So my last post about getting rid of toxic toiletry items has been the most popular post on my tiny little blog.
I think it's something that is very important to many of us, and we need all the help we can get!!
So now I'll talk about getting rid of the toxins that are in our everyday cleaning supplies.
This is also pretty new to me.
I used to be a couponer...and I still LOVE the idea of it, but just haven't found the time to be as consistent as I need to be since I had my second daughter....3 years ago ;)
But while I was couponing and creating my own mini "stockpile," I stocked up on a few cleaning supplies.
I had extra bottles of laundry detergent, air fresheners, bleach sprays, 409 sprays, sanitizing and cleaning wipes, and dish soap.
It was so reassuring to walk out to my garage and grab my extra bottle of Lysol when the one in the house ran out.
But my priorities are shifting.
I still VERY MUCH care about cost and saving money.
But the health of my family is far more important.
Like I mentioned in my previous post, I have not done extensive research into all the individual ingredients in our cleaning products. I DO know and understand that everything we breath in and touch can have a very real affect on our health.
And since I started using Young Living Essential Oils in October (read about how to get them here, we use Young Living exclusively), I have started to look at everything so differently.
I think more about the foods we eat.
I think more about the soaps we use (hence the previous post).
I think more about what I clean my counters and my kids' TOYS with.
I think more about what we DRINK!
I think more about almost everything really.
How does it affect us?
Is this harmful to us?
My conclusion is that much of it is.
To read more about how our everyday TOXIC products can harm our family, read these articles here and here.
So soon after we started using YL's Essential Oils, I purchased their Thieves Household Cleaner!
I love it!
It has all the cleansing power of our Thieves Essential Oil blend which is extremely effective in killing airborne bacteria.
This stuff can clean anything.
- Windows
- Floors
- Bathrooms
- Kitchens
- CLOTHES
- Sinks!
Really. You don't need to by any other cleaner.
Ever.
The cleaner is concentrated, so you just get an empty spray bottle and dilute it with water.
There are dilution suggestions on the bottle...I usually use one capful of Thieves Household Cleaner and fill my large plastic spray bottle 2/3 full.
If you are needing more degreasing power, then you can use less water, or more Thieves Cleaner.
Thieves is so effective at killing bacteria, virus, infection, and boosting the immune system, that YL has an entire Thieves product line.
There is a Thieves Oral Care line as well as personal care products like hand purifier, spray, and wipes!
Just in case you're not wanting to buy this super convenient bottle of cleaner (which you can get through me), I'll list some really simple recipes to make some DIY cleaners.
Here is what you'll need:
- Baking Soda
- Washing Soda (different than baking soda)
- Borax
- Fels Naptha Bar Soap
- Distilled Vinegar
- Castile Soap (Dr. Bronners or made from a bar like I did)
- Young Living Essential Oils
Let's get started.
Sink/bathtub cleaner (scouring powder replacement)
- 1 Cup Baking Soda
- 5 drops Lemon Essential Oil
Shake this up in a jar.
DONE.
Disinfecting Spray
- 16oz. Water
- 30 drops Essential Oil - Lemon, Thieves, Melaleuca, or Oregano (your house will smell like a pizzeria if you use oregano...but it's a great disinfectant!)
- 2-3TBSP Castile Soap if desired
The essential oils and water will disinfect, but to add some cleaning power, you can include the castile soap.
Just combine it all in a spray bottle!
Multi-purpose Cleaner
When I say multi-pupose...I mean you can pretty much just use this for anything.
- 6oz Water
- 6oz Vinegar
- 30 drops Essential Oils - again, Lemon, Thieves, Melealuca, Oregano, or even Orange!
Mix this in a spray bottle!
DONE!
Window and Mirror Cleaner
- 6oz Water
- 6oz Vinegar
- 15 drops Essential Oils - I'd use a citrus oil for this
This is what my mom used to use on her windows (without the essential oils) and we'd wipe them with newspapers!
I keep forgetting to save my papers for that purpose because they really do work well!!! No streaks!
Dish Soap
I will be trying this one soon, but haven't personally used it yet!
- 1/2 Cup Castile Soap
- 1/8 Cup Water
- 6 drops Essential Oils - Lemon, Orange, or Thieves would be great
Mix in an old liquid dish soap container!
DONE!
Can't wait to try it for myself next week!
