OUR JOURNEY

The Byrne Whanau

Kia Ora! I'm Michelle – Championing Safe, Natural Cleaning for Whanau

Welcome to my journey of creating safer, healthier homes. Living with my whanau in the heart of Taranaki, New Zealand, I’ve spent years exploring safe and sustainable cleaning solutions. This journey began during my pregnancy when I found myself scrubbing the shower with a store-bought cleaner, wondering, "Can this possibly be safe for me or my baby?"

From Concern to Change

Since then, I’ve developed sensitive skin and psoriasis, conditions aggravated by the toxic chemicals lurking in commercial cleaning products. This led me to question the ingredients in the products I was using—not just for cleaning but also for food. I realized much of what we’re sold is not only unhealthy but wrapped in unnecessary packaging and laced with harmful fillers.

The strong scents of the supermarket cleaning aisle now overwhelm me—proof of how my household has adapted to a more natural way of living. Many of these products are simply unnecessary, driven by commercialism rather than genuine need.

Inspiration from the Natural World

My journey has been inspired by incredible trailblazers:

• Wendyl Nissen, New Zealand author of The Natural Home, whose sustainable practices sparked my love for natural cleaning.

• Be Natural Soap, a local maker of pure Castile soap, which is a cornerstone of my cleaning recipes.

• Pigs Tits and Parsley Sauce, a passionate advocate for using simple staples like baking soda and vinegar to clean effectively and affordably.

The Hidden Dangers of Toxic Chemicals

The more I researched, the more shocked I became. Why are we sold cleaning products that come with emergency hotlines? These toxic, commercialized products convince us we need a different cleaner for every room in the house, exposing our families and pets to harm.

A Simple, Sustainable Alternative

I struggled to find bulk baking soda and vinegar locally, so I decided to source and repackage these essentials myself. After years of research and testing, I’ve developed simple, adaptable recipes for natural cleaning products that are:

• Non-toxic

• Greywater safe

• Free from harsh chemicals

All our ingredients are sourced from trusted suppliers to ensure quality and safety.

Our Commitment to Sustainability

At Your Home, Naturally, we prioritize reusing and recycling. We encourage the use of glass jars, spray bottles, and eco-friendly packaging to reduce waste and protect our environment.

Join Our Movement

In my Natural Cleaning Workshops, you’ll learn to create:

• Natural Cleaning Spray

• Natural Cleaning Paste

• Natural Window Cleaner

You’ll take these products home along with easy recipes to continue your sustainable journey. Plus, our eBook offers even more DIY cleaning solutions for your home.

Let’s Create a Safer Home Together

This isn’t just about cleaning—it’s about embracing a sustainable lifestyle that prioritizes health, family, and the environment. Join me in transforming your home into a sanctuary of natural, safe living.

Read more: The Natural Parenting Magazine

✨ Your Home, Naturally – Simple, safe, sustainable cleaning for every Kiwi home. ✨

Supporting Local: My Favourite Natural Beauty Product Recommendations.

When it comes to caring for my skin, hair, and body, I stick to natural, gentle, and sustainable products — but I’m happy to leave beauty product creation to the amazing local businesses I trust and admire! I get asked all the time to recommend natural beauty products. I’ve been on a journey to reduce toxins and embrace simplicity, and I’m always thrilled to support those who share these values. I love knowing that the products I use are handmade with care and kindness, right here in Taranaki, New Zealand.

If you’re looking for natural beauty products to complement your eco-friendly lifestyle, here are some of my top recommendations! These businesses craft beautiful products that are safe, effective, and made with love.

(We are in no way affiliated with any of the Small Businesses mentioned in this Blog, we simply appreciate them and their mahi and want to share about their amazing products.)

1. Shampoo and Conditioner Bars by Still Milly

For luscious locks without the waste, Still Milly is my go-to for shampoo and conditioner bars. Based in New Plymouth, Still Milly crafts quality bars that are gentle on hair and kinder to the environment. While the ingredients aren’t completely non-toxic, they’re far better than many commercial brands, making them a wonderful step towards cleaner beauty. Plus, they last so long and eliminate the need for plastic bottles!

Why I Love Still Milly:

- Locally made with care

- Low-waste and eco-friendly

- Better ingredients compared to many conventional products

2. Deodorant by Everkind

For a natural deodorant that truly works, I wholeheartedly recommend Everkind. These deodorants are handcrafted with organic ingredients and are free from harmful chemicals. While they are a little on the pricier side, they’re worth every cent. One tin can last nearly a year! I personally use the version *without baking soda* since it irritates my skin (oh, the irony!).

