Not all non-toxic cleaning products are created equal

Some of us clean like Marie Kondo (that’s still a thing, right?), while others of us shove toys in the closet and call it a day. Whatever your style, turn to these non-toxic cleaning products that help make all that tidying, wiping and washing just a tad bit more bearable. These cleaning brands are all sustainable, effective, and have packaging that you actually won’t want to hide under the sink. Oh, and they don’t require a hazmat suit to use or leave that funky bleach smell on your fingers.

Why go out of your way to stick with non-toxic cleaning products? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the chemicals found in some cleaning products can cause health problems, including eye, nose, and throat irritation, as well as headaches. Leaning on green(er) formulas can help prevent asthma, upper respiratory inflammation, fatigue, nasal congestion, nausea, and dizziness. Of course, we all want to avoid all that. Plus, many non-toxic cleaning products are safer to use around your little ones (always read package labels to make sure, though). Read on for our picks.

 

 

Grove Co's Traditions Aglow Collection

grove collective non-toxic cleaning products with sponges and cleaning bucket
Grove Collaborative

You'll actually want to do the dishes when you smell the Spiced Pumpkin or Harvest Apple scent of the Traditions Aglow collection from Grove Co ('tis the season!). Get the kids doing their own laundry with the dissolvable laundry sheets and show them how to be better Earth stewards with the cleaning concentrate and reusable spray bottle. Everything from Grove Co is sustainable, cruelty-free, and made with 100% natural fragrances so you can feel good having it in your home. 

Grove Co Traditions Aglow Collection ($103.84)—Buy Here!

L’AVANT Collective

flat lay of grey, white, and black non-toxic cleaning products
L'AVANT Collective

With L’AVANT Collective, you can now have effective non-toxic cleaning products that you’ll actually be proud to display on the counter. Their line, with packaging design that's downright dreamy, is sustainable (they have refillable and glass options) and plant-based (they tell us that their dish soap is the first plant-based soap to beat the performance of a conventional soap in third party testing). Choose from dish soap, multi-purpose cleaner, hand soap, biodegradable wipes, and bundles. They also offer a subscription service so you can set it and forget it.

L'AVANT Collective—Shop Here!

HealthyBaby

HealthyBaby

If you consult EWG before making purchases, you’ll love HealthyBaby. Their cleaning and laundry systems are both EWG-verified. Their cleaning system is a concentrate and with each 34 oz. bottle you can make up to 16 bottles of hand soap, 16 bottles of baby dish soap, or 16 bottles of surface spray, which saves so many plastic bottles per year (it comes with a reusable stainless steel container). HealthyBaby's laundry system also comes in a 34 oz. bottle, which makes up to 170 loads of laundry (you simply pump once or twice directly into your washer). Both are free of toxins and harsh chemicals typically found in common household products and detergent. Bonus: HealthyBaby also offers diapers, wipes and a skincare line, all EWG-approved and healthy and effective for your littlest littles.

HealthyBaby Cleaning System ($60.00)—Buy Here!

MomRemedy

MomRemedy

The name of this brand pretty much says it all. This mom-approved remedy was created by New Hampshire mama, Jen Cosco, who created her line of sustainable cleaning sprays and wipes after finding it challenging to find cleaning products she felt comfortable using around her own kids and pets. MomRemedy’s line includes zero waste reusable wipes in glass jars and cleaning spray and stain remover bottles. The brand also has reusable glass bottles to help reduce environmental impact even further. Expect to find effective, non-toxic and a biodegradable formula that is dye-, sulfate- and paraben-free.

MomRemedy—Shop Here!

TrulyFree Clean Start Cleaning Kit

TrulyFree

TrulyFree offers non-toxic, fragrance-free cleaning products that come in minimally-packaged refills so your environmental impact is greatly reduced. Your first shipment comes with the bottles, jugs, and cleaning solution, so all you need are the refill concentrates in future orders. They offer products for all over your home, too. Laundry, kitchen, bathroom, and more.

TrulyFree Clean Start Cleaning Kit ($49.00)—Buy Here!

arbOUR

arbOUR

arbOUR’s formulas are the best of both worlds: stronger than standard eco-friendly cleaners and naturally safe for everyone and everything important to you—your kids, pets, plants, and the environment. They work to adapt the latest professional innovations for household use to create cleaning products that are eco-effective (not just eco-friendly) because cleaners that don’t work just make more work and more waste for everyone, right? 

arbOUR Everyday Spray ($9.00)—Buy Here!

