Today, we have a guest post from Elaine at Nourishing Oils. Elaine saves money is by making DIY green cleaning products. She has stopped by to share her recipes for several household cleaners. These DIY green cleaning products are safer for the environment and our families. Plus they will help us save in the pocket book.
Here is her story.
A few years ago I was a coffee chugging, martini sipping, suit wearing, working all hours, climbing the corporate ladder, kind of gal. Then my life changed dramatically. I was diagnosed with a tumor, and my little girl experienced various health challenges. It was a serious wake-up call and forced me to prioritize keeping myself, my husband, and my young children healthy. We changed what and how we eat to focus on whole, raw, unprocessed, green, organic, and GMO-free. I read dozens of books and research studies linking various chemicals to cancer growth and went on a mission to eliminate those chemicals from our home. Along this journey I discovered essential oils. The results that we have experienced since we started using high quality pure essential oils as an alternative to medications, beauty products and cleaning solutions has radically changed our daily lives. After having amazing successes in my family I started sharing these oils with my friends, and Nourishing Oils was born. I now use essential oils in my homemade, all natural, free of toxins, cleaning products, and I am very excited to share some of my recipes with you today.
All Purpose Cleaner Recipe
We use this All Purpose Cleaner for cleaning kitchen counters, floors, bathrooms, walls, little kid sticky-smears, and everything else messy. This recipe includes Lemon essential oil because it has antiseptic, antifungal, and antiviral properties. One drop of lemon oil can remove nasty lingering odors. Diffusing or spritzing lemon oil can cleanse the air and also uplift your mood. Who doesn’t need a boost while cleaning the house!
2 cup white vinegar
2 cups filtered water
2 Tablespoons dish soap
20 drops Lemon essential oil
Mix all ingredients and store in a glass spray bottle. Shake it well before use as the oils do separate from the water when standing. It will smell like vinegar when you use it, but that smell will disappear quickly and you will be left with a fresh clean smell. Over time the citrus oils will corrode plastic, so it is important to not store this in plastic bottles.
Disinfecting Spray
This is the most used cleaning product in our home. It is mild and safe for children to use themselves. My children help clean the house by spraying this Disinfecting Spray on the potty seat, toilet handle, sink faucet, door knobs, banisters, in stinky shoes, in the trash can, and every other commonly touched or smelly area. This is a great way to keep everything disinfected in between more thorough cleanings, without the negative chemicals in antibacterial soaps.
It is also a handy product to keep in our car to spray on hands after getting back in the car after school, play group, or any outing where you might have touched germ-infested things. Before spraying on children’s hands it is really important that they are taught not to touch their eyes before it is dry.
2 cups filtered water
1 teaspoon 3% food grade hydrogen peroxide (optional)
6 drops doTERRA On Guard essential oil
5 drops Melaleuca essential oil
2 drops Lemon essential oil
2 drops Eucalyptus essential oil
Mix all ingredients and store in a glass spray bottle. Shake it well before use.
The essential oils in this blend are antibacterial, antiseptic, antifungal, antiparasitic, and antiviral. You could use any combination of these. Our favorite is the On Guard blend, which combines wild orange, clove bud, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus, and rosemary. This blend has been studied for its ability to kill harmful bacteria, mold, and viruses.
Mold & Mildew Spray
We use this Mold and Mildew Spray for cleaning the shower walls. If you have a basement that floods or any moisture problems this is a good solution to use on the walls of the affected area.
1/2 cup 3% food grade hydrogen peroxide
1 cup filtered water
2 drops doTERRA On Guard essential oil
Mix all ingredients and store in a glass spray bottle. Shake well and spray on area. Leave it on the area for 30 minutes, then rinse. Avoid contact with your skin. The hydrogen peroxide is sufficiently diluted that it will not cause any harm, but it may turn your skin temporarily white if it comes in direct contact. If you do get hydrogen peroxide directly on your skin, rub coconut oil on the white area and it should return back to normal within about an hour, but it is better to wear gloves and avoid contact with skin.
Mirror & Window Spray
1 1/2 cups vinegar
1/2 cup filtered water
8 drops of any citrus oil
Combine in a glass spray bottle. Shake well before each use.
Citrus oils are antibacterial, and excellent at breaking down greasy spots. A few citrus oils that we like to use are lemon, lime, bergamot, grapefruit, and wild orange.
Making your own cleaning products in easy, quick, non-toxic, and far less expensive than purchasing commercial products. Give it a try!
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