Why I Love Everkind:

- Effective and long-lasting

- Free from toxins and synthetic additives

- Locally crafted with sustainable practices

3. Facial Care by Neat

Though I haven’t yet tried it myself, I’ve heard glowing reviews about Neat for facial care products. This local brand is known for its commitment to natural ingredients and gentle formulations. If you’re looking for a simple and nourishing facial routine, Neat is a great choice to explore!

Why I’m Excited About Neat:

- Highly recommended for quality natural skincare

- Locally made with a focus on purity and simplicity

4. Hand and Body Wash with Be Natural Castile Soap

For a versatile and gentle hand and body wash, you can’t go wrong with Be Natural Castile Soap. These liquid soaps come in delightful scents like Lime & Peppermint or Sweet Orange & Lavender and are perfect for your Glass Foaming Soap dispenser. Made with natural ingredients and no harsh chemicals, they’re a simple way to keep your skin happy and healthy.

Why I Love Be Natural Castile Soap:

- Gentle on sensitive skin

- Made from natural, eco-friendly ingredients

- Perfect for the whole whanau

Why Supporting Local Matters

Choosing to support these local businesses isn’t just about the products themselves — it’s about nurturing a community that values sustainability, authenticity, and kindness. Every purchase helps a passionate maker thrive and encourages more mindful, eco-conscious practices.

By combining these trusted beauty products with your own homemade natural cleaning products from Your Home, Naturally, you’re creating a safer, cleaner, and more beautiful home for you and your whanau.

Ready to Explore More?

I’m always here to help on your journey to a more natural lifestyle. If you have any questions or need tips for sustainable living, feel free to reach out or join one of our Natural Cleaning Workshops to learn how to create safe, effective cleaning products for your home.

Wishing you a life full of love, joy, and natural goodness! ✨

Stay Connected:

- Email: michelle@yourhomenaturally.co.nz

- Workshops and Products: Visit us at local markets or explore our offerings online.

☀️ Here’s to a greener, cleaner life, naturally!

Embracing Natural Cleaning: Our Guide to Safe and Sustainable Homes

As parents we instinctively prioritize the well-being of our families. We carefully choose what we feed them, what they wear, and even the environments they play in. Yet, when it comes to cleaning our homes, we might overlook the impact of the products we use. In our quest to create a safe haven, it's crucial to consider how conventional cleaning agents can affect our loved ones and our environment.

The Heart of the Matter: Health and Safety

Think about it: we clean our homes to protect our families from germs and allergens, but many conventional cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that can do more harm than good. These substances can irritate skin, trigger allergies, and even lead to long-term health issues. As a parent, it’s vital to ensure that the spaces where our children play and our pets roam are free from harmful toxins.

By opting for natural cleaning products, such as good old-fashioned baking soda, vinegar, and castile soap, you’re choosing safety. These ingredients are not only effective but also gentle on the environment and your family. Baking soda is a powerful deodorizer and abrasive cleaner, vinegar cuts through grease and grime, and castile soap can tackle everything from kitchen surfaces to laundry.

Nurturing the Environment

The environment is our shared home, and as parents, we have a responsibility to nurture it for future generations. Conventional cleaning products often contain chemicals that can pollute waterways and harm wildlife. By making the switch to natural cleaning products, you’re contributing to a healthier environment.

• Imagine the impact of choosing a simple vinegar cleaner over a toxic chemical cleaner. Not only are you reducing waste and chemical runoff, but you’re also fostering a lifestyle that respects the environment. Your choice sets an example for your family, instilling values of sustainability and care for the environment.

Cost-Effective and Eco-Friendly Products

Creating a clean and safe home doesn’t have to break the bank. Natural cleaning products are often more affordable than their chemical-laden counterparts. With just a few simple ingredients, you can make effective cleaners that cost a fraction of store-bought options. Reusing spray bottles and glass jars to store your products saves costs too.

Here are a few easy recipes to get you started:

All-Purpose Cleaner: Natural Cleaning Spray

- 2 TBSN Castile Cleaning Soap

- 500ml Water

- Glass Spray Bottle 500ml

Mix the ingredients in a spray bottle, and you’ve got a versatile all purpose cleaner for countertops, sinks, walls, floors, carpet and more.