All the products listed are independently & personally selected by our shopping editors.

If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation. Prices and availability reflect the time of publication.

All images courtesy of retailers.

We all know it goes: that shiny and new backpack becomes a little worse for wear after a few months of riding on the bus, being dragged along the halls and getting chucked on the playground. If it’s still in decent shape, but covered with mystery stains, we have good news. You can totally clean your kid’s backpack. And prevent it from getting too darn gross, too. Here’s how to clean, disinfect and refresh that backpack! 

How to Machine Wash Your Backpack

iStock

Yes, most likely you can wash it in the washing machine (unless it’s leather or has leather or suede trim/bottom, in which case you'll want to use a hand-washing method). Use a gentle cycle and and use your regular laundry detergent, but don't use very much detergent. Here's the real trick, though: place the backpack inside a pillowcase or washable laundry bag. Make sure the pillowcase is tied at the top. Be sure and spot clean (see below) any tough mystery stains before machine-washing.

Let it air dry. Be sure and open all pockets and compartments to let it dry out thoroughly.

Don’t put it in the dryer. Strange things will happen.

Tip: Make sure you empty the backpack of all notes, chewed up pens, half-eaten apples, fidget spinners, tiny erasers shaped like food or any other items.

How to Hand-Wash Your Backpack

Unsplash

Fill a tub or sink with lukewarm water and use a mild soap or detergent directly in the water. Before you submerge your backpack, make sure you’ve cleaned it out entirely and spot treated any tough spots.

If you have a Jansport backpack with a suede bottom or leather bottom use this method minus the detergent. 

Submerge the bag in the water and “agitate” slightly to get it clean. Use an old toothbrush to scrub the zippers, mesh areas and embroidered threads.

Once you’ve washed it, drain the soapy water and refill with clean water to rinse.

Soak in clean water and then squeeze out as much water as you can. 

Air dry. 

Tip: Keep the backpack tidier by tossing in snacks that won’t spill out of their packaging and rub into the bottom or inner lining. It also helps to provide snacks you know they will actually devour like these Jif® Power Ups our editors (and their kids) love. 

How to Spot Clean & Disinfect

little boy going to school with a backpack
iStock

Use a tiny bit of detergent in water and spot clean with a clean sponge.

Use an old toothbrush to scrub the zippers, mesh areas and embroidered threads.

For really tough spots, try a spot-cleaning stick or stain remover.

Don’t let the mixture of detergent or stain remover dry out before rinsing it off with clean water or washing the bag using one of the methods above.

Tip: If your kiddo’s pack has been exposed to something like Athlete’s foot or another fungus, or you can just tell it is extra funktastic (your PE shorts have been in there how long??) use a spot cleaning method as above but sub in a disinfectant like Pine-Sol (never use bleach).

 

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If you are tired of buying toxic chemicals to clean your home, you can easily DIY homemade cleaners using the recipes below.

Non-Toxic Cleaners for the Bathroom

1. DIY Hand Soap
With the current pandemic raising havoc worldwide, I always do everything humanly possible to keep my kids safe. This means preparing an effective and non-toxic hand soap for them to use every day when they come home from school or after using the toilet.

For non-toxic hand soap, you need to fill 25% of the soap dispenser with liquid or grated castile soap and then top it up with water. Mix it well and place it in the bathroom for everyone to use after visiting the toilet or getting home.

2. Disinfectant
Despite being where we clean our bodies, the bathroom floors are prone to bacteria infestations; therefore, Eco Peanut recommends that you disinfect them regularly. And being an environmentally conscious parent, you can prepare a simple yet effective disinfectant for your floor using simple ingredients like lime, lemon, lime peels and white vinegar. Mix 0.24 liters of white vinegar, lime peels, juice of one lime and juice of one lemon and 0.24 liters of water. Mix this well and spray it on the bathroom floor and then rinse it after a few minutes.

3. DIY Toilet Cleaner
For the toilet, I have two solutions (heavy-duty and mellow cleaners) that I prepare for specific types of cleaning. The mellow cleaner keeps the toilet clean daily, while the heavy-duty formula helps with stain removal.

