I'm a big believer in going herbal when it comes to cleaning house!
Most of the so-called “cleaning” products that are around the house are loaded with toxic chemicals that wreak havoc on our bodies. Take a look under your sink and plug your products into the Environmental Working Groups website and see how they rank in terms of healthiness! It's terrifying then completely empowering! You can then use their website as a guide to find replacements, or even better, make your own cleaners!
I'm so excited to share a few of my favorite natural cleaning methods with you! Changing the way we clean house has been huge in my health + well being. We noticed a difference with my breathing RIGHT away and our general attitude towards cleaning. The days of suiting up in gloves and a bandana over mouth and nose are long gone. No more light-headed from toxic fumes... 'open a window cause I'm going in!' Now it's all 'mmmm, that smells nice!' Essential oils give these DIY projects a big boost!
Essential Oils 101
Essential oils are aromatic substances are distilled or extracted from plants + fruits. They are thought to contain the prana (life force energy) of the plant and provide us with their magical therapeutic powers that we can use on + in our bodies and throughout our homes.
Different parts of the plants offer different properties:
Flowers: uplift spirits + calm hearts & minds + soothe the nervous system
Leaves: cleansing + clearing + healing
Roots: grounding (makes sense!) + nourishing + sedating
Resins: relieve pain + heal bodily tissues + remove impurities
Woods & Barks: imbue the qualities of structure & support + provide deep inner & outer healing
One way to fill your house with the healing influences of essential oils is simply to use a diffuser. Move it around the house, put it next to my your bed when reading- it's heavenly!
Two drops in the bathtub can make you feel like you are at the spa. Buy a pre-formulated spritzer or hydrosol and mist yourself + your sheets.
These are some of my faves:
Tea Tree – antibiotic + fungicide + very cleansing
Lavender – very safe! neutralizer + balances bacteria levels in air. This is THE essential oil to use if you're on a budget. You only need a little bit of the plant to get a lot of oil so it's a really cost effective way to begin adding essential oils to your world.
Lemon – uplifting + antiseptic + promotes mental clarity
Eucalyptus – space clearing + antiseptic + deodorizer
Rose – soothes the heart + reduces anger + enhances feeling of connection. Rose essential oil is decadent (and pricey)! It takes approximately 30 rose buds to produce 1 drop of essential oil!
When I first started using essential oils I thought they were SO expensive, but then I realized just how far those little bottles go and the sticker shock wore off. It is important to choose high quality essential oils.
Meet your secret weapons!
Baking soda + lemon juice (or salt) are excellent for scouring! I use lemon peels + baking soda to clean our sink + bathtubs. It's one of my favorite chores because the result is so satisfying!
1 cup of vinegar in rinse cycle of dishwasher removes water stains on glasses and silverware
Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soap for hand washing – peppermint my fave for hands, lavender for body, or you can get unscented and add a little essential oil if you live in a house divided. I will often get baby mild unscented + use essential oils to make a sweet orange blend for Cliff and a lemongrass + rosemary or lavender for me.
For a super simple, use everywhere, homemade spray cleaner, check out my DIY Natural Countertop Cleaner!
Mosquito Repellant
I make this natural mosquito repellant every year + get emails year round of folks asking me about it! It works really well for both me + my husband. You could also use citronella instead of lemon. And I've had numerous people tell me it works great on their dogs too!
What are some of your favorite ways to clean naturally?
To your healthy, fresh home! Lacy
