Hello, friends! A little while ago I promised I'd share my fabulous Essential Oil (EO) finds with you and I'm finally here to make good on my promise. I've amassed quite the EO collection by this point, using them as my gorgeous personal fragrance (all those chemical perfumes I used to wear pale in comparison to the scent of my beautiful essential oils) as well as edible grade essential oils in my recipes, smoothies, tea and drinking water. Today, however, I want to share with you several recipes for cleansing everything in our homes from the produce we eat to our floors, bathrooms and laundry too! I use a single blend that does it all. So simple. So clean. And, makes our homes smell absolutely heavenly. Let's begin with why it all matters:
When trying to live a healthy lifestyle by eating right and exercising, sometimes the last areas we may think to change are our cleaning and personal care products. We pay a lot of attention to what we put in our mouths. We read food labels and see how much sugar, saturated fat, and chemicals are in food products. So why not pay just as much attention to what we put on our skin?
Because the skin is our body’s largest organ, what we put on it and come in contact with gets absorbed into our bloodstream and integrated into our body tissues. The skin is not a coat of armor on our body; of course it protects our body, but it is highly permeable. Our skin is also our body’s thinnest organ. Only 1/10th of an inch separates our delicate organs from all sorts of toxins, many of which have estrogen-mimicking effects that can destroy all of our good health intentions.
We still want our homes to be clean and free of pests and harmful germs; however, the household chemicals we use to clean our homes pose some very serious health risks. Many ingredients in these popular products—products that we have grown to trust—are harmful to our health. So, why would we want these toxic chemicals around us and our families? The problem is that most of us are not aware of these hidden dangers and how pervasive these health threats can be. This is why it is so important for us to educate ourselves and find out what toxins we are regularly exposed to, ways to limit or reduce our exposure, and what products to use that are safe and effective alternatives.
Who knows what some of the toxins are that we are regularly exposed to through our cleaning and personal care products?
- Triclosan is classified as a pesticide and probable carcinogen by the EPA. In fact, the EPA gives Triclosan high scores both as a human health risk and as an environmental risk. It is a synthetic antibacterial ingredient that contributes to the creation of resistant forms of bacteria like MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus). It is used as a preservative and not always labeled. It is a cheap way for companies to make their products last longer without collecting bacteria.
- Parabens: A study done by the Journal of Applied Toxicology detected high amounts of parabens in breast cancer cell growth. Parabens are able to bind to estrogen receptors, where they encourage breast cancer cell growth. It mimics natural estrogen that leads to cancer. It may contribute to sterility in males, hormone imbalance in females, and early puberty.
- Phthalates make nail polish chip resistant and fragrances last longer. “Fragrance” is basically a secret mixture of chemicals. Companies are not required to list these chemicals on product labels. Toluene, which is in fragrances, is a known neurotoxin that causes loss of muscle control, brain damage, headaches, memory loss, and speech, hearing, and vision problems.
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, or SLS One of THE most dangerous ingredients used in cleaners and personal care products. Laboratories use it to purposely irritate the skin on animals and humans so that they can then test the effectiveness of healing agents on irritated skin. It is a mouth irritant that is in almost every toothpaste and can cause canker sores. It prevents deodorant from drying out. It is the main ingredient in antifreeze.
- The EPA considers Propylene Glycol so toxic that they require gloves and goggles when disposing of and burying it.
- Mouthwash products with an Alcohol content of over 25% are linked to cancer of the mouth, tongue, and throat.
- Metals: Women with breast cancer have higher levels of these metals. Aluminum prevents our skin from sweating.
- It is amazing that all these toxins and chemicals, and many more that were not listed, are present in products that are designed to protect us.
The European government has banned 1,222 times more chemicals than the U.S. Under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, household cleaners are the only household products for which manufacturers are NOT required to list all ingredients. Certain ingredients, like fragrances for example, are considered trade secrets, and government regulations are designed to protect proprietary information. The power of large companies’ well-funded government lobbying efforts have allowed them to avoid legislation, often hiding behind the principle of “trade secrets.”
Most people assume the government oversees the multibillion-dollar household cleaning products industry, but the reality is that it is largely unregulated. According to the EPA, of the nearly three thousand top selling chemicals in the U.S., only 7 percent have a full set of basic toxicity information. For the most part, the EPA simply relies on voluntary testing agreements with major manufacturers.