4. Mellow Cleaner Recipe for Toilets
To prepare this mellow toilet cleaner, you need to mix 0.24 liters of white vinegar, half a cup of baking soda, and one and a half teaspoons of tea tree essential oil, lavender, grapefruit or orange essential oils. Mix it well before cleaning your toilet. This DIY toilet cleaner will leave your toilet clean and smelling nice.

5. Heavy-Duty Cleaner Recipe for Toilets
For a heavy-duty cleaner, you should mix 0.24 liters of white vinegar, ¾ cup of baking soda, five drops of lemon essential oils and 10 drops of lavender essential oils. Mix them well before scrubbing your toilet.

6. DIY Shower & Tub Cleaner
For the tub and shower, I also have two unique recipes that I use, one is for heavy-duty cleaning, and the other is for mellow cleaning.

Mellow Cleaning Recipe for Tubs & Showers: I always spray some white vinegar on the shower’s surfaces or the tub for mellow cleaning and let it sit for about half an hour before rinsing it.

Heavy-Duty Cleaning Recipe for Tubs & Showers: For deep cleaning, I mix half a cup of salt, washing soda, a cup of baking soda and five drops of lemon. Mix the mixture well and then sprinkle it on a damp floor and leave it for about 10 minutes before scrubbing and rinsing the floor.

Non-Toxic Cleaners for the Kitchen

7. DIY Clogged Sink Drain Cleaner
For clogged pipes, I have a simple yet effective formula that I learned from my grandmother. To unclog the sink drain, I always pour eight tablespoons of salt and eight tablespoons of baking soda down the drain. And then top it up with some water and let it sit for about three hours.

When dealing with a grim-clogging situation, I always leave the mixture in the drain overnight. And then repeat this process twice to clear the drain.

8. DIY Dishwasher Detergent
A huge percentage of dishwashing detergents have fragrances that trigger allergic reactions in allergy sufferers. So if any member of your family has allergies, you should try a DIY dishwasher detergent. Mix 0.24 liters of water with liquid castile soap and then add it to the first detergent compartment. Fill the other compartment with four teaspoons of lime or lemon juice and white vinegar.

9. DIY Countertop Cleaner
Instead of wasting a lot of cash on a branded cleaner with toxic chemicals, you can mix water and vinegar. If your countertops are not made from stone, granite or marble, then you can create a mixture containing one part water and one part vinegar and put it all in a spray bottle.

But for marble, granite and stone surface, you should mix 0.36 liters of water, 0.12 liters of rubbing alcohol, half a teaspoon of liquid castile soap and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Shake the mixture well and rub it gently on the surfaces using a cotton cloth.

Non-Toxic Cleaners for the Rest of the House

10. DIY Furniture Polish
For non-wood furniture, I  mix 0.18 liters of olive oil with 0.6 liters of vinegar and apply the mixture to the furniture. This all-purpose cleaner works perfectly with a wide range of materials except for wooden surfaces.

For wooden surfaces, you need 0.96 liters of hot water, three teaspoons of white vinegar and six teaspoons of olive oil. Apply this mixture to wood surfaces and wipe gently using a cotton cloth.

11. DIY Floor Cleaner
For my floor, all I need is a mixture of warm water and three teaspoons of washing soda and I am good to go. After cleaning the floors, I always apply a mixture of white vinegar and olive oil in certain parts of the house and then rub it to create a shiny thin coat.

12. DIY Mirror & Window Cleaner
For my windows, I mix 5 parts water, 1 part white vinegar, squeeze some juice from half a lemon and some lemon peels in my spray bottle. Shake the mixture well before washing all the windows and mirrors in the house. You can spread the mixture all over the window using a cotton cloth or sponge.

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I am an environmentalist who loves to share knowledge about sustainable living and how to save our lovely planet! 

Whitney Popa

Whitney Popa is a Communications Consultant in the PNW who loves good books and bad TV.

I kneeled on the floor of our son’s nursery, my big belly resting on my thighs, as I folded tiny onesies and sweatpants, lifting up each piece to inspect it and sniff it, breathing in that sweet Dreft mixture of baby powder and potential. Each pile was arranged by size and type, and I was pleased with myself—for my organization, and for my forethought. Our baby would be the best dressed baby on the block and his small, cool guy clothes would be laundered with their own special products and process. Only the best for my man!

