Last week's healthy tip (Dangerous Cleaning Products) highlighted the damaging effects of many of the products we use to clean our homes and our bodies. Click here to read more about the dangers of particular chemicals found in everyday products such as laundry detergents, air fresheners, hand soaps, fragrances and much more from Larissa Jones' book, "Is Your Home Safe?"

This week, I want to give you some natural cleaning recipes that work great!

Use the ingredients listed below when making your own alternative cleaners, most are
inexpensive and you probably already have many of them in your kitchen cupboards. All
can be found at your local supermarket, natural food store or drugstore.
Used individually or combined, these cleaners are safe, effective and cost-efficient.

Not ready to make your own cleaners? Try Young Living's all-natural Thieves Household Cleaner, Wipes and Spray to distribute the power of therapeutic-grade essential oils in your home while killing germs and bacteria.

The ingredients in Thieves products have been tested for effectiveness at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, and found to have a 99.96 percent success rate against airborne bacteria. Made of Thieves oil and combined with a proprietary liposome base that binds grease and oil to lecithin, you'll get unparalleled cleaning power combined with germ killing action. Use the cleaners anywhere you want to destroy germs and bacteria-at home, at work and at play.

For those ready to make your own, we hope the following natural cleaning recipes will help you on your way!

GENERAL SUPPLY LIST:
BAKING SODA (sodium bicarbonate): An all-purpose, non-toxic cleaner. Cleans, deodorizes, removes stains and softens fabrics.
BORAX (sodium borate): A natural mineral that kills mold and bacteria. An alternative to bleach, it deodorizes, removes stains and boosts the cleaning power of soap. Please note safety precautions at the bottom of this page.
CASTILE and VEGETABLE OIL BASED SOAPS: Cleans everything! Great as a base to add essential oils to for specific cleaning needs (see below). Nature's Sunshine makes a great Castile soap called Sunshine Concentrate.
CORNSTARCH: Starches clothes, absorbs oil and grease
HERBS and ESSENTIAL OILS: For disinfecting and fragrance (more on which ones are best for what jobs below).
LEMON JUICE: Cuts through grease and removes perspiration and other stains from clothing. A bleach alternative.
SALT (sodium chloride): An abrasive
VINEGAR (acetic acid): Cuts grease, removes stains and is an excellent water softener.

Air Fresheners/Deodorizers:

1) Place cloves, cinnamon sticks, allspice/other favorite scented spice, or orange or lemon rinds in a pot of water , simmer for 1-2 hours
2) The best way to freshen, clean and kill bacteria and viruses (not just odors) in the air is to diffuse essential oils with a nebulizing diffuser. The best oils for clean air are eucalyptus, lemon, citronella, cinnamon bark, peppermint, rosemary or any combination you find pleasing. Contact us for some really great essential oil blends that disinfect and deodoraize!
3) 2-3 slices of white bread absorbs refrigerator odors. Or place baking soda in an open container of your choice. Also good for closets and other small enclosed spaces
4) Try this air freshener/room deodorizer spray recope:

• 6 drops of rosemary pure essential oil
• 6 drops of cinnamon bark pure essential oil
• 2 drops eucalyptus
• 4 drops lemon pure essential oil (may also substitute lemon juice if needed)
• 2 ounces purified water
• 1 tsp baking soda
• Add essential oils to baking soda then dissolve in water. Pour into glass spritzing bottles or spray bottle. Shake well before each use and spray liberally into the air.  This spray will combat odors and kill infectious organisms.

5) Create this Spin-Fresh Bathroom Deodorizer:

• Add a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil to the inside of the cardboard toilet tissue or paper towel roll. With each turn, fragrance is released into the room.

All Purpose Cleaners:

1) Mix vinegar and salt together and add pure essential oils of lemon and thyme for a good surface cleaner. May also be used with baking soda, castille (or other natural) soap and warm water.
2) Dissolve 4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart warm water for a general cleaner. Add pure essential oils and mix periodically during use.

3) Tea Tree oil is strong antiseptic and is anti-viral as well as a good insecticidal agent. Good used in any all purpose cleaning recipe.

Disinfectants:

1) Borax has long been recognized for its disinfectant and deodorizing properties.
2) Mix 1/2 cup Borax into 1 gallon hot water or undiluted vinegar and clean with this solution. Add a few sprigs of fresh thyme, rosemary or lavender. Steep for 10 minutes, strain and cool. For even better results, add essential fragrant oils instead of fresh herbs. Store in a plastic spray bottle.
3) 2 tablespoons borax, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 2 cups hot water, and pure essential oils. Combine the borax and lemon juice with the water in a spray bottle. Use as you would any commercial all-purpose cleaner.
4) Isopropyl Alcohol is an excellent disinfectant. Sponge on and allow todry. Use in a well-ventilated area and wear gloves.

