A Highly Sensitive Person's Confessions: Cleaning

Preface:  This is the fifth post, so if you missed the first ones… Short Version:  I’m “sensitive to life”.  The first post was on light sensitivity and I now wear rose-tinted glasses (FL-41 tint), the second was on skin issues related to sulfates and fragrances, the third was on soothing outbreaks and moisturizing, and the fourth on textures and protecting irritated skin. 

Cleaning

Added Fragrances, Sulfates, Man-made chemicals… all irritate my skin and the smells lead to headaches/migraines and breathing issues. 

Solution?  Using all-natural, fragrance-free cleaners, when financially possible

Soap - Hand, Dish, Floors

Dr. Bonner’s Castile Soap is my one-stop solution for all things soap.  For hands and dishes, I cut it by half and use it with a foaming pump.  For floors, I put a wee squirt into the mop bucket.  When I first switched to sulfate-free, I used the fragrance-free one, but now, I usually use the one with orange oil. 

Windows and General Cleaner

Basic H from Shaklee is a concentrated solution that you add in very small amounts to a spray bottle to create window cleaner and a general cleaner.

Deep Cleaning

I use hydrogen peroxide (First Aid isle), baking soda, Shaklee’s Scour Off, stainless steel scrubbers (someday I’ll invest in stainless steel chainmail), scrub brushes, and scouring pads.

Laundry

Unfortunately, all natural detergents are not in my budget and while I did make my own for a while, but hubby didn’t feel like the clothes got as clean.  We have a massive washer and still do 7-8 loads a week, so natural detergents are way above our price range.  So Purex Free and Clear is my economical solution that is dye-free and fragrance-free and does not leave a residue that is irritating.  Note:  I actively avoid getting the soap on my skin as it is VERY irritating due to the high levels of sulfates.

As for softeners, we only use wool dryer balls. (Some I made, some a friend made, and some were gifted.)  I have added essential oils to the balls to add a light fragrance but due to the sheer size of our loads, that was not economical and at much of the time, I find any fragrance to be irritating. 

Dishwasher

Here again, all natural cleaners are not in my budget and, again, I made my own for a while, but the dishes did not seem to get as clean and a residue was often left behind.  Palmolive Eco has been our economical choice.  Note:  I actively avoid getting this soap on my skin as it is VERY irritating due to the high levels of sulfates.

Bodily Fluids (Human and Pet)

Years ago, I found BioKleen’s Bac-Out, a natural, enzymatic cleaner that does not need cleaned up after use and does not use any artificial fragrances.  They recently added lavender oil to their pet version, but the original version does not have lavender added.  I only recently bought the pet version and have used the original for all kinds of bodily fluid accidents and I’ve used it as a carpet cleaner too.  I’ve had to reapply occasionally for deep smells but it ALWAYS works and leaves no remaining smell, except the pet version leaves a faint lavender scent behind.  

Side Note:  I made the mistake of buying a different enzymatic cleaner recently at the local pet shop, but they had added so much fragrance that I had to rinse the carpet multiple times then use Bac-Out multiple times before the smell was finally removed.

*****Please note, I was not asked to review these products nor am I getting paid.  My goal is only to perhaps help family and friends who also suffer from sensitivity issues*****