Asthma friendly cleaning solutions

Amanda M
by Amanda M
My youngest daughter is asthmatic, and we're quickly learning her triggers. One of her major triggers is cleaning products, especially strong ones and Bleach. We are discovering other cleaning solutions that won't trigger her asthma and doesn't contain vinegar (hubby cannot stand vinegar smell and we both do the cleaning). Thankfully I have found a floor cleaning and multipurpose solution. However, I'm looking for a furniture cleaning solution. Ideas?
  11 answers
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Mar 02, 2013
    As a kid one of my house hold "chores" was dusting the furniture. Back in those days my mother bought "pledge" it is full of silicone, petrochemicals and a host of other nasties. Fast forward 40 + years and now I dust with a basic dry cotton rag. Depending on how the furniture is finished your may or may not be cleaning "wood" but rather the finish that is covering the wood ( polyurethane, lacquer, acrylic, paste wax, etc) most of these will tolerate minimal use of water, so a lightly dampened rag will collect more air born dust. If the furniture is real and natural wood a product like howards Feed and wax is what I have been using these last 20 + years as a custom furniture builder and woodworker. http://www.amazon.com/Howard-FW0016-Feed-N-Wax-Conditioner-16-Ounce/dp/B001BKQYGW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362244614&sr=8-1&keywords=howard%27s+feed+and+wax The howards product is natural beeswax and orange oil product and is not an aerosol. just a teaspoon on a clean cotton rag can polish and buff a dining room sized table surface.
  • Machelle Couch Machelle Couch on Mar 02, 2013
    I make an oil with olive oil and a little lemon juice. It will spoil so don't make to much but this is great for wood.
  • I would suggest you purchase a book called My House is Killing Me written by Jeffery May. It is a great book on how to keep and maintain a healthy house. You can find it on Amazon and many good book stores.
  • Sherrie Sherrie on Mar 03, 2013
    I have cleaned for a lot of people who have allergy problems. The simplest thing to use Is dish soap and water. You can use a glass cloth to dust, and a duster. If something is really dusty use a bit of water on the glass cloth (you can also use old baby diapers) . Clean glass and mirrors with dish soap and water. Get a rag add a little dish soap and water and clean the mirror, the squeegee it off, use a dry towel for any streaks. Floors you can add a drop or two of dish soap in a bucket of water. Wash and dry. Wood floors dampen a micro finer mop and mop the floors be sure and dry. Even bathrooms using dish soap and water cleans and shines. The key is to dry everything. I don't know if this helps? I know there are tons of allergy free products. But dish soap is cheaper. I have used Martha Stewart toilet bowl cleaner. And I liked it. No smells at all.
  • Vicki Vicki on Mar 03, 2013
    how about shark steam cleaner? i do not have it but others love them very much. i am thinking to get me one whenever it is on sale with b1g1f and no interest 12 months payment.
  • Any moisture that is introduced into a carpet will only grow more mold, and provide a nice place for dust mites to grow. Steam cleaning and using carpet cleaners without the ability to pull out all of the water or close to it makes things worse.
  • Amanda M Amanda M on Mar 05, 2013
    First, I want to thank everyone for your input, suggestions, and wisdom. Here is what I have been doing and a few things I just started doing. For the carpet I am using a product called Sprayaway's Goodnight. You can find it for about $8 at Home Depot. It kills dust mites along with other things. That combined with frequent vac'ing helps on the carpet, mattresses, and living room seating. However, I use this product, dust, and vac when my youngest is in another room or napping at daycare when I get off work. I am looking into a Shark for when we install wood floors throughout the home. I have started using hydrogen peroxide as a bathroom and kitchen cleaner with good results. Yes, I also use dish soap with water when the mess is extra grimy. Cloth diapers and old t-shirts are my favorite dusting rags. I will be trying suggested dusting products this weekend. My mop head is a removable and washable cloth, and the refillable reservoir allows me to add my homemade mopping solution (usually hot water, a squirt of dish soap, and a cup of hydrogen peroxide since I cannot use bleach with my daughter around).
  • Sherrie Sherrie on Mar 06, 2013
    the only thing I would suggest is not to use steam on your wood floors ever. Wood floors are sealed. When you are cleaning the wood your cleaning the sealer. And using steam forces it into your floors. The underneath of your floors are not sealed. So they aren't protected. If and when you damage the sealer your floors are no longer protected. Even through steam sounds good its really horrible for any wood floor.
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Mar 06, 2013
    I have to agree with @Sherrie NEVER use a steam cleaner on a wood, laminate, cork or engineered floors. Steam cleaners should only be used on water proof hard surfaces. ie: Tile, sealed concrete, sheet vinyl. Water is bad for most flooring, very hot water ( aka steam) is even worse as it has more penetration. This will penetrate the seams and end joints and cause the unprotected back or base laminates ( in the case of laminate and engineered) flooring to swell.
  • Machelle Couch Machelle Couch on Mar 10, 2013
    Something I have found recently that works wonders in the shower on soap and hard water deposits is 1 cup white vinegar heated in the microwave and than add another cup of blue dawn. Mix it and leave it for at least two hours and than rinse. It works wonders and it does not smell to much like vinegar.
  • LindaK LindaK on Nov 14, 2015
    I have used Shaklee products for many years because they are fumes free, non toxic and 100% biodegradable. I once accidently mixed bleach and ammonia and have a sensitivity to strong chemicals now.