Glass Cleaners:

1) Use undiluted vinegar in a spray bottle or
2) Equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle or
3) 1/2 lemon juice and 2 cups water in a spray bottle or
4) 1/2 cup vinegar or lemon juice, 2 cups water, 1/4 teaspoon vegetable oil based soap (such as Murphy's Oil Soap)
5) Mix 1/2 cup cornstarch with 2 quarts warm water. Apply with sponge then wipe with absorbent cloth or towel. Do not wash windows or glass when sun is on them or if they are warm. This causes the solution to dry too quickly creating unwanted streaks.
6) No-Streak Glass Cleaner: 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 quart warm water
Mix the ingredients and apply with a sponge or pour into spray bottle and spray on. Wipe dry with crumpled newspaper, buff to a shine. (Use crumpled newspaper instead of paper towels for lint-free results.
7) Rubbing alcohol is effective in place of glass cleaner.

Bathroom Cleaners:

Toilet Bowl Cleaners:
1) Baking Soda and Vinegar: Sprinkle baking soda into the bowl, then squirt with vinegar and scour with a toilet brush. Add tea tree essential oil to the mixture for maximum cleaning and deodorizing.
2) Borax and Lemon Juice. For removing a stubborn stain, like toilet bowl ring, mix enough borax and lemon juice into a paste to cover the ring. Flush toilet to wet the sides, then rub on paste. Let sit for 2 hours and scrub thoroughly. For less stubborn toilet bowl rings, sprinkle baking soda around the rim and scrub with a toilet brush.
3) 1 cup borax, 1/2 cup white vinegar. Flush to wet the sides of the bowl. Sprinkle the borax around the toilet bowl, then spray with vinegar. Leave for several hours or overnight before scrubbing with a toilet brush.
4) Denture tablets are an excellent substitute for toilet cleaner. Drop two tablets into the bowl and clean as you would with toilet cleaner.
5) Liquid castile soap and baking soda or Borax, scrub with a toilet brush.

Drain Cleaner:
For slow drains, use this drain cleaner once a week to keep drains fresh and clog-free.
1/2 cup baking soda
1 cup white vinegar
1 gallon boiling water
1/2 a used lemon
Pour baking soda down drain/disposal, followed by vinegar. Allow the mixture to foam for several minutes before flushing the drain with boiling water.

Tub And Tile Cleaners:
1) Baking Soda. Sprinkle baking soda like you would scouring powder. Rub with a damp sponge. Rinse thoroughly.
2) Vinegar and Baking Soda. To remove film buildup on bathtubs, apply vinegar full-strength to a sponge and wipe. Next, use baking soda as you would scouring powder. Rub with a damp sponge and rinse thoroughly with clean water.
3) Vinegar. Vinegar removes most dirt without scrubbing and doesn't leave a film. Use 1/4 cup (or more) vinegar to 1 gallon water.
4) Baking Soda. To clean grout, put 3 cups baking soda into a medium-sized bowl and add 1 cup warm water. Mix into a smooth paste and scrub into grout with a sponge or toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly and dispose of leftover paste when finished.
5) Rub the area to be cleaned with half a lemon dipped in borax. Rinse well, and dry with soft cloth.

6) Add tea tree essential oil to any mixture for maximum cleaning and deodorizing.

Porcelain Cleaner:
Cream of Tartar. To clean porcelain surfaces, rub with cream of tartar sprinkled on a damp cloth.

Plumbing Fixtures:
1) To clean stainless steel, chrome, fiberglass, ceramic, porcelain or enamel fixtures, dissolve 2 tbsp baking soda in 1 qt of water. Wipe on fixtures then rinse.
2) Vinegar and Paper Towels. Hard lime deposits around faucets can be softened for easy removal by covering the deposits with vinegar-soaked paper towels. Leave the paper towels on for about one hour before cleaning. Leaves chrome clean and shiny.

Shower Heads:
1) Metal Shower Heads:
To remove deposits which may be clogging your metal shower head, combine 1/2 cup white vinegar and one quart water. Remove shower head then completely submerge in mixture and boil 15 minutes.
2) Plastic Shower Heads:
Combine 1 pint white vinegar and 1 pint hot water. Completely submerge the shower head and soak for about one hour.

Rust Stain and Hard Water Deposit Remover:
Apply full-strength vinegar or lemon juice and let stand until spot disappears, rinse. Repeat if necessary.

Mildew Remover:
Dissolve half-cup vinegar with half-cup borax in warm water.

