7 DIY Recipes to Green Your Clean
Four things I’m about: being resourceful, saving money, keeping my house clean and keeping my family healthy. It’s really easy to integrate cleaning routines that reduce the toxic burden on our bodies and the planet. I’m excited to share some of our favorite recipes so you can do just that!
Why Green Your Clean?
Next time you’re at the grocery store, walk into the cleaning aisle. Take some deep breaths. How does your body respond? How do your nostrils and lungs feel? Now think about doing the same the next time you’re on a walk in the woods.
In addition the stinging of the nostrils and that heaviness in the air, we now know some of the impacts of these cleaning products we’ve become accustomed to. Many cleaning chemicals are not only “tough on grime” they are also tough on the human body, our skin, our nervous system. Of. course, they also impact pets and wildlife, our water supply and ecosystems, and they can also contribute to superbugs and antibiotic resistance. Endocrine disrupting chemicals, which are known to have various adverse health impacts on humans, are found in conventional cleaning products as well as in fragranced products more generally.
Researchers at Norway’s University of Bergen tracked more than 6,000 people over 20 years and found that women who use conventional cleaning products regularly have been impacted in their lung function equivalently to individuals who smoke 20 cigarettes per day. Measures of forcible exhale over one second, (FEV1) indicated a decline of 3.6 milliliters (ml)/year faster in women who cleaned at home and 3.9 ml/year faster in women who worked as cleaners. In short, lung function declined faster for those who are regularly exposed to cleaning products. The women who used conventional cleaning products regularly also had a 40% increase in rate of asthma over the 20 years. We know that cleaning products are impacting our lung function. We think that we’re keeping things clean for our family, but at what cost?
What Can I Use Instead?
There are a lot of great cost-effective options out there that do not include the green-washed versions of conventional cleaners (just say no). White vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, castile soap, baking soda… these can all be used instead of the mysterious chemicals that are causing declines in lung function and disrupting our endocrine systems. Add some drops of essential oils for natural aroma and extra grime-busting.
One drop of Citrus Fresh in the toilet will have it sparkling! Purification is a perfect deodorizer. Lemon is a natural goo-gone. One of the best products I discovered when I started using oils from Young Living was actually the Thieves Household Cleaner. I can use it for everything, and it’s super powerful against grime but is also skin and lung-friendly, completely natural, and plant-based. I customize all kinds of recipes with my Thieves cleaner. It is also highly concentrated, so you only use a capful at a time for most uses, making it very cost-effective and great for minimalists who don’t want a ton of stuff under the sink.
How To Use Thieves Household Cleaner
Here are some really quick videos I made to show you how to utilize your Thieves Household Cleaner in all kinds of ways. To make these recipes all you need is baking soda, white vinegar, olive oil, water, Thieves Household Cleaner, a few good purifying oils, and containers of your choosing (we like to use mason jars - glass or stainless is best for anything you’re adding EOs to, but the Thieves Cleaner itself is OK in plastic if you prefer.)
FOUR EASY DIYs to GET YOU STARTED
And a few more for you…
WOOD CLEANER + POLISH
Ingredients: 1 gallon warm water, 2 capfuls of Thieves Household Cleaner, Citrus Fresh, Lemon or Pine oil (5 drops total), 1 cup olive oil. Directions: Combine, Clean and Shine!
GLASS CLEANER
Ingredients: 1 capful Thieves Household Cleaner, 5 drops Citrus Fresh, 1 tablespoon White Vinegar. Directions: Combine in a 16 oz spray bottle and fill with water.
STAIN STICK
Ingredients: 1 tsp thieves dish soap, 1 tsp. Thieves Cleaner, 3 drops lemon oil. Directions: roll directly onto stains before washing. Thieves Bar Soap works great too!
There are so many great ways to clean up our cleaning routine, and I hope you try these out and let me know what you think!
Are you new to this whole concept? I can help! Here is a Low Tox Home bundle that I created to get started with greener cleaning, and here is the Thieves Clean bundle with all of my fave Thieves products. If you bundle any of these items to 100 PV or more, you’ll get free shipping AND 24% off now, and every time you shop!
Are you ready for a whole new kind of spring cleaning this year? This is the perfect place to start.