This is an alternative option that you'll have the ingredients for already if using bars of Castile Soap.
Dishwasher Detergent
I used a homemade powdered dishwasher detergent for a long time that had washing soda, baking soda, borax, and citric acid in it. It worked temporarily and then stopped. I tried several different variations and recipes and couldn't get my dishes clean!
I read that it can clog some dishwashers. That could be what was happening, I'm not sure. But I went back to store bought detergent.
Now I have the option of just putting a capful of Thieves Household Cleaner in there!
Simple!
But I am about to try out this recipe and see if my dishwasher can handle it!
- 1/2 Cup Castile Soap
- 1/2 Cup Water
- 1Tbsp Vinegar
- 2 drops Essential Oils - Lemon, Orange, Thieves
Rinse Aid
- Vinegar!
I keep my rinse aid compartment filled with vinegar and usually splash 1/4 Cup extra into the bottom of the dishwasher before running it!
Oven Cleaner
- Baking Soda
- Vinegar
Remove any loose food that has fallen in the oven.
Sprinkle with Baking Soda
Sprinkle vinegar on top.
Close oven and turn it on to 150 for 20 minutes, then allow to cool.
Clean it up!!
Laundry Detergent
I've been making this for years now and love it!
- 1 Bar Fels Naphtha Bar Soap-grated (You can also use Ivory or Zote but I can't stand the smell of Zote!)
- 3 Cups Borax
- 2 Cups Washing Soda
- 1/3 Cup Baking Soda (optional)
Mix these together and store in airtight container.
Use 1-2Tbsp per load!
Scented Laundry Crystals
- 1 Cup Epsom Salts
- 10-20 Drops Essential Oils of your choice
Mix this together and add 3Tbsp to each load with your detergent.
OR...
Mix this entire recipe with your container of homemade laundry detergent!!
Laundry Stain Remover
- Fels Naptha Soap
I keep an extra bar of this in my laundry room for stains. As I'm loading the laundry, if I notice a stain, I wet it down with the washer's water and rub the bar of soap into it. Let it sit until you've loaded everything else and then toss it in as normal.
DONE!
If this is a more stubborn stain, try this technique:
Sprinkle Borax or Washing Soda onto the stain.
Then spray the stain with your window cleaner (equal parts water and vinegar).
Rub into the stain (use a toothbrush if necessary) and let it sit before washing as normal.
Fabric Softener
This one is probably the easiest.
- Vinegar.
I store a bottle of plain ol' vinegar above the washer and put 1/4 cup into the fabric softener dispenser with each load. Fill to the line with water.
It really does soften clothes....and no, they don't smell like vinegar!!!
You can add essential oils if you want it to smell better, but I like how fresh they come out!
Carpet Deoderizer.
Check out my blog post concerning this one here.
All you need is
- Baking Soda
- Essential Oils!
Air Freshener
- 4oz Distilled Water
- 1/2Tsp Epsom Salts
- 10 Drops Essential Oils - SO many to choose from, but my favorite is Purification
Mix the essential oils with the salts. Allow the salt to absorb the oils and then fill with water.
Store in a glass spray bottle and shake before spraying.
Carpet Stain Remover
- 1Tbsp Vinegar
- 2Tbsp Baking soda
- 2 Drops Lemon Essential Oil
Mix the ingredients to form a paste and apply to the stain. Work it in with a toothbrush if necessary.
Allow this to dry thoroughly, then vacuum it up!
If the stain is set in, repeat the process.
Phew!
That's alot!
I did do a little research for this one, because like I said - I only use Thieves Household Cleaner for almost every cleaning job in my home!!
So it's definitely a product I recommend.
Contact me for ordering info at livn4hersavior86@gmail.com!!
See, with very few ingredients, you can arm yourself with the ability to clean your home in a way that is safe, gentle, and NON toxic, yet effective!!!
I can't tell you how empowering it is to clean my counter tops with a cleaner that I know won't harm us if it comes in contact with our food.
And I can mop my floor with a cleaner that won't hurt my son when he crawls on it!
And I can wash my clothes in a detergent that won't irritate their sensitive skin or affect them in the many other ways that traditional detergent can!
You don't need much to start, so get on it!!
Make sure to read my post about getting rid of toxic toiletry products in your home!!
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or medical professional. I simply make decisions on how to care for and improve the health of my own family. None of the statements on my blog have been evaluated by the FDA and any products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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