Toilet Cleaner

- Natural Cleaning Spray

- 2 TBSN Cleaning Grade Baking Soda

- 5 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil

- 4 TBSN Cleaning Grade Vinegar 9.9%

For my toilet, I spray all surfaces with Natural Cleaning Spray, then add 2 tablespoons (or more) of Baking Soda to the toilet bowl, with about 5-10 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil, give it a scrub. Wipe the surfaces of the toilet with a damp cloth.

Then add 4 Tablespoons (or more) of Cleaning Grade Vinegar 9.9% in the toilet bowl, and while it is fizzing I scrub again. Flush clean. If you have brown stains in your toilet bowl, over time this should disappear, or add a little more Baking Soda to help. You should be left with the clean smell of Tea Tree oil, a natural disinfectant, antiseptic, antiviral and antifungal.

Creating a Safe Haven

As a parent, your priority is to provide a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment for your family. By choosing natural cleaning products, you are not only safeguarding their health but also teaching them the importance of caring for themselves and the world around them.

Embrace the power of simple, natural ingredients in your cleaning routine. Your family will thank you, and so will the environment. Let’s make cleaning a positive, safe, and sustainable practice that benefits everyone. Together, we can create Your Home, Naturally spotless and filled with love and care.

THE MANY USES OF CLEANING GRADE VINEGAR 9.9%

Most people don’t realize that you need strong white vinegar to clean and disinfect. Most people use supermarket grade vinegar – this is food grade 4.5% strength designed to be consumed and not strong enough for cleaning and disinfecting.

Your Home, Naturally’s Cleaning Grade Vinegar 9.9% is very acidic – making it twice as strong as standard supermarket products. Our Vinegar is just as strong as bleach but without the toxins. It also cuts grease very well and acts as a deodoriser.

USE: Vinegar can be used as a window cleaner, shower cleaner, toilet cleaner, dishwasher rinse aid, fabric softener, microwave cleaner, drain unblocker and weed killer.

You can also tackle mold and mildew by adding Cleaning Grade Vinegar to spray bottle with a few drops of tea tree oil. Always wear gloves and a mask when cleaning mold, not because of the product you are using, but because of the harm that mold causes. Spray liberally, leave it to do its thing for 30 minutes and then scrub off with a cloth and warm water. Repeat the process if needed. (Vinegar is not to be used on grout or silicone, use Natural Cleaning Paste instead).

Use Cleaning Grade Vinegar NEAT for a disinfecting cleaner. You can spray it on your toilet for that extra disinfecting clean, leave on the surface for as long as possible before wiping away, or allow to air dry. Due to its high vinegar content, avoid use on grout, natural stone and silicone.

Cleaning Grade Vinegar can be used in the rinse-aid dispenser - it’s natural, safe to ingest, biodegradable and an easy switch to give your dishes some sparkle. Fill the rinse aid compartment with our vinegar and dilute by half with water. On completion of the load the hot steam may smell like vinegar - but the smell will dissipate as the contents dry. In addition to adding a bit of shine to your dishes the vinegar will act as a disinfectant and will prevent mineral scale build up within your machine.

Cleaning Grade Vinegar 9.9% can be used to keep concrete cracks weed free. For large weedy areas fill a spray bottle with Cleaning Grade Vinegar 9.9% and spray directly onto weeds.

Fabric Softener  – 2 Tbspns Cleaning Grade Vinegar 9.9% in the fabric softener compartment.

HOW NOT TO USE VINEGAR

Mixing Baking Soda with Vinegar! We often see DIY cleaning recipes mixing baking soda and vinegar together, then stored for later use. When you mix Baking Soda and Vinegar together it creates a chemical reaction making carbon dioxide. The fizzing part is when you need to immediately clean with these ingredients like unblocking a drain or cleaning the toilet. When the fizz is finished the baking soda and vinegar have neutralized each other, turning into water!

HOW TO CLEAN A MICROWAVE WITH CLEANING GRADE VINEGAR 9.9%

Exploding beans and splattered left-overs? The microwave is a kitchen appliance that accumulates food grime very quickly, so it is important to regularly clean this appliance to ensure your food tastes as good as it should.

There are many different methods and products available to clean a microwave, but cleaning grade vinegar is easy, safe and cheap. Steam cleaning a microwave with cleaning grade vinegar gets the job done with minimal effort. This is because white vinegar is very acidic, making it a great natural cleaning product. The acidity means it can tackle microwave dirt and grime easily. Together with steam, cleaning the microwave with white vinegar makes it less of chore.

