Natural Cleaning. With Essential Oils. Bethany Williamson. Aromatherapist. Square Pegs, Round World. Please do not reproduce this without permission

Transcription

1 Natural Cleaning With Essential Oils Bethany Williamson Aromatherapist Square Pegs, Round World Please do not reproduce this without permission

2 What are you Cleaning your Home with? Do you know what you are cleaning your home with? Did you know that there are toxic chemicals in commercial chemicals and household cleaners? What exactly are you exposing your family and pets to on a daily basis without realizing? There are 8 hidden toxins in our cleaners: PHTHALATES PERCHLOROETHYLENE OR PERC TRICLOSAN QUARTERNARY AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS, OR QUATS 2-BUTOXYETHANOL AMMONIA CHLORINE SODIUM HYDROXIDE Sounds scary doesn t it? What are these chemicals and what can they do to the health of your family? Let s find out!

3 1.PHTHALATES Found in: Many fragranced household products, such as air fresheners, dish soap, even toilet paper. Because of proprietary laws, companies don t have to disclose what s in their scents, so you won t find phthalates on a label. If you see the word fragrance on a label, there s a good chance phthalates are present. Health Risks: Phthalates are known endocrine disruptors. Men with higher phthalate compounds in their blood had correspondingly reduced sperm counts, according to a 2003 study conducted by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Harvard School of Public Health. Although exposure to phthalates mainly occurs through inhalation, it can also happen through skin contact with scented soaps, which is a significant problem, warns Alicia Stanton, MD, coauthor of Hormone Harmony (Healthy Life Library, 2009). Unlike the digestive system, the skin has no safeguards against toxins. Absorbed chemicals go straight to organs.

4 2. PERCHLOROETHYLENE OR PERC Found in: Dry-cleaning solutions, spot removers, and carpet and upholstery cleaners. Health Risks: Perc is a neurotoxin, according to the chief scientist of environmental protection for the New York Attorney General s office. And the EPA classifies perc as a possible carcinogen as well. People who live in residential buildings where dry cleaners are located have reported dizziness, loss of coordination and other symptoms. While the EPA has ordered a phase-out of perc machines in residential buildings by 2020, California is going even further and plans to eliminate all use of perc by 2023 because of its suspected health risks. The route of exposure is most often inhalation: that telltale smell on clothes when they return from the dry cleaner, or the fumes that linger after cleaning carpets.

5 3.TRICLOSAN Found in: Most liquid dishwashing detergents and hand soaps labeled antibacterial. Health Risks: Triclosan is an aggressive antibacterial agent that can promote the growth of drug-resistant bacteria. Explains Sutton: The American Medical Association has found no evidence that these antimicrobials make us healthier or safer, and they re particularly concerned because they don t want us overusing antibacterial chemicals that s how microbes develop resistance, and not just to these [household antibacterial], but also to real antibiotics that we need. Other studies have now found dangerous concentrations of triclosan in rivers and streams, where it is toxic to algae. The EPA is currently investigating whether triclosan may also disrupt endocrine (hormonal) function. It is a probable carcinogen. At press time, the agency was reviewing the safety of triclosan in consumer products.

6 4. QUARTERNARY AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS, OR QUATS Found in: Fabric softener liquids and sheets, most household cleaners labeled antibacterial. Health Risks: Quats are another type of antimicrobial, and thus pose the same problem as triclosan by helping breed antibiotic-resistant bacteria. They re also a skin irritant; one 10-year study of contact dermatitis found quats to be one of the leading causes. According to Sutton, they re also suspected as a culprit for respiratory disorders: There s evidence that even healthy people who are [exposed to quats] on a regular basis develop asthma as a result.

