It's officially spring! Time to open up the house and give everything a good cleaning. I love using all these cleaners because they are healthy for my family and the environment - Win-Win! They are also very easy to make and much less expensive than buying ready-made from the store. But first, a little education about why we should be cleaning with natural ingredients.

Did you know the air you breathe inside your home can be anywhere from 2 - 5  times more polluted than outside air? So every product you use in your home, stays in your home for you to inhale when you breathe, or absorb through your skin through surfaces. 

The worst culprits for indoor air pollution are: 

• Household Air Fresheners, (including candles, plug ins, wax burners and sprays)
• Cleaning Products
• Fabric Softeners
• Dryer Sheets

A recent NRDC analysis identified 45 chemicals commonly found in U.S. indoor dust. In the study, 10 different phthalates, fragrances, flame retardants, and phenols were found in a whopping 90 percent to 100 percent of samples. These chemicals slough off from personal care products, furniture, and plastics and have been linked to cancer, reproductive harm, and hormone disruption. They’re especially dangerous for young children, whose brains and bodies are still developing, and who spend more time crawling and playing at dust level.

For More Information: https://www.ewg.org/healthyhomeguide/

"Before learning how easy it is to make your own cleaners, I used to use the traditional cleaners. Every time I had to clean the bathrooms I would have a hard time breathing and get a horrible headache -- even when I was trying to air out the room to remove the hazardous fumes the cleaning agents were releasing. Now I can breath easily when I clean and I know my house is being cleaned without all of the chemicals being left behind."  ~ Michelle

Did you know you can make 7 different easy-to-make cleaning products using only a handful of all natural ingredients? And most of them you probably already have in your pantry?

Powerful, Natural Cleaning Agents

 Water - Water is one of the most important cleaning agents. It is known as the universal cleaner due to its ability to dissolve other substances.

Distilled White Vinegar - White vinegar has a 5 percent acidity rate, which is similar to the acidity level in multipurpose cleaners. It is this acidity that can dissolve mineral deposits, dirt, and grease. 

Baking Soda - Baking soda is an effective cleaning agent because it is a mild alkali (base) and allows dirt and grease to dissolve in water. It is also able to deodorize odors because of its higher ph - most odors are acidic and when they react with the more basic baking soda, they are neutralized (and you thought you'd never use high school chemistry!). Lastly, baking soda is slightly abrasive which gives it some extra scrubbing power

Soap - Soap acts as a surfactant and emulsifier. It surrounds oil making it easier to rinse away with water. The recipes below recommend using Castile soap, Thieves Cleaner, and Thieves Dish Soap. The Thieves Cleaner and Thieves Dish Soap are ultra-concentrated, which is why you only need a small amount to make your different cleaning supplies, and plant-based, so safe for your family.

Hydrogen Peroxide - Hydrogen peroxide has been used as an antiseptic since the 1920s. It is able to kill bacteria by destroying their cell walls. It is also excellent at lifting stains out of fabric. 

7 Easy-to-Make Cleaning Product Recipes

   Add thieves cleaner to a glass spray bottle and slowly add the water (otherwise you will get a bubbly mess!). Use to clean everything in your house, garage or garden. Safe to use around pets! It also makes an excellent pest spray to keep bugs from eating your plants and it is safe to use around food so no worries about scrubbing toxic pesticides from your garden veggies.

Fabric Spray

     1/4 cup witch hazel/vodka

     8 ounces water

     5-10 drops essential oils

     (purification blend, citronella or citrus fresh blend essential oils work well)

Add everything to a glass spray bottle. It works best if you leave it 24 hours before use to allow the essential oils to fully incorporate into the solution. Shake well before using and use to freshen up fabric surfaces. Test in a hidden spot before use just in case! Some fabrics are finicky!!!

Wood Polish

     1/4 cup olive oil

     1/4 capful Thieves Cleaner

     5 drops pine essential oil

Mix oil, cleaner and pine essential oil in a small container (a small glass bowl would work well). Apply to wood surfaces and wipe off. Do not use on floors - they will be slick!

Carpet Deodorizer

     2 cups baking soda

     5-10 drops essential oils (lavender or stress away blend essential oils work well)

Mix baking soda and essential oils in a small glass bowl. Sprinkle on carpet and allow to sit for at least 30 minutes. Vacuum your carpet and enjoy the fresh air!

Glass Cleaner

     6 ounces water

     3 drops citrus fresh blend or lemon essential oil

     1/2 tablespoon white vinegar

     1/2 capful Thieves Cleaner

Add everything to a glass spray bottle and gently swirl to combine. Spray on glass surfaces and wipe dry.

Soft Scrub

     1 cup baking soda

     5 tablespoons Castile soap

     1/2 capful Thieves Cleaner

     3 drops lemon essential oil

Add everything to a small glass bowl and mix until everything is well combined. Use in bathroom and kitchen as a gentle scrubbing cleaner. Spot test on surfaces first, just in case!

Stain Spray

     1 teaspoon hydrogen peroxide

     2 teaspoons Thieves Cleaner

     1 teaspoon Thieves Dish Soap

     6 drops lemon essential oil

Add everything to a glass spray bottle (a travel size bottle would work well). Spray on stain, gently massage the fabric and immediately wash. Spot test first in an inconspicuous location.

NOTE: Distilled water is recommended. Always store in glass containers. Essential oils listed are suggestions.

If you want to learn more about turning your home into a chemical-free home, message me! I have an excellent Chemical Free Home Class I would love to share with you.

Do you want more tips and tricks about how to incorporate Holistic Living into your life? 

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Hello and welcome! My name is Michelle and I am a wife to an amazingly supportive husband, a mamma to a son, two daughters, and an awesome daughter-in-law, and a dog-mom to a feisty Mini American Eskimo.

My background is in the health sciences. I have my BS in Biology with a specialization in Medical Technology. I worked 10 years in the pharmaceutical industry, specifically Quality Control. I have always been fascinated by our amazing bodies.

I've been on the wellness journey since 2010, when my husband and I started eating healthier and exercising to improve our lives. Since then, I feel as though I have been nudged along this wellness path, gaining knowledge and helping people along the way.

In 2012, I became a massage therapist. This gave me an opportunity to help my clients feel better without resorting to pain medication, if at all possible. It was through massage therapy training where I first learned about the mind-body-spirit connection and how important it is to have balance in all three areas. Massage therapy school is also where I first learned about the amazing benefits of essential oils.

In 2014, my husband and I were blessed with our first child together. Later that year, we discovered she had a rare genetic condition which caused her to lose function in both of her kidneys. She went on dialysis until she was big enough for a kidney transplant. I was blessed to be a match for her, and was able to give her my kidney in April 2016. Being a living donor is an amazing experience and I would do it again if I could. We are both doing well with our single kidneys.

Having an immunosuppressed child changed how I view life. I do not take for granted my health or the health of my family. I am more adamant now then I was before about making healthy choices in what we eat, what we put on our bodies, and what we use to keep our home clean.

Recently, I have been battling GERD so digestive health has been on my radar lately. Through clean eating, natural remedies, and the power of these amazing oils I have been able to stop using the acid blockers my GI doctor insisted I would be using for the rest of my life. If you know me, you know I really do not like taking medicine unless absolutely necessary and I try my best to find alternative means to feel better. 

Today I am still on the road to health and wellness. There is always something new to learn, and little by little I am making changes to help my family reduce the amount of toxins in our lives.

Welcome to the Holistic Living Lifestyle! Together we can learn to live 

Healthy & Balanced.