As you all know, I’m constantly striving to incorporate holistic ways of living in my home and be able to share them with you! Cleaning products can be confusing as there are so many options out there. Most cleaning products are made with essentially the same ingredients. Do you really need a special shower cleaner and a toilet bowl cleaner? No.
Creating non-toxic cleaning products is fairly easy and you can save a ton of space by having one great multi-purpose product. With a little bit of white vinegar, water, baking soda and a couple of essential oils you are well on your way to a healthier household.
See how I use them below.
tea tree oil instead of 409 countertop spray
An amazing universal cleaning spray for hard surfaces like countertops can be made with tea tree oil. According to Organic Authority, sprays like 409 contain ingredients that cause asthma, including quaternary ammonium compounds or ethanolamine. These chemicals can trigger asthma attacks and even cause new cases of the disease. These products essentially spray these dangerous chemicals directly into your home’s air.
How to: Mix 3 cups of water and half a cup of white vinegar to a spray bottle, then add 10 drops of tea tree oil into the mixture. Feel free to add more drops to your liking.
BENEFITS OF TEA TREE OIL: Tea tree essential oil has numerous benefits like, as a natural deodorant and air purifier, kills mold, calms itching, improves acne, and an all-purpose cleaner!
orange oil instead of goo gone
As a professional organizer, I’m constantly taking super sticky stickers off of organizing products. A huge pet peeve of mine is when sticker residue gets left behind—not so pretty! Orange and citrus oil takes off the residue with ease and leave products smelling incredibly fresh.
How to: Remove sticker as best as you can first. Place a few drops of oil on the sticky residue. Let it sit for about 30 seconds. Using a credit card or hard plastic scraper, gently peel off the remaining sticker glue.
Note: Test a small area first to avoid staining. This should only be used on plastic or hard surfaces. I do not recommend it for fabrics, as it will create an oil stain just like any other oil.
According to Hunker.com, Goo Gone is considered an aspiration hazard because it contains petroleum distillates, according to the Goo Gone Material Data Sheet. This means that it can enter the lungs, causing inflammation and permanent damage. It is not considered an irritant to the eyes or skin.
BENEFITS OF ORANGE OIL: Orange essential oil has amazing health benefits as an anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, diuretic, tonic, sedative, and more!
bergamot + geranium oil instead of febreze
Say goodbye to aerosol and/or plastic spray bottles, and use bergamot and geranium essential oil tablets instead! If you’re an animal lover and often find your space smelling more like your pet, this is the perfect solution for you.
Instead of using air fresheners that claim they banish odor-causing molecules, the truth is that they only mask it with hazardous chemicals. According to the Alternative Daily, Febreze does not disclose much information about their extensive line of products, but the Environmental Working Group ( EWG) did conduct a test on one of their products, Febreze Air Effects. The shocking results of this study found that even though the company only disclosed three ingredients in the product, EWG found 87 chemicals in all!
I love making tablets out of these oils to put into places that they love to hang out. Place them in a mason jar or pretty dish candle for an extra decor element. See how-to here!
BENEFITS OF BERGAMONT: Bergamot essential oil has great uplifting, energizing, and purifying properties!
BENEFITS OF GERANIUM: Geranium essential oil can reduce inflammation, alleviate anxiety, and balance hormones.
Lemongrass + eucalyptus + citronella OILS INSTEAD OF OFF! INSECT REPELLANT
As Summer approaches vacations to tropical places might be in your agenda. Consider this healthy insect repellant alternative so as to save your skin from blood-sucking pests. Lemongrass, eucalyptus, and citronella all have mosquito repellent properties! There are plenty of oils you can mix, but these are my favorite to combine.
How to: Place one teaspoon of coconut oil into a small jar and add 3 drops of each essential oil. Mix together thoroughly then apply to all exposed areas.
According to The Huffington Post, a common ingredient in bug repellants is DEET, which they categorize as “slightly toxic” and should be only worn for a short periods of time and washed off when not outside.
BENEFITS OF LEMONGRASS: Lemongrass essential oil can relieve headaches, reduce stomach aches, act as an astringent, kills germs, reduces fever, and more.
BENEFITS OF EUCALYPTUS: Eucalyptus essential essential oil has anti-inflammatory properties, antibacterial properties, acts as a deodorant and disinfectant and so much more!
BENEFITS OF CITRONELLA: Citronella essential oil has incredible health benefits including: antibacterial, antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, deodorant, diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge, fungicidal and insect repellent. See more here!
When you can, try to opt for a natural and sustainable option in every aspect of your life to improve overall health and wellness. Essential oils have several healing properties and I would love to see what you use them for!