by Iris Rountree
Spring is here!
Spring is here and who doesn’t love spring!? The warm breeze that wafts in through windows, the tiny shoots of green grass coming up by the corner of the house, robins covering the yard, daffodils, crocuses, and forsythia... With spring comes a fresh breath of air, a chance to start fresh, and of course SPRING CLEANING! It’s a time to wash away the stagnant air from winter's stillness and make room and space in your mind and in your home.
Hidden Dangers!
Most of the cleaning products one buys at the store are full of dangerous chemicals, such as ammonia, bleach, and formaldehyde, that are incredibly harmful to our systems. A few of the dangers that are linked to many common cleaning products are carcinogens, endocrine disrupters, asthma, reproductive problems, migraines, antibiotic resistant bacteria and more. As adults, we should not want to expose ourselves to these toxic chemicals, but as parents, we need to be vigilant because our children are especially sensitive to these exposures. Children are constantly being exposed to the products we use to clean our houses. When these products are used, they send toxins out into the air causing mild air pollution and leave residues on surfaces which can be picked up in many different ways. Often times the chemicals used in these cleaning products are stronger than they need to be to insure effectiveness, and the exposure to harmful chemicals in our homes has become excessive. Thankfully, there are wonderful natural alternatives for cleaning.
Keep your kids safe!
There are many natural cleaning recipes and methods that you can make at home without the harmful ingredients. Here are some fun recipes and directions for a few products which will make your house smell herbal and lovely. Bonus: because they are free are toxic ingredients, you can get your kids in on the cleaning!
Window Wash
Lemon Juice (from a fresh lemon)
2 Cups of Water
¼ ts. Peppermint Essential Oil
¼ ts. Lemon Essential Oil
1 ts. Cornstarch
Directions
Squeeze the fresh lemon into a bowl and add the rest of the liquids. Mix well and then at the cornstarch. Stir the cornstarch in until it is dissolved. Pour into a spray bottle and it is ready for use! Shake well each time before using.
Eucalyptus, Lavender, Tea Tree Disinfectant
1 ts. Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate*
1 ts. Borax
2 Ts. White Vinegar
2 C. of Hot Water
¼ ts. Eucalyptus Essential Oil
¼ ts. Lavender Essential Oil
3 drops Tea Tree Oil
Directions
Combine the Sodium and Borax together then add the liquids of the vinegar and water. Mix well until the powders dissolve. Let it cool slightly before adding the Essential oils as the heat will evaporate the oil if it is too hot. Stir and pour into a spray bottle. Shake well before use.
Rose Water all Purpose Cleaner
1 C. Apple Cider Vinegar
½ C. Rose Water
¼ C. Witch Hazel
1 C. Water Infusion of Lemon Balm, Rose, Lemon Peel, Sage, Rosemary
½ ts. Lemon Essential Oil
½ ts. Geranium Essential Oil
Directions
The night before you wish to make this recipe infuse a few cups of boiled water with lemon balm, rose, lemon peel, sage, and rosemary. Feel free to not use all these herbs or to add others if you so desire. They can be fresh or dried. Let the infusion sit overnight.
The next day combine all the liquids together and then add the essential oil. Pour into a spray bottle and shake before use.
RSS Feed
