Spring Cleaning: Non Toxic Cleaning for a Healthier Home

Spring Cleaning:  Protect Your Health While Amping Up Your Cleaning Power!

Have you ever wondered what your household cleaning products may be doing to your health?  If you have, you are not alone. “We assume that our cleaning products are safe”  warns health and wellness author Jessie Sholl, “But, in fact, many popular household cleaners are dangerously toxic.”  This toxicity can tax your immune system and drive inflammation (a precursor to disease). Adding insult to injury, terms like “biodegradable”, "natural" and “unscented” can be misleading to consumers. But there are options out there.  It can even be fun to experiment with making your own natural cleaning products. When I was first introduced to this concept I have to admit I found it a bit overwhelming.  After all, old habits die hard.  But I have come to realize that learning how to pair your essential oils with cheap, natural substances like vinegar, borax, baking soda, or castile soap can be empowering... and kind of fun.  And you don't have to do everything at once. This issue is full of information and ideas.  Some of them I have tried and many of them I want to try.  So just spend some time with it. Pick one or two ideas that really appeal to you and give it a whirl! Happy Oiling!  ~Juli  5 Dangers Hiding in Your Cleaning Supplies   1.  Fragranced cleaning products, air fresheners, and scented toilet papers:  These products contain phthalates which are absorbed through inhalation and skin contact.  They are known to trigger migraines and asthma and disrupt hormone levels in your body.   What to try instead:  Ditch your Febreze and Glade!  Replace them with simple do-it-yourself deodorizing sprays. (See recipes below.)  "Defunk" a kitchen dishwasher by adding lemon oil to the detergent cup when you run a load.  OR see the "Dishwasher Defunk" recipe below.   {Click here} to learn how to make a simple, fragrant, "pthalate-free" furniture polish. 2.  "Antibacterial" anything:  The number one ingredient in antibacterial products is Triclosan.  The American Medical Association has found no evidence that Triclosan is making any of us healthier. In fact this chemical compound actually makes bacteria more antibiotic resistant. It is currently being investigated as a possible endocrine disruptor in the human body and is suspected to be a carcinogen. In 2016 the FDA banned Triclosan from hand and bar soap but it still lingers in other consumer products such as acne treatments, dish soap, body washes, and toothpaste.   What to try instead:  On Guard is your best friend in this regard.  Consider the following:  Sanitize your hands with a homemade solution of tap water and On Guard essential oil blend in {2 oz glass spray bottle}.   Try doTERRA's On Guard foaming hand wash. I keep a dispenser of it at each sink in my house. Replace your antibacterial dish soap with On Guard Cleaner Concentrate and use On Guard laundry detergent and toothpaste too! Apply melaleuca oil with a carrier oil to promote healthy skin, especially for the Acne prone.  (or you can use doTERRA's HD Clear essential oil infused products.  My son uses these and they are AMAZING!)   3.  Liquid fabric softener and dryer sheets:  These products contain quaternary ammonium compounds (or "quats"). This compound is (ironically) a known skin irritant in some people and suspected of contributing to many respiratory disorders.  The fragrances in these products are known hormone disrupters. What to Try Instead:  Soften your laundry naturally by adding 1/4 cup white vinegar and a few drops of melaleuca or lavender oil to your wash water. Try using reusable {woolen dryer balls} to fluff and separate laundry as it dries. Sprinkle a few drops of your favorite oil on the balls to infuse a pleasant fragrance as they spin. 4.  Window, kitchen, and multipurpose household cleaners:  These products contain butoxyethanol.   This compound is a known throat irritant and can contribute to narcosis, pulmonary edema, and severe liver and kidney damage when one is exposed to high levels.  Yet, shockingly, manufacturers are not required to disclose its use on their labeling.     What to try instead:  Clean windows with newspaper and white vinegar for a streak free shine. For kitchen and bathroom scouring tasks, stick to simple scouring products such as Bon Ami.  Or use the recipe at the end of this letter to concoct your own scouring powder.   Clean kitchen counters and doorknobs with a solution of tap water and 2 Tbsp On Guard Cleaner Concentrate in an {8 ounce glass bottle}.   5.  Oven cleaners and drain openers:  The active ingredient in these products is sodium hydroxide, more commonly known as lye.  It is extremely corrosive to skin and airways.   What to try instead:  Scour your oven with a paste made of baking soda, salt, vinegar, and lemon essential oil. Lemon oil is very effective at cutting grease and freshening a space.  The recipe for this paste is below. Clear drains with a {mechanical snaking tool}, or use the essential oil drain clearing recipe below.  Recipes... (Links for purchasing materials are provided.) Deodorizing Essentials "Spring Fling" Room Spray  20 drops each lemon, grapefruit and lime oils.  Fill spray bottle with distilled water. Cat-Box Clean Sprinkle lavender oil on floor then damp mop. Bathroom Bliss:  20 drops each lemon, lime, and lavender oils.  Fill spray bottle with distilled water. Shake before each use.  Fill your spray bottle 3/4 of the way with tap water.  Add 10-20 drops of each oil and top off with water.  Adjust oil amounts to account for size of bottle and strength of smell desired.  Shake before spraying. I keep an {8 oz glass spray bottle} of "Bathroom Bliss" in each bathroom.  It is amazing how well this works!  Want to try even more cool sprays?  {Check out this blog.}  She gets even jiggier with it, experimenting with things like Vodka and vanilla in her sprays!   "Dishwasher Defunk"  2 Tbsp {powdered citric acid} 5 drops lemon oil Place citric acid in detergent cup with the lemon oil.  Run the machine through an entire cycle while not loaded.  Natural Scouring Powder 1/2 cup baking soda 6 drops essential oil (lavender, rosemary, lemon, lime, or wild orange) 1/4 cup white vinegar Rinse sink or bathtub thoroughly.  Prepare scouring agent by combining baking soda and essential oils . Sprinkle the scouring agent over the surface.  Wet the surface thoroughly with 1/4 cup white vinegar. When fizzing stops scour the surface and rinse. Scouring agent can be premixed and stored in a mason jar.  Amount can be adjusted according to size of surface. Natural Carpet Shampoo 3 cups water 3/4 cup {Castile soap} 10 drops peppermint oil Combine ingredients in {glass spray bottle}. Apply liberally to carpet.  Rub and foam into carpet with damp sponge.  Let dry thoroughly and vaccuum.  Natural Oven Cleaner heatproof dish water 1 cup salt 1 cup baking soda 1 cup vinegar 10 drops lemon oil Fill heatproof dish with water and place in oven. Turn on heat and allow enough time for steam to loosen baked on grease.  Once the oven is cool, apply a paste of equal parts salt, baking soda, and vinegar (with 10 drops lemon oil).  Scour and rinse.   Drain Clearing Recipe 1 cup baking soda 10 drops lemon or grapefruit essential oil 1 cup white vinegar Pour ingredients down the drain in order.  Plug drain for 30 minutes then rinse.  Questions about essential oils?  Let me help!    Contact me here!