By the time our daughter arrived two years later, I was buying baby-specific bath and laundry products for them and many bulk cleaning supplies from Costco. That is, until our daughter started getting car sick.

At least once a week, even on a ten minute drive to the freeway entrance, our daughter would throw up her latest meal, all over herself and her car seat. My husband would strip the seat and hose down the inner plastic, his nose scrunched as he investigated to ensure he didn’t miss a drop of puke. We’d wash the cover and pads in our Kirkland detergent and hang it all to dry. As soon as I’d climb into the car, I’d feel a pounding headache begin to form right above my eyebrows. I’d drive with the windows down to help the air circulate, knowing I had to make some big changes.

I am a fan of The Bachelor franchise, so I jokingly started talking about my “Clean Product Journey” on Instagram. I had already converted to Tubby Todd for everything kid bath-related and was slowly working through my beauty products, but I hadn’t considered our dishwasher pods or Clorox wipes or detergents—not even my beloved Dreft. From our daughter’s 4th or 5th car barf, it was on: my journey would end in—at minimum—a new long-term relationship with products that were both clean and not overly crunchy. I would become a hippie, a fancy one—a fancy hippie who likes light smells and decent price points.

The items you see here have been deeply and lovingly researched, often with support from the Environmental Working Group website, which rates products on their toxicity. I’m pleased with where I am on my journey and glad I get to share my progress, but I’m far from done. Hope they help!


1

Aspen Clean Natural Laundry Detergent Lavender & Lemongrass

A non-toxic detergent that is SCENTED. It exists!

$21.99

This is one of the few EWG-verified laundry detergents that has any scent, and it smells like a lavender and lemongrass wafting in to your window on a warm afternoon. I get it on Subscribe and Save from the company, along with their dishwasher pods.

BUY NOW

2

Tubby Todd The Regulars Bundle

Tubby Todd has a cult following for good, clean reasons!

$40

Any mommy Facebook group will tell you we swear by Tubby Todd's All Over Ointment (AOO) for all things eczema and dry skin-related. Their bubble bath, shampoo, conditioner, detangler, body lotion and thicker Dream Cream are daily go-tos at our house. I even got a bottle of bubble bath for myself so I wouldn't have to keep taking one out of our kids's bathroom!

BUY NOW

3

L'Avant Collective Biodegradable Cleaning Wipes

Who knew cleaning wipes could be this pretty?

$8

I learned from the L'Avant ladies (two moms from Seattle with six kids between them) that most cleaning wipes are made of plastic. Their Multipurpose Wipes are not only powered by plants, but also 100% biodegradable. Score one for us, and one for the environment!

BUY NOW

4

Puracy All Purpose Spray (Two-Pack)

An All Purpose spray that's endorsed by Bravo? Okay!

$14.49

I've tried a lot of sprays, you guys. Like, so many sprays. I keep coming back to this one. It leaves NO streaks, doesn't give me headaches, and has a nice scent that I don't mind smelling all over the house, even in the kitchen where I prefer citrus. It's also nice that I can get it with a quick trigger finger Amazon Subscribe & Save, but I've seen it at Target too.

BUY NOW

5

Raw Sugar Simply Hand Wash Raw Coconut + Mango

A cold-pressed hand soap that doesn't strip your skin.

$4.99

We're all washing our hands a lot more these days and that can strip out moisture. Raw Sugar makes the only soaps I've found that don't dry out my hands. Plus, they look and smell great! The Coconut + Mango is my go-to, but I love all the scents they have and keep Lemon Sugar in the kitchen.

BUY NOW

6

Parasol Clear+Pure Baby Wipes (600-ct)

Better for babies than Honest or Water Wipes.

$40.98

Honest and Water Wipes are marketed as super pure, but they're actually not as pure as these wipes are. This is another Amazon Subscribe & Save item I get for us that's a little pricier than the others, but worth it for sensitive baby booties. Plus, I use them on their faces, too, and haven't seen any little rashes like I did wiping with the others. The price goes way down if you subscribe.

