While I think conventional cleaners definitely have their time and place, I try to buy – or make – natural cleaners for use in our home, especially when I know that the kids or the animals will be coming into contact with the surface.  One of my favorite websites is the Environmental Working Group, which rates thousands of beauty and cleaning products on a scale of A-F for “greenness.” I’ve learned from the EWG that so many products are “green washed,” or made to sound natural and healthy when they’re really not.

One of my favorite examples of this is the Babyganics product line.  First of all – you’d think Babyganics is organic… but it’s not.  And most of the products are rated C or below by EWG.  I was once asked to do a blog review of the Babyganics highchair wash, but when I looked it up on EWG, I was appalled to find that certain ingredients in the wash were considered skin irritants, known to cause allergic reactions, and toxic to aquatic life.  Eww.  No, thank you!  I do not want to wash down Claire’s highchair with something like that.

Luckily… it’s super easy (and cheaper) to make your own highchair wash. 

And goodness knows I need a good highchair wash!  Hah.

I use this on Claire’s highchair after every meal, and since it’s made with only two completely safe ingredients – water and white vinegar (which is a natural disinfectant).  I feel good about using it on a surface that Claire eats from.

This wash is also great as a multi-purpose rinse around the home.  I use it to clean countertops and the bathroom (especially those little toddler potties – which are a hotbed of germs!).  And I use this solution to make my own Swiffer pads <— cool post!

Highchair Wash + Multi-Purpose Rinse

• 1/4 distilled white vinegar
• 3/4 water

Combine in a spray bottle, shake well, spray on surface, let stand for a moment, and wipe away.  The vinegar smell will dissipate as it dries.  I don’t add essential oils to Claire’s high chair wash, but I do for my countertop rinse.  I love using citrus oils or lavender – makes the kitchen smell extra nice!

On the subject of going green, I have a fun Instagram giveaway for you! 

If you’ve been reading for a while, you may know that I’m a huge fan of menstrual cups.  In fact, Green Your Period is one of my most popular posts EVER.  In it, I talk about the WHYs and HOWs of menstrual cups (if you’re like, “What the eff is a menstrual cup?” it’s a reusable, flexible, medical-grade silicon cup that you insert into your vagina during your period; the cup collects the blood (instead of absorbing it like a tampon would). 

While there is a bit of a learning curve with menstrual cups, there are many advantages: you can wear them for 12 straight hours, it’s a one-time cost that saves you money over time, you aren’t inserting or putting a chemical-laden product against your body, and you don’t create a ton of trash.   Seriously, if you have never tried a menstrual cup, they are totally revolutionary.

Over the last year or so, I’ve been chatting with the women at LENA as they worked hard to bring their  new menstrual cup to market.  I’ve only ever personally used the Diva Cup (my period still hasn’t returned post-pregnancy), but LENA seems like a great option.  The design is more compact yet holds more blood than other brands.  In addition to the unique bell-shaped design, it has a super flexible rim and pronounced body grips for easier insertion and removal.  It’s also made in California.

I’m excited to be giving away TWO LENA cups (in whatever size you need) on my Instagram page.  Simply head over to this Instagram post and leave a comment!  <—Enter by clicking that link.