7 5. 2-BUTOXYETHANOL Found in: Window, kitchen and multipurpose cleaners. Health Risks: 2-butoxyethanol is the key ingredient in many window cleaners and gives them their characteristic sweet smell. It belongs in the category of glycol ethers, a set of powerful solvents that don t mess around. Law does not require 2-butoxyethanol to be listed on a product s label. According to the EPA s Web site, in addition to causing sore throats when inhaled, at high levels glycol ethers can also contribute to narcosis, pulmonary edema, and severe liver and kidney damage. Although the EPA sets a standard on 2-butoxyethanol for workplace safety, Sutton warns, If you re cleaning at home in a confined area, like an unventilated bathroom, you can actually end up getting 2-butoxyethanol in the air at levels that are higher than workplace safety standards. ealtisks: 2-butoxyethanol is the key ingredient in many window

8 6. AMMONIA Found in: Polishing agents for bathroom fixtures, sinks and jewelry; also in glass cleaner Health Risks: Because ammonia evaporates and doesn t leave streaks, it s another common ingredient in commercial window cleaners. That sparkle has a price. Ammonia is a powerful irritant, says Donna Kasuska, chemical engineer and president of ChemConscious, Inc., a risk-management consulting company. It s going to affect you right away. The people who will be really affected are those who have asthma, and elderly people with lung issues and breathing problems. It s almost always inhaled. People who get a lot of ammonia exposure, like housekeepers, will often develop chronic bronchitis and asthma. Ammonia can also create a poisonous gas if it s mixed with bleach.

9 7. CHLORINE Found in: Scouring powders, toilet bowl cleaners, mildew removers, laundry whiteners, and household tap water. Health Risks: With chlorine we have so many avenues of exposure, says Kasuska. You re getting exposed through fumes and possibly through skin when you clean with it, but because it s also in city water to get rid of bacteria, you re also getting exposed when you take a shower or bath. The health risks from chlorine can be acute, and they can be chronic; it s a respiratory irritant at an acute level. But the chronic effects are what people don t realize: It may be a serious thyroid disrupter.

10 8. SODIUM HYDROXIDE Found in: Oven cleaners and drain openers. Health Risks: Otherwise known as lye, sodium hydroxide is extremely corrosive: If it touches your skin or gets in your eyes, it can cause severe burns. Routes of exposure are skin contact and inhalation. Inhaling sodium hydroxide can cause a sore throat that lasts for days. The preceding facts about the 8 Toxic Chemicals was found on this website: Experience Life:

11 YIKES! The good news is there are some healthy, green, all natural solutions out there! Essential oils are a wonderful alternative to harmful, chemical filled cleaners. Let s take a look at a Green Cleaning Tool Box!

12 Basics for your Cleaning Tool Kit Baking Soda Castile Soap White Vinegar Citric Acid Witch Hazel Hydrogen Peroxide Essential Oils Lavender Antiseptic Lemon- Antiseptic, Disinfectant Lime Antiseptic, Disinfectant, Antibacterial Melaleuca Antibacterial, antifungal Protection Blend Antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral Peppermint- Antibacterial, antiseptic, antiviral Wild Orange Antiseptic, Disinfectant

13 Recipes for Natural Cleaning

14 Soft Scrub 1 cup baking soda 4 Tbsp. Castile Soap 1 Tbsp. white vinegar 15 drops wild orange 15 drops melaleuca 10 drops peppermint Mix and keep in an airtight tub. I like to use glass containers. Toilet Bomb.25 cups Citric Acid.5 cups Baking Soda 3 drops Melaleuca 4 drops Lavender Witch Hazel or hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle or very slowly from a glass. Combine the critic acid and baking soda, then slowly add the essential oils. If you add the oils too fast, the whole mixture will start to fizz. Slowly, spray the mixture with liquid until its firm enough to form a ball. Put in molds or use a spoon as a mold. Let dry for mins. When ready, put one or two in the toilet for a fizzy clean toilet.

15 Toilet Cleaner ½ Cup Baking Soda ½ Cup White Vinegar 10 drops of Melaleuca Drop in Toilet and let fizz and then scrub with a scrub brush. Let set overnight for a real through clean! Citrus Dish Cleaner 1 cup liquid castile soap 10 drops Lime E.O. 4 drops Wild Orange 3 drops Lemon E.O. Put in 8oz bottle and shake well. I like to use an olive oil glass container with the metal reducer as a lid.