BUY NOW

7

Tubby Todd Dream Cream

Your antidote to dry hands!

$16

Dream Cream deserves its own spotlight because it is so deliciously moisturizing. I get a weird patch of dry skin on my right pointer finger every year when the weather gets colder and Dream Cream, with its shea base, is one of the few lotions that can combat it. We love it so much that I got an extra tube for husband to lather on his dry hands throughout the day. The scent is light and very gender-neutral.

BUY NOW

8

Wool Dryer Balls Laundry 6-Pack-100% Organic New Zealand Wool

Time to get on the dryer ball bandwagon!

$19.99

I've been using dryer balls for a handful of years and I love knowing that I'm not burning chemicals into our clothes with dryer sheets. I put a drop of essential oils on them (I like Saje blends) in the dryer and let them do their thang. They do get caught up in our clothes when we take loads out, and I like to huck them back into the laundry room and see how successful I am at making my shots. Our kids have fun throwing them back, too!

BUY NOW

9

Ecos, Dish Mate Bamboo Lemon

Nice suds, fights grime, and plant-based—oh, yeah!

$3.99

My first deep product research journey was for dish soap. I spent at least a year looking for something that smelled citrus-y, was clean, had good bubbles, fought grime, and didn't dry out my hands. Ecos has been the far and away clear winner so far. I find it on Amazon (fulfilled by Whole Foods) and at other similar fancy grocery stores. When I can't find it, my backup is the dish soap from Trader Joe's.

BUY NOW

10

Tubby Todd Bubble Bath

The only bubble bath my husband says isn't whack.

$15

If you're like me, at the end of a long day, you might want to grab a glass of wine and soak in the tub while you watch bad TV on the iPad. It's important that when you take those baths, the bubbles are nice and fluffy and stick around. Enter: Tubby Todd. I tried a bunch of bubble baths at various price points when our toddlers were smaller and nothing compared to this stuff. It's also hydrating and great for sensitive skin! Treat yourself to this—it'll change your baths for good.

BUY NOW

During pregnancy, expectant mothers go above and beyond to ensure the health and safety of their unborn children. Everything comes under diligent scrutiny, from what they eat to what skincare products they use and everything in between. If you’re expecting, this probably sounds very familiar to you! What is unfamiliar to pregnant women everywhere, however—regardless of whether this is their first pregnancy—is the “X factor” of the coronavirus pandemic.

How can you protect yourself and your pregnancy during the COVID-19 outbreak? Here are some essential things to add to your pregnancy-care regimen and protect your pregnancy with these 5 tips.

 

1. Get a pulse oximeter: Hypoxemia (a below-normal level of oxygen in your blood) is one of the signs of serious illness with COVID-19. You can pick up a pulse oximeter for around $50 and take regular readings of your pulse and oxygen saturation. Get a baseline so that you know if something looks off. A baseline for healthy people is 90 or higher. When we see below 90, we start getting concerned.

2. Check for fever: Whether you have a fancy new thermometer that reads from the forehead or an old-school glass one where the mercury rises, take your temperature regularly to make sure you aren’t experiencing a fever.

3. Keep surfaces tidy for easy cleaning: Keeping tidy may not seem like a health tip for pregnancy, but in the days of COVID-19 it absolutely is. You want the surfaces in your home to be able to easily be wiped down and disinfected frequently—at least once a day.

4. If you choose to travel, choose safely: For example, you might choose to visit a loved one in a remote rural town with few to no COVID-19 cases, but don’t travel somewhere that you’ll be interacting with a lot of people. 

5. Keep your distance: How close is too close? Can you smell the other person’s detergent, deodorant, or shampoo? That’s too close! And for some extra protection when you are going to be around other people, wear a mask. It’s an additional safety measure that can only help you and your baby.

Along with the healthy eating and label reading you’re already doing, adding these tips as “must-dos” to your pregnancy care will help you protect the health and safety of your unborn child. Plus, it will also help you to breathe easier and relax into your pregnancy as much as you can. Knowing you’re creating the safest, happiest, and healthiest environment for yourself and your baby will provide some comfort and peace of mind during this uncertain time in history.