Lime Deposits:
White vinegar

Kitchen Cleaners:

Oven Cleaners:
1) The first step is prevention. Put a sheet of aluminum foil on the floor of the oven, underneath but not touching the heating element.
2) Clean up the spill as soon as it occurs.
3) While the oven is still warm, sprinkle salt or baking soda on the spill. If the spill is completely dry, wet the spill lightly before sprinkling on salt. When the oven cools, scrape away the spill and wash the area clean.
4) Baking soda, water; salt; vegetable oil-based liquid soap. Sprinkle water on oven bottom. Cover with baking soda. Let sit overnight. Wipe off and apply liquid soap with scouring pad. Rinse.
5) Retard grease buildup in your oven by dampening your cleaning rag in vinegar and water before wiping out your oven.
6) Sprinkle/spray water followed by a layer of baking soda. Rub gently with a very fine steel wool pad for tough spots. Wipe off scum with dry paper towels or sponge. Rinse well and wipe dry.
7) 2 tablespoons vegetable oil-based liquid soap, 2 tablespoons borax: Mix the soap and borax in a spray bottle. Fill the bottle with hot water and shake well. Spray on oven and leave for 20 minutes. Scrub off.

Counter Tops/Kitchen Surfaces: See disinfectants and all purpose cleaners above.

Fragrant Kitchen Rinse
Use any of the following essential oils, alone or in a combination pleasing to you. Add 4 drops of oil to each pint of water. Pour into a spray bottle, store away cool dark place. Use as a final rinse after cleaning kitchen surfaces.

• Eucalyptus, Pine, Lavender, Cypress, Lemon, Lemongrass, Lime, Thyme, Grapefruit, Orange, Wintergreen, Rosemary, Sage
  

Dishes:

1) Use liquid castille (or other natural) soap and pure lemon oil instead of detergents - which are petroleum-based.
2) Baking soda may also be added to this recipe.

3) In dishwashers, use equal parts borax and washing soda.

Spot-free Dishwasher Rinse:
Add 1 cup of white vinegar to the rinse compartment of your automatic dishwasher. Wash dishes as usual.

Coffee/Tea Stains:

To remove coffee stains from cups or counters, rub with baking soda paste.

Drinking Glasses:
1) Occasionally soak drinking glasses in a solution of vinegar and water to really get them clean. Makes them sparkle!
2) When a quick dip for crystal glassware is needed, prepare a solution of baking soda in tepid-cool water (l level teaspoon to a quart) and brush with a soft toothbrush. Very good for glass coffee makers and thermos jugs too.

Scouring Powders:

1) Baking Soda or Dry Table Salt. These are mild abrasives and can be used as an alternative to chlorine scouring powders. Simply put either baking soda or salt on a sponge or the surface, scour and rinse.
2) Use a non-chlorine scouring powder such as Bon Ami

Non-Abrasive Soft Scrubber:
1/4 cup borax
Vegetable-oil based liquid soap (such as Murphys Oil Soap)
1/2 teaspoon lemon oil
In a bowl, mix the borax with enough soap to form a creamy paste. Add lemon oil and blend well. Scoop a small amount of the mixture onto a sponge, wash the surface, then rinse well.

Carpets/Upholstery: 

1) A great non-toxic carpet stain remover is club soda. Soak spot immediately with soda and blot until the stain is gone.
2) Pet Urine on Carpets: Dab area with toweling to absorb as much as possible, wash spot with liquid dish detergent, and rinse with 1/2 cup vinegar diluted in 1 qt warm water. Lay towels or paper towels over the spot and weight down to absorb excess moisture. Let stand 4 to 6 hours, then remove toweling, brush up nap and allow to dry completely. Use an electric fan to speed drying.
3) Red wine stains can be removed from carpet by rubbing baking soda in and vacuuming.
4) Sprinkle cornstarch onto carpet, vacuum.
5) To remove grease spots from carpets, first sop up the liquid with a sponge, then rub a liberal amount of baking soda into the spot. Let it absorb overnight. Next day, remove the excess and vacuum the area.
6) To remove grease spots from carpets, first absorb excess with a sponge, then rub a liberal amount of corn starch into the spot. Let sit overnight, then vacuum.
7) Dry cornstarch sprinkled on rug and vacuumed.

8) Carpet Fresher
4 cups baking soda or cornstarch
35 drops Eucalyptus essential oil
30 drops Lavender essential oil
25 drops Rosewood essential oil
or any combination of your favorite essentail oils
Measure 4 cups of baking soda into a bowl, add essential oils. Break up any clumps that form, stir until well mixed. Before vacuuming sprinkle powder from a shaker type can or jar. Let it sit on the carpet for about 15 minutes then vacuum.

9) Herbal Carpet Freshener
1 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup lavender flowers
Crush the lavender flowers to release their scent. Mix well with baking soda and sprinkle liberally on carpets. Vacuum after 30 minutes.

10) Sprinkle baking soda on carpets before vacuuming for a natural rug deodorizer

Contact us for some great essential oil blends perfect for cleaning, deodorizing and disinfecting without harming your family (or breaking your budget!).