What you will need:

• Cleaning Grade Vinegar 9.9%

• Microwavable bowl or jug

• Damp cloth

 Cleaning the Microwave:

1.      Take the microwave safe bowl or jug and add 200ml of Cleaning Grade Vinegar 9.9% followed by 100ml of water.

2.     Place the bowl or jug into the microwave. Then microwave on full power for 5 minutes, you will notice the liquid beginning to boil.

3.    Once the 5 minutes is up, leave the microwave door closed for around 3 minutes. Keeping the door closed will trap the steam inside. This will help to loosen the burnt-on food grime.

4.     Carefully open the microwave door and remove the bowl or jug. The solution will be very hot, so wear a glove or oven mitt. If your microwave has removable parts such as a turntable, remove this too.

5.     Use a damp cloth to wipe the inside of the microwave, starting from the roof, down to the sides and door. The grime should wipe away easily due to the steam, however burnt-on grime may require a little more elbow grease.

6.     Then clean the turntable and dry off with a tea towel.

7.     Use a clean dry cloth to buff the microwave dry, then place all the removable parts back and you are good to go.

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A Sustainable Journey

A sustainable journey to a natural home takes time and a transition period. As you slowly change over to natural cleaning products you will find they work a little differently and you have to adjust your thinking to refilling or reusing your containers and bottles.

Natural Cleaning Products have been around for a very long time. We have lost the knowledge and understanding of how to use them. They have been replaced by manmade, synthetic ingredients at a cost to our health and the environment.

Have you every wondered why environmentally friendly cleaning products seem slightly less effective when compared to stock standard cleaning products readily available on the supermarket shelves?

It's because natural cleaning products are not full of harsh chemicals designed to strip away everything! There are so many products that fill the supermarket shelves that we have known and trusted for years. However, did you ever read the label and does it actually tell you the ingredients? Probably not or if it does list the ingredients it is unlikely that we understand them. Sometimes the first ingredient is water, you are paying a lot of money for water. Plus each time you buy those products you are buying another plastic bottle that ends up in the landfill. Most of the ingredients are highly toxic chemicals that are unnecessary and they are so commercialised, we are told that we need a different product for each part of our home. This isn’t true. We are exposing our skin, our bodies, and our pets to these toxic chemicals that are causing harm over time.

We would rather use products that are not going to effect our health and our environment long term. There is an alternative that is environmentally friendly, saves money, and saves your health. Here at Your Home, Naturally, our products are grey waste safe, non-toxic and have less harsh chemicals. I have sourced all of the natural ingredients from quality suppliers.

We do our part by providing products that are sustainable, simple and natural. In reusable packaging, creating less waste and less impact on the environment.

Natural cleaning products work. Let’s rebuild our trust in them with knowledge and understanding of how they work and how to use them. Come to a workshop to find out more!

Contact Michelle when you are ready to learn more!

Sustainability in Your Home, Naturally

When starting your sustainable journey in your home we advise that you start small and make a new habit, one product at a time.

Here is a basic list of 20 ideas to get you started!

1. Reduce, reuse, recycle.

2. Swap your plastic toothbrush for a bamboo toothbrush.

3. Rip up old worn out clothing for cleaning rags.

4. Open your windows to cool down your home or air it out daily.

5. Use Beeswax Wraps to keep your food fresh in the fridge.

6. Wash clothes when they are actually dirty, instead of after only one wear.

7. Try to avoid palm oil.

8. Switch to environmentally friendly dish washing liquid.

9. Don’t leave your house without a full reusable stainless steel water bottle.

10. Use Be Natural Soap in your Glass Foaming Soap Bottle - return the empty bottle of soap for a refill.

11. Start a backyard compost.

12. Learn to regrow kitchen scraps - Spring Onion is easy!

13. Reuse containers, refill Glass Bottles where ever possible.

14. Line dry a load instead of using the dryer.

15. Always run a full dishwasher or load of clothes.

16. Commit to bringing your reusable bags to the store. If you don’t have them, turn around and go get them! After forgetting them once, you won’t do it again.

17. Ditch sponges in lieu of compostable pot scrubbers or dish brushes.

18. Check out your local farmers market.

19. Learn how to make your own natural cleaning products at a workshop! It’s easy!

20. Beware of greenwashing, and always do your research - read the labels!

Our Sustainable Home & Living range is a great place to start your journey to creating a more sustainable home naturally. Otherwise have a look at Plastic Free July.