 

 

Dr. Alan Lindemann
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

An obstetrician and maternal mortality expert, “Rural Doc” Alan Lindemann, M.D. teaches women and families how to create the outcomes they want for their own health and pregnancy. In nearly 40 years of practice, he has delivered around 6,000 babies and achieved a maternal mortality rate of zero! Visit LindemannMD.com

While vacation plans have drastically changed this year families are still looking to get away. Parents have relied on Totts to deliver needed supplies to their destination. Now Totts is learning how to serve families in a new way by offering a new Safe Travels Kit

Totts takes care of all the consumables you need for your trip so you don’t need to tote around those bulky diaper and wipes packages. They also will send those little things that pile up like detergent, body wash and hand sanitizer. 

Totts created a comprehensive package of the most trusted brands for each stage. Packages are developed based on age and length of stay. Packages are delivered to your hotel or vacation rental just in time for your arrival so you are never without necessary supplies. 

This summer, Totts has updated safety procedures in accordance with CDC guidelines and will continue to offer boxes of select items focused on safety and curated for your family’s trip. Based on availability, the Totts site and product pages will be updated frequently to reflect what’s in stock.

Totts Safe Travels Kit

The new Safe Travels kit retails for $19.99 and includes:

  • Clorox Disinfectant Wipes
  • Hand Sanitizer
  • Sensitive Hand Wipes 
  • Adult and Child Size Masks
  • Gloves
  • Alcohol Device Wipes

For more information, visit Totts.co

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Totts

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What’s better than snuggling with your baby in a cozy carrier? Snuggling with your sweet babe and then restoring the carrier for a new family who needs it!

What Is Everlove?

Parent-trusted brand ​Ergobaby​ has recently launched an amazing buyback, restore, and resell program. It’s called ​Everlove and it’s the first of its kind, offering families the opportunity to either send in their no-longer-needed carrier for a gift card, or buy a pre-loved one at a discount. The result is a win-win for families everywhere, and major points for the environment as the Everlove program is estimated to save up to 96% of energy use, 95% of water use, and 84% of CO2 emissions for each carrier. And it’s no surprise that this kind of innovative thinking is coming from the first and only to company to introduce a lifetime warranty — the ErgoPromise Guarantee.

How Does It Work?

Families can simply send in an Ergobaby carrier and then choose from a $50 gift card to Ergobaby.com, a $20 gift card to a retailer of their choice, or a $30 donation made on their behalf to Baby2Baby. Anyone who purchases one of these premium, pre-owned pieces of baby gear can rest assured that the carrier has passed a 30-point inspection for maximum quality and durability, plus a sustainable and baby-safe deep cleaning process. The result is an Ergobaby that’s as good as new.

What if My Carrier Is Dirty?

Don’t fret if your Ergobaby has been on the receiving end of some serious baby bodily fluids. Carriers in need of a little extra oomph are pre-treated with a citrus-based detergent that leaves behind no residual moisture or scents. They’ll be sure that a new family receives a safe, snug and long-lasting carrier that boosts baby-caregiver bonding.

Mom2Mom

It’s not just the carrier you can pass along. Each family that sells their Ergobaby carrier through Everlove is asked to leave a story, words of encouragement, a small note or a memory for the new owners. The new family just looks up the unique ID number stamped on their Ergobaby to read it.

Pass It On

There’s a lot of reasons to participate in the Everlove program, but we think the best part is knowing that a new family will get lots of love and use out of you and your sweet babe’s carrier. And that Ergobaby can go on a new set of adventures.

Everlove by Ergobaby is building its inventory and getting ready to spread the love. The online shop will launch in late Spring 2020. So get a jumpstart on spring cleaning and send yours in to find a new family!

To learn more about the program, visit ergobaby.com/everlove.

Ergobaby will match the first 100 carriers sent in with a baby carrier donation to Baby2Baby! BABY2BABY provides children living in poverty, ages 0-12 years, with diapers, clothing and all the basic necessities that every child deserves.

—Whitney C. Harris

Photo: Courtesy of Julia Thompson and Joe Wagner

Families facing the devastating diagnosis like pediatric cancer are quickly catapulted into the world of pediatric oncology, and for their friends and extended families, it’s only natural to want to help. But beyond delivering the occasional meal, what else can be done? The answer? A lot. Especially with modern technology, and social support portals like Give InKind.

