CHEMICAL FREE CLASS
Post #1: Welcome to our Chemical Free Home class!
Cleaning products are some of the most harmful and toxic products we have in our homes, and my hope with this class is that you will learn some new recipes so that you can get rid of the chemicals that are causing so many health issues in our homes!
This FB class will be fast, with a numbered post every 3-5 minutes. Simply refresh your screen to read the new posts. If you have any questions, please ask on the corresponding post.
Let’s get started! Please let me know on this post, how long you’ve been using Essential Oils and what kind of home cleaning recipe you are most excited to learn about!
Post #2: Why Clean Green?
There are so many pollutants and toxic chemicals in our world today. Most of which, we have no control over. However, we can control what is used in our homes!
Did you know that …
1. Fumes from some cleaning products may induce asthma in otherwise healthy individuals. A large and growing body of evidence links frequent use of many ordinary cleaning supplies at home or on the job with development of asthma and other respiratory problems. It is already known that cleaning product fumes may trigger attacks in persons previously diagnosed with asthma.
2. Common cleaning ingredients can be laced with the carcinogenic impurity 1,4-dioxane. Independent tests have detected the presence of 1,4-dioxane in numerous name-brand cleaning supplies. Other products contain preservatives that release low levels of cancer-causing formaldehyde.
3. Children born to women who held cleaning jobs while pregnant have an elevated risk of birth defects, according to a 2010 study by the New York State Department of Health.
4. Some cleaners can cause chemical burns and poisonings as well as less severe irritations and allergies. Severe physical reactions signal that consumers should take care anytime they use these products.
5. Despite these health concerns, cleaning product labels often do not give consumers enough information about their ingredients to allow people to make informed decisions on which ones are safer and which ones might harm their health.
6. Although government scientific and regulatory agencies have focused considerable attention on chemicals suspected of causing cancer, they have devoted far fewer resources to evaluating substances that may be toxic to the brain and nervous system, the hormone system and other organs. Investigating the full range of risks of cleaning products to public health and the environment should be an urgent priority. Yet the problem remains largely hidden from the view of the American consumer.
This information is from the Environmental Working Group website. Check out this site for more information about cleaning products specifically related to asthma and other health problems.
This site also rates common cleaning products and health safety!
Another great option is the App "Think Dirty"- you can scan products and it will immediately tell you how it rates!
Post #3: Cleaning tips.
Our tips and safety guidelines do not include any dangerous or harmful warnings. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when cleaning with essential oils:
1. Shake products before use.
2. Test cleaners in small areas first.
3. Spray nozzles fit perfectly onto old vinegar bottles. Use these to create cleaning sprays.
4. Store products in airtight glass, high quality plastic or stainless steel containers.
5. Keep away from eyes.
You can find spray bottles plus other containers we talk about tonight at different online stores:
2. Life Science Publishers
3. Specialty Bottle
Post #4: Thieves Cleaner.
Thieves Household Cleaner is simply amazing. If creating all sorts of different cleaners isn’t your thing, try purchasing the large container of this cleaner that harnesses the power of Thieves essential oil blend. This cleaner contains Lemon, Clove, Cinnamon, Rosemary and Eucalyptus. It is incredibly versatile, on top of being all natural, plant based and toxin free. It comes in a concentrated bottle that you then dilute and use according to desired strength. Here are some good basic guidelines for diluting and using the cleaner:
1. General cleaning: 1 capful to 3 cups water
2. Medium messes: 1 capful to 2 cups water
3. Really greasy: 1 capful to 1 cup water
4. Also combine with baking soda for an excellent scrubbing paste
Thieves cleaner can be used for bathrooms, windows, counters, laundry, dishes, oven, showers, toilets, carpets and more!
Thieves household cleaner costs about $0.64 a quart as a medium degreaser. Compare that with Lysol spray $3.39, 409 cleaner $3.49 and Clorox wipes $2.99! And think about all the chemicals you AREN'T breathing in.
