Hard Surface Scrub
From the sink to the toilet to the shower, Scrubbing Bubbles has multiple products for bathroom use. But like Formula 409, Scrubbing Bubbles comes packed with some strong chemicals that you want to avoid if you’re pregnant (and even if you’re not), which can cause concern regarding:
Cancer
Skin irritation
Allergies
Vision problems
Instead, combine the following into a thick paste and store in a sealed jar:
1 cup baking soda
¼ cup liquid castile soap (like Dr. Bronner's)
1 tablespoon hydrogen peroxide
This combination works wonders on tough bathroom and kitchen surfaces, including:
Wood cutting boards or chopping blocks
Toilets
Tubs covered in soap scum
#3: Floor Care
Pine-Sol is another all-purpose cleaner and disinfectant customers have been using for decades. The product’s cleaning agent, methoxyacetic acid, received an F rating (the worst possible score) from EWG due to “acute aquatic toxicity” and concerns for:
Developmental, endocrine, and reproductive effects
General systemic and organ effects
Respiratory effects
Damage to vision
Does this mean you’re stuck with grimy floors for nine months? Nope! Avoid these nasty effects and still get spotless floors by substituting Pine-Sol with these solutions:
For hardwood:
2 cups warm water
¼ cup white vinegar (avoid using on unsealed or waxed wood)
½ tsp dish soap
For laminate and luxury vinyl:
½ cup water
½ cup white vinegar
½ cup rubbing alcohol
For tile and ceramic:
1 gallon warm water
Equal parts neutral pH dish soap and white vinegar
For marble and natural stone:
1 gallon warm water
A few drops of pH-neutral dish soap
Avoid acidic ingredients like vinegar or lemon on natural stone as they can permanently etch the surface.
#4: Antibacterial Disinfectant
Antibacterial disinfectants, like Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, are ever-popular. But while they kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, they also deliver chemical and toxic dangers recognized by the EWG.
Asthma and respiratory concerns are listed as symptoms under EWG’s symptoms list.
To avoid these risks, simply mix:
½ cup warm water
½ cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
15 drops of tea tree oil
Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and use it to clean and disinfect surfaces.
#5: Window Cleaner
Windex Glass Cleaner earns a D rating from the EWG due to concerns with:
Respiratory problems
Skin and allergy issues
Environmental effects
A safe and non-toxic version is a mixture of:
2 cups distilled or filtered water
2 tablespoons of vinegar
10 drops of lemon essential oil
Not only does this concoction smell amazing, but you’ll also have spotlessly clean windows without any lingering worries about what chemicals you may be inhaling.
Commonly Asked Questions About Pregnancy-Safe Cleaning Products
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It’s not recommended. According to the EWG, bleach isn’t considered a pregnancy-safe cleaning product (or safe at all) and can generally be linked to:
Asthma and respiratory problems
Cancer
Environmental issues
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When you’re pregnant, do your best to avoid:
Chlorine bleach (especially in poorly ventilated areas)
Ammonia
Formaldehyde
Phthalates
Certain glycol ethers
Strong synthetic fragrances
Aerosol sprays with strong fumes
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Avoid inhaling cleaning products as much as you can during pregnancy and be sure to:
Ventilate by opening windows, running an exhaust fan, or keeping doors propped open to let in plenty of fresh air.
Avoid using aerosols since they release tiny chemical droplets that are easily inhaled.
Never mix products, since combining some chemicals can create highly toxic, poisonous gases.
Tidy Up Portland! Your #1 Eco-Friendly Green Home Cleaning Company for Pregnancy-Safe Cleaning
Hey, pregnant momma, do you:
Need a well-earned break?
Want a super clean house?
Not have the time or energy to clean all by yourself?
Want to make sure your home is cleaned with green cleaning products?
Make the smart choice for your sanity and your body and invite Tidy Up Portland! in for a pre-baby clean!
We promise you won’t find a better green cleaning service than Tidy Up! Portland for house cleaning in Portland.
Besides using only eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaning products:
Our rates are affordable, and we offer:
Hourly rates based on your cleaning priorities
Flat rates based on the size of your home
Special packages designed for busy parents
Booking is easy and modern with our online booking portal.
We schedule around your life and make your cleaning day as easy and seamless as possible. Plus, you can always count on us to show up when we say we will.
For more information, just check out our reviews and FAQs!
