Jane's Spring Cleaning 101
I, like most people, don’t enjoy cleaning. But after discovering ways to clean naturally I’ve been able to enjoy cleaning more and get to use my favorite scents! Green cleaning is the way to go to have better smelling products, raise the vibrations of your home and clothes, and be happier! It’s aromatherapy!
Do you know what’s in the cleaning products you currently use? It’s a good idea to check out your existing products and clean out the nasty stuff! Just imagine that long list of chemicals inside of your body, and what it could be doing to your health.
The chemicals in our skincare, bath, body, and cleaning products are in your system within 26 seconds! Yikes! Here at janegee we choose to use botanicals because your body can read them. Your body does not know what to do with chemicals and synthetics.
The Dangers
Chemicals enter your lungs through your breath. Did you know that you inhale approximately 12 times per minute? They can also be absorbed directly through your skin and eyes. Our bodies are incredibly intelligent and in order to fight off chemical exposure the body goes into action. The result is a cascade of inflammation forming free radicals that break down our bodies at a cellular level. They also prevent us from absorbing fat-soluble B vitamins. Remember, everything runs off us, so if the rivers and oceans are polluted around you, then think about how you might be contributing by releasing chemicals from your own body. Make healthy choices so our planet will be a better place to live.
Some of the issues related to commercial cleaning products are: skin and respiratory irritations, watery eyes, chemical burns and hormonal disruptions. Others are associated with chronic, or long-term effects such as cancer.
The Mayo Clinic warns that formaldehyde in our household and personal care products can irritate the respiratory system, cause skin reactions and trigger heart palpitations.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, toxic chemicals in household cleaners cause women working at home to have a 55% higher cancer risk than women working outside the home.
Fragrances added to many cleaners, especially laundry detergents and fabric softeners, may cause such unpleasantness as respiratory irritation, headache, and sneezing in sensitive individuals or those with allergies.
The EPA warns that our homes are 70 times more toxic than outside. Doesn’t that mean that the dirt in your house is less toxic than the chemicals you use to remove it?!
Keeping your home clean, toxic-free, and smelling wonderful doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money or use commercial cleaning products. Below are two recipes for simple, yet effective cleaning products.
General All-Purpose Cleaner
You only need four items:
- Baking Soda
- White Distilled Vinegar
- Organic Liquid Castile Soap
- Essential Oils of your choosing
Natural Soft Scrub - my favorite product to use around the home.
This is an easy formula to make, no synthetics, clean for you, and clean for the environment.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups baking soda
- 4 tablespoons organic liquid castile soap
- 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
- 40 drops organic essential oils of Lemon, Peppermint, Pine, Lemongrass (or your preferred combination).
Directions: Mix and store in a sealed wide-mouth container. Shelf life is about two years.
Tip: For really tough jobs, spray with the distilled vinegar first; let it sit then follow up with the scrub.
Note: If you find that your product gets a bit dry, (which it will over time) just add a little vinegar or liquid castile soap, give it a good stir and “bobs your uncle” it will be as good as new!
The benefits of essential oils in cleaning products
You may be concerned that essential oil-based cleaning products are not as effective as your current products. However, essential oils using in cleaning products are anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, boost your immunity while you’re cleaning, and they smell wonderful.
Here’s a tip: Use your older essential oils for cleaning products.
When essential oils get old, you don’t want to use them on your skin as they may become oxidized. This makes them a potential problem for skin sensitization. They’ll still smell great for cleaning but won’t be skin safe.
These are some of favorite essential oils to use in my green cleaning kit:
- Rosemary
- Peppermint
- Lemongrass
- Eucalyptus
- Lemon eucalyptus
- Scotch Pine
- Grapefruit, Lemon, and Orange
- Cypress
- Lavender
- BlueMel
We also offer some already-made products in our store from some great companies. Check out a few of our favorites below:
Discover the Nu°01 Nowa cleaning bar, a new kind of all-purpose cleaner. Made from all natural materials, healthy ingredients and 100% biodegradable properties, make it a great addition to your household cleaning supplies.
Dropps is a brand of effective, eco-responsible, and convenient household cleaning products. We believe it is so important to understand what is in your product, especially those that come in contact with your skin. From Dropps eco-friendly packaging to carbon-neutral shipping, their business is centered around being better for you, and better for the planet.
Is a highly effective, plant-based line of laundry and home cleaning products. Each product is carefully crafted to work its magic on a specific fabric or surface with outstanding results.
A work of art built on science, The Laundress collection is sophisticated, eco-conscious, and easy to use.
The first Redecker brushes were hand-made in 1935. Lots of things have changed since then. Today, the name of Redecker has long stood for a skillful combination of naturalness, function and design. Redecker always place high value on our products not only being practical but also beautiful and, most of all, ecological. Natural and sustainable raw materials are the most important aspects when choosing the materials.