Post #5: Glass Cleaner.
Ditch the store bought glass cleaners and create your own!
Natural Glass Cleaner:
3 oz water
8 drops orange oil
3 drops lemon oil
Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle and clean till your hearts content.
A bottle of Windex costs $3.99. This natural glass cleaner costs $1.44!
Post #6: Hand Sanitizer & Hand Soap.
We really like Dr. Bronner’s tea tree Castile soap for this handmade version. This hand soap is cleansing and can be made with so many different essential oils! We especially love it in the winter because it doesn’t dry out our hands.
Foaming hand soap container (can be purchased online)
1/4 cup Dr. Bronners Castile soap
5 drops Essential oil of your choice
Fill remaining with water
Young Living sells Thieves hand sanitizer that is wonderful, if you don’t have the time to make your own. The recipe below has a very smooth and silky feel thanks to the aloe vera.
5 TBSPN Aloe Vera Gel
3-4 TBSPN water
1/4 TSPN vitamin E oil
8-10 drops Thieves oil
Combine into a small squeeze bottle and use as needed.
Store bought hand sanitizer can be some of the most unhealthy junk we use. Try ditching it for Thieves or make your own.
Post #7: Fresh Laundry.
Changing detergents takes some getting used to. If you’re used to the “fresh” smell of laundry, then you’re probably breathing in chemicals. If you don’t want to make your own detergent, at the very least, switch to one that is free of perfumes and dyes. Young Living has a Thieves laundry soap if you’d rather go that route! You can even add a capful of Thieves household cleaner to your load, to get them really clean.
There are so many laundry detergent recipes out there, and I've not tested any of them (we use Thieves laundry soap here) so I didn't feel comfortable posting one. If you have a tried and true recipe that works wonders, leave it in the comments!
If you have clean linens that take on the smell of a musty drawer or closet, use the linen spray below to keep them fresh. You might also want to put some purification on a cotton ball in drawers and cabinets to keep the entire area fresh.
Fresh Laundry Spray
4 ounce spray bottle
10 drops Lavender
Combine all ingredients into a spray bottle and use as needed.
Post #8: Fabric Softener.
Did you know that fabric softener is the #1 cause of indoor pollution? That “laundry smell” is actually volatile organic compounds (carbon based chemicals that evaporate at room temperature). They are some of the most toxic things we can have in our home: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/toxic-chemicals-in-your-dryer-sheets-and-fabric-softener.html
Instead of the conventional fabric softener (including dryer sheets), try wool dryer balls and essential oils. You have the option to choose your favorite scent and the dryer balls are reusable! Dryer balls fluff up your laundry, prevent clothes from clumping, increase air circulation, and cut down the amount of time it takes your clothes to dry. They can cut your drying time by 25%! There are multiple options, but try to find 100% wool dryer balls for the best results.
It's been my personal experience with dryer balls that my clothes do still have static in them. BUT, the static isn't much and it's worth it, knowing my family isn't being exposed to the harsh chemicals of dryer sheets.
Gain dryer sheets cost $5.99 for 120 sheets. A set of wool dryer balls costs about $15 and can last for years!
Post #9: Produce Wash.
Most people just wash fresh fruits and veggies in regular old tap water, however, now that we know so much more about chemicals, pesticides and all the junk coming in contact with our produce we should be more particular about how we clean everything. Young Living has a produce and veggie wash, or you can make your own!
Simply add 2 drops of Lemon oil to your bowl of water and fruit. Let it sit for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Rinse off then enjoy your produce!
Produce cleaner costs about $5.00. Two drops of Lemon oil costs about $0.10!
Post #10: Carpet Freshener.
Does your carpet need a little freshening up? Dust this mixture all over prior to vacuuming to help get rid of odors like stinky feet, wet dog, dirt, etc. Mix this and store in a mason jar and poke holes in the top to easily sprinkle the carpet freshener.