16 Glass Cleaner ¼ White Vinegar 10 drops of Lemon E.O. Fill remainder with water Glass Spray bottle Hardwood Floor Cleaner Bucket of Hot Water 10 Drops lemon or Lime Essential Oil ½ Cup White Vinegar I add a teaspoon of Protective Blend Concentrate Cleaner for really dirty floors. Mop with a microfiber mop All Purpose Cleaner 1 tablespoon Protective Blend Essential Oil Concentrate Cleaner Fill Remainder with Water

17 Furniture Polish 1/4 cup olive oil 1/4 cup white vinegar 10 drops essential oils (try Wild Orange, Lime or Lemon) 8 oz. glass spray bottle Shake well before each use. Apply to a microfiber cloth and wipe wood surfaces clean. Repeat every 2-3 months or as often as needed. Mold and Mildew Spray In bottle put 1/3 part White Distilled Vinegar 2/3 part water ¼ cup Hydrogen Peroxide 2 drops Lemon Essential oil 3 drops Melaleuca Essential Oil 1 drop Clove essential oil Shake well before using

18 Carpet Deodorizer 15 drops of Essential oil to every cup of Baking Soda Sprinkle on the Carpet and let set Vacuum Paint Fumes When painting add 5ml (1/3 of a bottle) of Wild Orange to a gallon of paint. You can use any essential oil that you like. Mold/Mildew Smell in Laundry Orange/Lemon/Lime Essential oil 3-4 drops in the detergent tray. Mildew Smell on Clothes Put 10 drops of Lemon on the clothing and wash Sparkling Dishes Add 3-5 drops of lemon in the detergent tray of your dishwasher.

19 Leather Cleaner Paper towels 1/4 cup vinegar 1/4 cup olive oil 10 drops lemon or orange essential oil (optional) Small bowl Start by vacuuming your leather furniture, removing any bits of food and dust lurking about. Then gently wipe the leather item with a damp paper towel. Mix together the vinegar and olive oil in a small container, whisking to incorporate. The oil and vinegar won't completely come together because the liquids have different densities. The vinegar gently cleans the leather, and the olive oil breaks up dirt and stains while conditioning the furniture. Adding essential oil gives the cleaner a nice scent, which leaves your furnishings smelling fresh. Dip a clean paper towel into the homemade cleaner and then gently rub on a small test area of the leather item. Let dry for 20 minutes and check for discoloration before coating furniture. Working in a circular motion, coat the entire piece, rubbing the cleaner into the leather. Use a clean and dry paper towel to gently wipe down the furniture, removing any remaining oil. Now sit back and enjoy your freshly cleaned leather!

20 Dust Mites 5 drops each of Lemon Cedar wood and Eucalyptus in a 1 ounce spray bottle with water. Shake before use. Mice Diffuse Peppermint Put peppermint on cotton balls and stuff in the corners of the area where the mice are getting into the house. Bedbugs 15 drops of Cedarwood essential oil in a glass spray bottle and top off with water. Shake before use. Combs and brushes Fill a container with 1½ cups water, ½ cup distilled white vinegar, and 20 drops melaleuca, lemon or lavender essential oil. Soak combs and brushes for 20 minutes. Rinse and air-dry.

21 Scuffed Floors Apply two to four drops of tea-tree oil to the spots. Wipe excess oil with a cloth and rub in distilled white vinegar. Gum-encrusted items Orange oil is great at removing this sticky offender from various materials. (Don t worry: It shouldn t stain fabrics. But do launder immediately.) Apply with a cotton ball. Shower doors Wipe scum-covered glass doors with a few drops of lemon oil twice a month. It will protect them from grime buildup. Sticker Goo on Glass and Windows Take a few drops of lemon essential oil and put it on a paper towel. Then scrub the sticky mess!

22 About Me As a mom, educator, wife, sister and friend I am passionate about sharing how essential oils can make a difference in your life. I have been on this journey with essential oils since the Fall of After experiencing the healing properties of these God given oils I enrolled in the Aromatherapy program at Bastyr Natural College. I am constantly amazed at the healing properties that are contained in essential oils and love to share them with others. I hope you enjoy these natural cleaning recipes and if you have any questions please feel free to reach out. Bethany Williamson Bastyr Trained Aroma Therapist Square Pegs, Round World LLC Theoilqueen@gmail.com Bethany Williamson and Healing with Essential Oils does not provide diagnosis or treatment for diseases. Any opinions shared about health are opinions based on personal experience and personal study.