Cleaning our house, cleaning ourselves

I have not used deodorant since... I'm not actually sure. Sometime in summer 2013? In fact, I forgot where it was the one time I did want to use it this year. I have not used shower soap since December 2013. No, I do not stink, at all. Josh keeps forgetting that I don't use soap, and has that surprised look on his face every time it comes up.

We have both made big strides toward decreasing the amount of chemicals we use at home both for cleaning and personal hygiene products. What drives me is my hippiness and the fact that maintaining a healthy greywater system will require us to not use heavy any chemicals. What drives Josh is a mystery, but simplicity, $$ saved, and a desire to please me probably all play a role.

The key to all of our house cleaning supplies? Realizing that we don't actually need a lot of the cleaning products we buy. Eliminating the unnecessaries, a bit of edibles (vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice), Dr Bronner's castile soap, and some elbow grease work for the rest. Examples -

• We do not have air fresheners; since we've reduced our meat consumption, smelly bathrooms have not been an issue. 
• I only use water and a brush to clean the toilet (and no, it doesn't smell or try to take over the world), eliminating any nasty toilet-cleaning chemicals. 
• We use Dr Bronner's for most things like hand soap, bathtub and sink cleaning. 
• Josh uses a mix of vinegar and soap in a spray bottle as his "doomsday weapon" against clothing stains, windows, and such other things. 
• When running the dryer, we use wool laundry balls (hehe, balls) with a couple of safety pins in them to 1) reduce drying time, and 2) remove static, and have not needed formalin-infused dryer sheets. 
• This weekend I finally mixed up our own laundry detergent. 

Personal care -

• Twice now, we've tried the no-shampoo approach, for approximately a month or two. The second time it worked better, but I still have to figure out the perfect concoction. 
• For my "beauty products" I use oils and food items - castor and jojoba for oil cleansing, same + nutmeg for an amazing scrub, argan oil for moisturizing, coconut oil for the occasional hand moisturizing. 
• No shower soap for me, just water and a cotton shower cloth do marvelously well.
• No deodorant at all for me, and Josh only uses his during the workweek.

Overall, this means that we have far fewer chemicals around the house. Less money paid to the big companies, less worries about anyone ingesting anything horrible, and much happier lungs and noses. Honestly? Cleaning yourself or your house should not be leading to "occupational asthma and other respiratory illnesses" (see in full). Our grandmas kept sparkly-clean houses and laundry without an army of bottles under their sink or in their bathroom. I'm sure we can do just as well...