When the Pandemic Pushed Us into a Clean Innovation Frenzy
Picture this: You’re stuck at home, raking through endless “how‑to” videos and suddenly realize your entire household—pets and all—has become a tinderbox for chemical reactions. That was the perfect storm that birthed Family Keep Clean.
The Allergy Aftermath
- I got hit hard by a nasty illness and, upon leaving the hospital, discovered a new enemy: every chemical in household products. Even a fresh shirt could trigger a rash that lasted weeks.
- Natural fabrics became our only salvation: silk, linen and bamboo or a deep sigh of despair.
- Every soap, cleaner or sanitizer I touched left my skin feeling like a lawn mower’s unexpectedly itchy drift.
The Pitch‑Perfect Pandemic Boost
COVID‑19 had us sanitizing everything from the doorknob to our dogs’ noses. Two giants—Panther and Storm—were, frankly, shedding like an over‑excited squirrel on a treadmill.
- Their itchy coats made them perfect test subjects for a No‑Chem experiment.
- Every time we sprayed a chemical cleaner, we’d add a dramatic sigh, because the Latin American stench of soap seemed to linger for days.
The Great Sanitizer Search Heist
We scoured the web for “natural” solutions, but:
- All products had one sad trait: they were high‑budget, high‑chemical.
- Key ingredient lists read like a recipe for a toxic cocktail.
- We’d run out of sanitizer with the first big boom of a national shortage (yes, 2020 had a “no sanitizer zone”).
Lab‑Like Trials, Real‑World Wins
So we turned into “mad scientists.” We tested natural extracts—essential oils, baking soda, apple cider vinegar—into the most stylish glass gallon bottles. Our first small‑scale trial? A haltingly gorgeous spray that left no sticky, stinky residue, and, most importantly, your hands feel like fresh laundry.
All the Buzz It Attracted
Friends who tried our new cleaner cried, “Finally something that doesn’t turn my skin into a rash party!” The hype grew; even the kids’ friends’ friends kept asking for a bottle.
All of this led to a simple truth: when you’re forced into a crisis, creativity pops like the best popcorn kernel when the heat is right.