Why Support Matters

Fighting cancer takes time and money (or at least insurance, and often still, additional money). Taking care of a child with cancer is a full-time job. Unfortunately, keeping life-saving medical insurance also requires a full-time-job. So what’s a working family to do? Many families go from two paychecks to one, in order to have one full-time caregiving parent. But this leaves financial, emotional, and time and energy gaps.

Who takes the family’s other kids to school? Who cooks dinner, prepares lunches, cleans the house, walks the dog, picks up the mail, and manages the household when one parent is caring for their sick kid and the other is working full time? This is where the community comes in.

How Can You Help?

Set up a Give InKind campaign for the family and include items in their wish list they’ll actually use. You can even let the family request specific services at specific times on their calendar, and coordinate community care when it matters most. (There’s only so much lasagna one can use). Here are some things you can get and do for these families that will help make a difference.

  1. Hospital Stay Care Packages: For parents staying with their sick kid in the hospital, bring them the comforts of home. Their favorite mug. Fuzzy comfortable slippers with grips on the bottom. Extra throw blankets to stay warm. A favorite toy for the sick child. Lip balm. Lotion. Detergent packets so they can wash their clothes in the sink or the laundry at the hospital. Tea. Favorite snacks, and more.
  2. Visit and Take The Parent for a Walk: Especially for parents with a critically ill child, visit and offer to take the parent for a walk outside, even if only for a few minutes. Listen if they want to talk, or be comfortable walking in silence. 
  3. Indulge the Caregiving Parent in a Spa Day: It’s hard to think about your own needs or even things you want when you’re fighting for your sick kid. Buy the parent a gift card to the day spa, or their favorite salon, or other luxury experience. If you live near them, take them with you for an afternoon. 24/7 caregivers need a break.
  4. Take the Siblings Out for the Day: If the sick child has siblings, they’re probably ready for a day out. Take them to see a movie, or the park, or an amusement park. Their parents have been preoccupied for a while and they need some love and attention too. Find an activity they want to do and go do it.
  5. Bring the Art: Art can be healing both mentally and physically. Ask whether there are crafts that can be purchased that help ease the effects of their specific type of cancer and treatment. For example, radiation can lead to peripheral neuropathy (a dulling of nerves in the extremities.) Certain crafts that promote fine motor skills can be restorative. Ask whether an occupational therapist can make specific suggestions. Find a DIY kit that may fit the bill.
  6. Shop for the Family, or Pay for the Food: Get specific shopping list items for the family and go shopping for them. If you’re remote, have these foods delivered, or at least get gift cards to local markets. Caring for an ill child is expensive. Feeding an ill child is difficult and shopping takes up time parents need to be with their kid.
  7. Walk the Dog: If the family has pets, offer to visit regularly to take the dog for a walk, or clean the cat box, or the birdcage.
  8. Water Plants: Gardening and yard work are the least of the family’s worries right now. Offer to water the plants weekly, or find a service who can.

Above all, keep checking in. Bills, stress, and fear linger long after the cancer resolution. Go ahead and keep asking: what can I do to be helpful?

This post originally appeared on Give InKind.

Give InKind is an intelligent social support platform that helps friends and family coordinate tangible, financial, and emotional support for those who need it. Our custom Care Calendar + Wishlist + Fundraising in one free tool is making support simple. From new babies to cancer support, Give InKind.

Chowing down on samples at Costco may be one of your guilty pleasures, but visiting the big box retailer and lugging the goods home with the kids in-tow may not always be in the cards. The next time you’re running low on household essentials, stock up with Boxed, an online retailer that sells items in bulk, shipping it all directly to your doorstep. Read on to find out more about this service that will save you time and money.

What Is Boxed?
Think of Boxed as any other online retailer that ships what you need to your doorstep when you need it. The difference with Boxed is that they sell items in bulk, similar to the big box retailers that have brick and mortar stores. Unlike many of those stores, Boxed doesn’t require a membership so there’s no annual fee to take advantage of their service.

Brands and Goods Boxed Carries
From kid-friendly snacks to beverages to household essentials like toilet paper and Mrs. Meyers dish soap to baby products like Pampers and Plum Organics pouches, Boxed carries it all—and at wholesale prices. With no minimum order, you can buy exactly how much you need when you need it. Below are a few products and prices that caught our eye:

The Boxed website is easily searchable via category from snacks to household essentials to baby and even pets.

