12 Apr A Chemical Free Home: Using Essential Oils
A “chemical free home” or a “toxic free home” has become a popular and common goal for mums across the globe in recent times. We have learnt about the harsh realities of regularly using chemicals around the home and the impact it can have on our overall health and wellbeing. However, it is a common belief that it can be difficult and expensive to transition over to natural alternatives. It is convenient and often much cheaper to shop the cleaning aisle at our local supermarket and pick up the products we need to clean our home and keep it smelling fresh. There is no need to create any products, no time spent collecting multiple ingredients or items and no thought necessary. Even the natural, toxic-free cleaning products stocked on the shelves are more expensive than our standard go-to items. I get it, ladies, time is of the essence. It is hard enough to find the time to clean your house, let alone finding the time to make and create natural alternatives. But what is of paramount importance to so many of us is keeping a home that is free from toxins and creating a safe and beautiful home for our family.
When I first moved out of home and set up my little apartment with my long term partner, I was committed to sustaining a chemical-free and natural environment for us both. With a tight budget and little-to-no time to spend around the house, this challenge seemed difficult at first. During this time, I was already using essential oils in my life to combat and deal with the regular aches and pains of life, whether that be a common headache, bloating or a sore neck. I took some time to research about the chemical-free options I could use in my home and the items that would be required to get started. It quickly became apparent that most of the items needed were things that I already had in the kitchen cardboard. There was an abundance of information on the website about this topic and it took a great deal of time to shift through the sources and to find the reliable and useful ones. I found much joy and pleasure researching about the natural alternatives and the thought of cleaning my home without inhaling those toxic chemicals excited me.
Today I am proud to say that my home is completely chemical-free when it comes to cleaning. I have replaced my disinfectant spray, my room sprays, dishwashing tablets, carpet cleaner, window cleaner, floor cleaner, laundry detergent, and toilet bombs with natural alternatives using essential oils. I also started cleaning other parts of the home more regularly simply because I had discovered these recipes. For example, I created a sink fizz cleaner to clean my sink at the end of every day. I simply combine 6 drops of Lemon Essential Oil and ½ cup of baking soda and sprinkle it over the sink. I then spray 3 tablespoons of vinegar over the mixture and watch it fizzle away. Finally, I give it a light scrub and rinse away. The clean lemon smells lasts all night long and leaves the kitchen smelling so lovely and fresh. And the best part is, it’s completely natural.
By simply putting aside a few moments a month to create, blend and formulate your cleaning products, and taking the time to gather your items during your shopping trip, you will have many natural alternatives to keep your home clean and smelling fresher for longer. Trust me when I say that you will gain much joy from doing so. Even get your kids involved and allow them to help with creating your cleaning items. You will thoroughly enjoy the process of creating your own cleaning products and you will soon notice the difference throughout your home. The pleasant scents of the essential oils will fill your home for much longer than any chemical spray or product.
So, what do you need to get started?
You will probably find that most of the items you require are things that you will already have. Start with some vinegar, distilled water, baking soda, citric acid, cornstarch, and castile soap. Also, get yourself some spray mist bottles so you can store your creations correctly.
Most importantly, get yourself some good quality, pure essential oils. The ones that I use most are Lemon, Lime, Peppermint and Sweet Orange. However, I also use Tea Tree, Thyme and Grapefruit on occasion. I am often incorporating these essential oils into my cleaning products due to their antibacterial, antiseptic and/or antimicrobial properties. However, if you’re creating a room spray it’s really up to you which essential oils you would like to use. Harp Island has a wonderful range of essential oils that you can purchase to help you get started. We are always expanding our range and we will be sure to have something you will love.
Finally, you will need a little bit of faith and a pinch of creativity. There is a resource available on our website at www.harpisland.com.au/pages/resources where you will be able to access some of the recipes that I use to keep my home clean, fresh and toxic-free.
Have fun ladies!
If you have any questions or queries about switching over to natural alternatives, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you.
About the Author
Renee is the founder and owner of Harp Island, an essentials oils, bespoke oil blends, and massage oils business. Renee aims to encourage the use of aromatherapy to assist individuals in improving their wellbeing and to discover the powerful benefits of essential oil use.
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