Without full disclosure, consumers can unknowingly expose themselves and their families to unhealthy chemicals. The Natural Resources Defense Council recently tested 14 air fresheners and found that 12 contained phthalates, and none of the products listed this on the label. Until the government enacts laws to force companies to fully disclose their ingredients, or better yet test the safety of their ingredients, it is important for consumers to educate themselves.
Many of us have grown tired of putting our health in jeopardy just to clean our bathroom, bedroom, or kitchen. It’s very obvious why green cleaners have such an appeal and why people want to use them. The household cleaning industry has caught on to this and responded in full force with product lines that claim they are green and natural. These products are labeled “green” and “natural” for marketing reasons and to charge 20-30% more. They usually contain the same amount of chemicals! This is a practice is called “green washing”—misleading marketing to make products appear green and healthy.
For example, arsenic, uranium, mercury, and formaldehyde are all naturally occurring and poisonous. “All natural” and “green” isn’t necessarily nontoxic. It is hard to tell what exactly is in our cleaning products under the Federal Hazardous Substance Act. We live in a chemical world; every day we are exposed to toxins, chemicals, and pollutants. It can be overwhelming to even think if we can avoid all of this exposure. Even some of the so-called “green” products are damaging to our health.
It may not be possible to avoid ALL of the toxins in our lives, but there are plenty of ways to significantly reduce our family’s exposure through simple lifestyle changes and behaviors. We can decrease our family’s exposure to toxins by using essential oils for cleaning. It’s really not as hard as it might seem.
- Use a damp rag when dusting. Chemicals often settle on surfaces, and dusting with a dry rag releases them into the air to be inhaled. Using a damp rag captures them on the rag instead.
- Allow fresh air into your home frequently, this allows chemical-filled air to escape. The EPA estimates indoor air is 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air, due in part to household cleaners and air fresheners.
- Wash nonorganic produce in a vegetable and fruit wash or buy organic produce to reduce pesticide and herbicide exposure.
- Making our own household cleaners is super easy using essential oils. It’s as easy as going to the cabinet and grabbing that toxic store-bought cleaner! PLUS it is a safe and very effective alternative! Who knows what essential oils are best for cleaning?
- One of the great things about oils is their antimicrobial effect, and they are safe. Chemical antiseptics can cause just as much damage to our cells as the actual germ.
Here are some ideas for a powerful natural clean using just one essential oil blend, Thieves Oil:
- Thieves oil is one of the best essential oils for cleaning because of its antimicrobial effect.
- Thieves household cleaner is an all-purpose cleaner formulated with 100% plant- and mineral-based ingredients. It gets out tough stains and problem areas in the home without harsh or abrasive cleaners. It is biodegradable and complies with EPA standards.
- What are the five oils used in Thieves? (Clove, Cinnamon Bark, Rosemary, Lemon, Eucalyptus (E. radiate))
- Thieves oil blend was found to have a 99.6% kill rate against airborne germs!
What's the story behind Thieves? The oils or herbs were used by thieves who robbed the dead and dying during the plague of the 15th century and who never contracted the disease. Our cleaner is patterned after this formula that offered protection during a time when 50 percent of Europe perished from the plague.
Simple Detoxifying Home Cleaning Recipes:
1 capful Thieves Cleaner to 3 cups distilled water
or
1.5 parts castile soap + 1 part water + 5-10 drops lavender or rosemary EO
1 capful Thieves Cleaner to 6 cups distilled water
or
Tile & Linoleum: 1/2 cup white vinegar in a bucket of water w/ a mop + EO of your choice or juice of a fresh lemon
Wood Floors: use the same mixture but only with a slightly damp mop.
Marble or Stone: avoid using vinegar, instead use water + castile soap + a little tea tree oil aka malaleuca for antibacterial option.
1 to 2 capfuls Thieves Cleaner, depending on size of washer
or
1 part vinegar + 1 part baking soda + 1 part washing soda + 1/4 part castille soap + your fav EO of choice
1 capful Thieves Cleaner to 5 quarts distilled water
or
1 /4 tsp Thieves Cleaner to 1 quart of distilled water in spray bottle
Feel free to use my YL member code: 2061352 to take advantage of significant savings on the purchase of any Young Living Essential Oils enabling you to receive wholesale over retail pricing.
Love All,
Juliane
What's your favorite way to use Essential Oils? Do you have a favorite? I absolutely love ylang-ylang & jasmine.
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