What’s Lurking In Your Cabinets?

Have you ever wondered what’s lurking in your cabinets as you look at the stash of cleaning products residing there? Unfortunately most household cabinets are full of harmful, toxic cleaners and many people, if not most, are unaware of the dangers they pose to our health. Our home is our sanctuary- it should be a place of rest, relaxation and wellness… a safe haven for our loved ones (including our beloved pets), and friends, not a place of environmental pollution. As we strive to create a safe, healthy environment in our home it’s important to learn what hidden dangers may be lurking there and then work to systematically remove them.

Surprisingly government regulations don’t require manufacturers to list all ingredients, just those that are combustible, corrosive, poisonous, etc. Most household cleaning products contain toxic chemicals like ammonia, formaldehyde, phthalates, benzalkonium chlorid, and 2-butoxyethanol, just to name a few. Among the worst offenders are oven cleaners- they contain lead and ammonia.

Here’s what Robert Fuller, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Earth and Environmental Science at the State University of New York, Plattsburgh has to say on this subject.

“As a professor teaching environmental chemistry, I’ve always been alarmed about the diversity of chemicals we add to everyday products from prepared foods to household cleaning products. Laced with potent disinfectants and strong oxidants, these cleaners contain known carcinogens, trigger allergies and exacerbate asthma symptoms. Many contain compounds that mimic our body’s hormones and have harmed us and the environmental systems they drain into.

Personally, I’ve thrown away all of these types of cleaning products and replaced them with one family of products, the Thieves line from Young Living. Not only do they clean”… “I can use them without fear of skin contact or ingesting vapors. In fact, they even smell good. And the best benefit; we save money by replacing numerous cleaners with just one bottle of Thieves.”

 
Did you know that according the the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air can be 10 to 100 times more polluted than outdoor air. One of the most common culprits… you guessed it, common household cleaners emitting toxic fumes. No wonder… according to the Environmental Working Group U.S. law allows manufacturers of most cleaning products to use just about any ingredient they want, which includes known carcinogens, hormone disruptors and substances that are known to harm fetal and infant development. Check out their expansive database and learn which products to avoid here.

Have you ever read the back of one of those cleaner bottles? There are some serious warnings there. Don’t believe me… then go grab a couple of them right now, I’ll wait. No seriously, GO GRAB A BOTTLE!

Now, read the label. There is probably a warning that reads something like this:

Seriously, in case of SKIN CONTACT… for Pete’s sake it’s a household cleaner. Guess that means I should be wearing gloves every time I use it.

Fumes… Hazardous gases… oh no, guess that means I need a gas mask! NOT!!!

No thank you… if it’s not safe enough for me to touch or breath, then why in the world would I want to use it in my home.

The POWER of Thieves and Diffusing Essential Oils

 
Years ago I stopped using Lysol Disinfectant spray, Formula 409, and other similar products and started making my own basic household and window cleansers as they were a lot cheaper and usually worked just as well if not better. However, when I learned of Young Living’s concentrated THIEVES Household Cleaner and essential oils I had to give them a try. After all, why not use something that not only cleans but refreshes and neutralizes odors and freshens the air as well.

It didn’t take long… actually the first time I used it to clean my mirrors I was so amazed I called my sister right away to tell her that she HAD to get some. I was really impressed. You know how hard it can be to get splatters off mirrors, especially dried on toothpaste, right? Even with regular window cleaners I’m usually left having to use my fingernail to scrape it off. Well, I have to tell you I was SO IMPRESSED at how well the Thieves window cleaning solution worked… dried on toothpaste came off with no effort and left the mirrors sparkling clean. I was SOLD!

Thieves is one of our most popular products and we have entire product line based on this powerful blend of essential oils. It was inspired by the legend of four 15th-century French thieves who formulated a special aromatic combination composed of clove, rosemary, and other botanicals used while robbing the dead and dying.

MAKE YOUR OWN HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS, REPELLANTS & TREATMENTS

• Be sure to use natural cleaning sponges, mops, etc. as essential oils can react with plastic and dissolve them.
• Also remember essential oils should not be exposed to light so you’ll need to store in a dark cool place, or just attach sprayer to old hydrogen peroxide bottle and use that.
• Since oils separate from water easily, always shake bottle well before using, continuing to shake with each application.
• The addition of cleansers Thieves Household Cleaner or Dr. Bonner’s Liquid soap may help

BASIC EVERYDAY CLEANING SPRAY
In a 16 oz spray bottle, add water almost to the top; add 3 capfuls of THIEVES Household Cleaner OR 1/2 cup of natural soap like Dr. Bonner’s liquid castile soap (unscented), and 5-10 drops total of your favorite essential oil: my fav’s are lemon and and Purification. Shake well before each use.

HEAVY DUTY CLEANER
In a 16 0z spray bottle, fill with water almost to the top of bottle, add 3 capsuls of THIEVES Household Cleaner, add 6 drops lemon oil, 3 drops Thieves oil. Shake well before each use. Good for tubs, showers, toilets, sinks, countertops, and floors.

WINDOW CLEANER
In a 16 oz spray bottle, fill with water almost to the top of bottle, add 1/2 cap THIEVES Household Cleaner and shake well.

TOILET BOWL CLEANER
In a 16 oz spray bottle, add 1 cup water, 1/2 cup natural soap like Dr. Bonner’s liquid castile soap (unscented), 1/2 cup vinegar, 1 capful of THIEVES Household Cleaner and 5 drops each of your favorite essential oil: my fav’s are lemon and Purification.

CARPET FRESHENER
Keep carpet fresh smelling by adding 16-20 drops of your favorite essential oil to 1 cup baking soda. Mix well and place in covered container overnight; the next day sprinkle over carpet and let sit for 15 minutes or so. Vacuum up powder and enjoy the aroma.

FLOOR CLEANER
Add 1/4 cup white vinegar to a bucket of water. Add 10 drops of lemon oil and 4 drops of oregano (or Purification essential oil. They have powerful cleaning properties.

DISHWASHING DETERGENT
Improve the germ killing power of your dishwasher detergent by adding a couple drops of essential oils. Or better yet, try using baking soda and a couple of drops Thieves essential oil to wash them naturally… and it leaves no chemical residue!

DISHWASHER SOAP
Improve the cleaning action of your dishwashing soap by adding several drops of essential oils such as: lavender, lemon , Melaleuca alternafolia, fir, spruce, pine, bergamot, or orange. Also helps keep your sponge and dish cloth smelling fresh and clean.

VACUUM CLEANER
Apply a drop or two of your favorite essential oils to the paper collection bag and let the aroma fill the air as you vacuum. Avoid adding oils to vacuums with plastic water reservoirs as the oils may damage container. I love using lemon and Purification.

FLY REPELLING WINDOW TREATMENT
Take a small glass bowl of water and add 10 drops of lavender or lemongrass oil. Saturate cloth (disposable ones are nice for this) and wring out til just damp. Wipe down window sills to keep pesky flies away.

BENEFITS OF DIFFUSING ESSENTIAL OILS

It’s wonderful to diffuse essential oils while cleaning. I love filling the air with their fresh clean scents and know that I’m not filling the air with toxic chemicals like those found in most scented candals. I some essential oils to be very energizing and find that diffusing them helps to motivate me to do the household cleansing making the whole process a win-win situation all around. According to a study published in Psychological Science back in 2005, researchers found that “cleaning-related activities increased” when individuals where exposed to citrus-related scents! How awesome is that?

Have TOXIC CHEMICALS to recyle?
 
Find out how and where to go in your area here!