After years and years of using store bought toxic cleaners, I decided to try making my own using pure ingredients and my Young Living essential oils. I use these toxin-free cleaners with microfiber cloths to clean my entire house from top to bottom.  Using microfiber instead of paper towels reduces the waste. Now, my little one can help me clean and I don't have to worry about harmful toxins getting to my family.  It makes me cringe thinking about all of the toxins that I used before while cleaning.  Under the kitchen sink was filled with different cleaners.  I no longer have to worry about my daughter ingesting large amounts of super harmful toxins.

Toxic Ingredients

But first, let's talk about toxic ingredients and why you want to avoid them.  The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has a list of what they call the "dirty dozen."  This lists the top harmful toxins currently used in the personal care and cleaning industries.  I encourage you to visit their site and read the information for yourself.  [You can also find lists on foods on their site as well.]  This site is loaded with information and is one of the first places to check.  The first time I began researching, I was appalled that consumers are not protected against these terrible ingredients by any governing agencies!  And so many people purchase cleaning products from the store that can harm their families.  The largest area of concern for me is endocrine disruptors.  There are a lot of toxins used in common products that have been linked to hormone issues.

Watch a video about staying away from harmful toxins here.

Hormones and Why Being Toxin-Free Helps

Your hormones are incredibly important to your body and its regulation.  Simply put, they are the messengers of the body.  Your hormones control feelings, emotions, blood pressure, help break down food, regulate pain, and much more.  So, basically, when you use toxic cleaners, your hormones are not able to function at their best capacity.  Toxins must be filtered out and broken down by your body.  If you are unable to break them down and dispose of them, the body just reabsorbs the toxins.  Many people suffer with problems of the thyroid, adrenal fatigue and more.  I wonder how many of these issues could decrease or resolve themselves if more people started removing toxins from their homes.  The body is an amazing creation, so why not do everything we can to give it the best environment possible?!

My Toxin-Free Cleaners

When starting off toxin-free, you're going to want to dispose of all the plastic in your home because plastic has......you guessed it: toxins!  So, for all of my cleaning products, I order glass spray bottles online.  We prefer the darker amber glass because essential oils need to be protected from sunlight.

Here's some information on the different cleaners that I use and how I use them in my home.

Cleaning Spray

This is the all-purpose cleaning spray that I use the most in my home.  You purchase the Thieves Household Cleaner from Young Living and then just add water.  The cleaner is highly concentrated and smells wonderful!  We spray our counters off, mop the floors, and use on any other surface that needs to be cleaned.  It is by far the best cleaner and easiest to make!  Only two ingredients!  This is in the largest spray bottle because it is used the most often.  You can make different strengths of cleaner by adding more concentrate if needed.

Glass & Stainless Steel Cleaner

This cleaner is my next favorite because I hate cleaning glass!  I never liked the method (even though it works so well) of wiping the cleaning solution off with newspaper.  That just didn't sit right with me.  Probably because newspapers are so dirty.  This recipe uses white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, water and citrus essential oils like lemon, lime or grapefruit.  (These links go directly to the Young Living website.  Unless you are a member, you pay retail price.  I would encourage you to look into becoming a member because of all of the wonderful perks, including cheaper prices!)  This solution also works well to clean all of our stainless steel appliances.  Just make sure you don't spray too much.  Just like essential oils, a little goes a long way!

Purbreeze

I use this spray to freshen the scent of my home by spraying the linens, carpets, and furniture.  It uses a blend called Purification which smells fresh and clean.   I've also made a carpet deodorizer with baking soda and this blend.  You sprinkle the carpet and then vacuum it up.  I prefer the spray method because it takes a lot less time!  Another benefit to this spray is that the essential oil blend contains Citronella and Lemongrass oils, both known for their repelling properties.

Dusting Spray

I really, really, really hate to dust!  But, this spray has made the experience a little more tolerable.  With the fresh lemon scent, it really lifts my mood. I spray a small amount on the microfiber cloth - not on the surface of what I am dusting - and wipe off.  It helps remove whatever is on the surface and leaves a fresh smell.

The difference between this fresh smell is that it actually came from a lemon's peel.  There are no toxic chemicals used to make a lemon smell like, well, ... a lemon!

If you are interested in learning more about toxin-free living, and making the choice to invest in your family's health, consider becoming a member of Young Living.  They are a wonderful and trustworthy company with very high standards for all products.  

For more info on living toxin-free, check out this webinar I did: click here! (The last slide doesn't work anymore, but if you'd like the second video, here it is!)