Good-to-Know Tips:

Receive free two-day shipping on all orders over $49

They often have weekly or seasonal sales so check their website or app to see what’s trending.

There is no membership fee, though you do need to create an account with your email address before accessing the site.

You can choose up to two free samples with every order.

Shopping for a group or want to invite your partner in to add goods? Group ordering lets you create a shareable list where everyone can add their products, but only you—the creator of the list—has the power to place the actual order.

Boxed has an app for easy shopping on the go.

Online: Boxed.com

—Erin Lem

Featured photo: Pexels; photos in post: Boxed website

* retail price comparisons taken from the Boxed website

 

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In this parenting age, plastic is still everywhere, from the single-use water bottle to the toys that light up little worlds. But we don’t want plastic in the spin cycle or polluting our waterways. Thanks to Dropps and their eco-friendly, plant-based ingredients, you can trust you’re washing your family’s clothes in the most sustainable, safe and effective way possible. Plus, their laundry detergent is delivered to your door in plastic free compostable packaging no less! Read on to discover what makes “every Dropps count.”

Fun fact: traditional liquid laundry detergents are usually packaged in high density polyethylene. 68% of these bottles are not recycled and contribute to the approximately 660 billion tons of plastic waste that goes into our oceans and waterways annually. By choosing Dropps, you’re taking one big step to stop polluting our earth and living a more sustainable lifestyle, in a way that makes sense for your life as a busy parent.

Special discount for Red Tricycle families until 6/30/19: Save 30% on your first order. Valid at dropps.com with Code: REDTRICYCLE. Save even more when you subscribe and save!

Inside Every Dropps
Really, we should start with what you won’t find inside these pods: from artificial dyes and chemical fragrances to chlorine and phosphates, Dropps excludes everything you don’t want for your family. What will you find? Plant-derived and hypoallergenic ingredients that are both biodegradable and safe for delicate skin and clothing. You can read the short, complete list of what’s in Dropps’ sensitive skin unscented laundry detergent right here (and it’s never tested on animals). No wonder Dropps was awarded the EPA Safer Choice Partner of the Year Award.

Cleaning Every Dropps
Just because Dropps is sustainable and eco-responsible, doesn’t mean it’s any less strong than other cleaning products on the market. From grass stained knees to crayon-covered sleeves, Dropps is powerful and effective for kid-induced messes. They even offer pods for sensitive skin, stains and odors, babies, and mini pods for small loads, handwashing and travel.

Outside Every Dropps
A decade ago, Dropps was the first laundry detergent company to introduce a liquid unit-dose pod to the market. With that sustainable innovation in mind, they are now the first to develop a recyclable, compostable package, making Dropps a zero-waste cleaning choice. The cardboard box that arrives on your doorstep contains exactly what need rather than more packaging that you don’t. Choosing Dropps for your family is one more way you can eliminate single-use plastic and spare our oceans and sea life. As for the pod itself, its membrane is biodegradable and water soluble (breaking down completely in about a month), meaning you won’t contaminate waterways on a micro-level either.

Savings with Every Dropps
When it comes to your laundry detergent, don’t overpour and overpay. Dropps passes on artificial colors and icky chemicals, and passes the savings to you. They offer powerful, perfectly dosed laundry and dishwasher detergent pods at just ½ the cost compared to leading brands. Whatever you need, Dropps has a product and plan that comes right to your door. Subscribe and save 20% on every order, or buy on the fly—it’s your choice.

Dropps are compatible with all washing machines, so go ahead and give them a spin. One pod per load dropped directly into your washer drum gets the job done. Visit dropps.com to meet the full Dropps product line including laundry detergents, fabric softeners, oxi booster pods and dishwasher detergent pods.

It all adds up to a safe and convenient way to make laundry one more sustainable practice in your day.

Special discount for Red Tricycle families until 6/30/19: Save 30% on your first order. Valid at dropps.com with Code: REDTRICYCLE. Save 20% more when you subscribe and save!

— Jennifer Massoni Pardini

all photos courtesy of Dropps

Legal Disclaimer: Limit one redemption per customer. US and Canada only.