1 cup baking soda
1 cup Borax
10 drops each of Lavender and Purification
Post #11: Air Freshener.
Do you know how toxic air fresheners and candles are? Sure, they smell great, but those smells are chemically made and extremely toxic to our health.
Choosing to diffuse essential oils instead, not only smells great but is incredibly beneficial! You are taking the toxins out of the scenario and adding health benefits into it. The best part is that you can mix and match essential oils to your preference!
Some combinations to try:
Thieves & Lemon
Purification & Orange
Peppermint & Stress Away
Orange & Peppermint
Cinnamon Bark & Spearmint
Peppermint & Lemon & Lavender
Similar sprays can cost about $3.99. You could diffuse Peppermint, Lemon & Lavender essential oils for several hours for less than a dollar!
What are some of your favorite oil combos to diffuse?
Post #12: Dishwasher Detergent.
The citric acid mentioned in this recipe can be found in the canning section of your local store. This recipe is from “The Chemical Free Home” by Melissa Poepping. You need to own this book!
1 cup baking soda
1 cup Borax
1/4 cup citric acid
15 drops Lemon
10 drops Orange
Mix together plus add a sachet of white rice to absorb moisture. Use 2 TBSPN with each load.
Detergent pods cost $3.99 for 15 uses. The DIY detergent costs $3.27 for 18 uses!
And for those of you who wash dishes the old fashioned way, YL now has their own Thieves dish soap! Yet another way to keep the toxins out.
Post #13: Toilet Cleaner.
Now, this doesn’t come out blue like typical toilet bowl cleaners, but it sure does the job! You could use an old shampoo squirt bottle for easy application.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner:
1/4 cup Dr. Bronners Castile soap
2 TBSPN baking soda
10 drops favorite essential oil
Fill remainder with water
Clorox toilet bowl cleaner costs $2.78. The natural option with Thieves essential oil cost $1.73!
Bonus Tip: Add a drop of Thieves or Orange oil to the cardboard inside of the toilet paper holder to help freshen the bathroom.
Post #14: Oven Cleaner.
Four things that we loved about it:
1. Didn’t have to breathe any fumes.
2. Won’t wonder if our next oven-cooked meal has chemicals in it.
3. It worked really well!
4. We had all the ingredients already.
One thing to note: You will end up with a lot of crusty chunks in the morning. Unless you like doing chores before breakfast, plan to eat cereal that day so you can wipe out the oven later.
But really, this is totally doable – easy and effective!
1 1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup sea salt
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup vinegar
10 drops Lemon oil
10 drops Thieves oil
Preheat oven to lowest temperature, then turn off. Add all ingredients (it will fizz a little). Slowly add water, to make a thin paste. Spread paste all over oven, and let sit overnight. Wipe away in the morning.
Easy Off oven cleaner costs $4.49. Our blend above costs approximately $4.41 with no dangerous fumes or chemicals!
Post #15: Goo Remover.
Just a drop of Lemon oil will remove any stubborn, sticky spot. It really couldn’t get any easier than this!
A bottle of Goo Gone costs $3.79. The bottle would last quite a while, but has some pretty hefty warnings. It can be fatal if swallowed. Not true with plain old lemon essential oil! Make the switch!
Post #16: Thank you!
Thanks so much for attending the Chemical Free Home class! I hope you are taking away a few new recipes to use in your home! Even trying ONE new recipe, is taking a good step in the right direction to rid our homes of harmful chemicals.
Which one are you going to try first?! This week, think about 1 product you could replace in your home. Try doing that every week [or every month] until you’ve replaced your home cleaning products with more natural ones. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming, take baby steps!
Please let me know if you have any questions! If you’re interested in signing up with a wholesale account and purchasing the Premium Starter Kit, **connect with the person who sent you to the class**!
You can find out more about the details of purchasing the kit here: http://www.floralandpine.com/buyoils
If you’d like more information, feel free to message me here on Facebook! I would love nothing more than to help you! Thanks again for joining me!