Why is it important to clean with natural ingredients?

You’re at the grocery store and you see a cleaner on the cleaning aisle. It looks cute and makes promises of a germ-free environment. You assume it’s safe for use because it’s sold at the store. Most people assume cleaning products on the grocery store shelf have been tested and are safe for use, but that is simply not true!

Just because a commercial cleaner promises a germ-free environment doesn’t mean there aren’t hidden dangers and other risks associated with its use. Conventional cleaning products contain many endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can wreak havoc on your respiratory system, cellular health, thyroid, adrenal glands, and even mental clarity. Indoor air quality is five to seven times more toxic than outdoor air quality mainly due to conventional cleaners.

The facts:

• Children born to women who held cleaning jobs while pregnant have an elevated risk of birth defects, according to a 2010 study by the New York State Department of Health. -- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20029025

• Some ingredients found in cleaners may be linked to cancer, reproductive and developmental toxicity, allergies and irritation, burns and poisonings. Source: EWG

• According to the U.S. EPA, cleaning products contribute to concentrations of many common pollutants that are two to five times higher inside homes than outside. Source: EPA.

• Studies show that many toxicants invade our bodies. They have been found in blood, urine and breast milk, as well as in the umbilical cord blood of newborns. Sources: CDC, EWG.

• Nurses who used disinfectants to clean surfaces at least once a week had a 24 percent to 32 percent increased risk of developing lung disease. Sources: Newsweek, Eurekalert.org.

• Regular use of cleaning sprays can have as much of an impact on health as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day, according to this study. Sources: Newsweek, Thoracic.org.

Because of the Toxic Substance Control Act, companies did not have to clear even a basic safety review before using a chemical in a consumer product. Instead of requiring chemical manufacturers to demonstrate that their products were safe before they went into use, the law required the government to prove that a substance caused harm in order to control or replace a dangerous chemical. The law has been slightly updated for newly created chemicals, but the 80,000+ chemicals created in the last century are still being used in the marketplace. Yikes.

Essential oils can be diffused to freshen the air, naturally deodorize any space, and enhance your cleaners! 

Many commercial cleaners are filled with harsh chemicals that negatively impact our health and the environment. Scientific evidence is continuing to prove that exposure to harmful chemicals in your home is a contributing factor in many diseases.
What can you do to improve your home cleaning? It’s simple! Use plant-based cleaners such as Thieves Household Cleaner, or try making your own DIY cleaner with these powerful essential oils! Adding a few drops of essential oils like Young Living’s Lemon, Pine, Purification, Tea Tree, Orange, Citrus Fresh, Rosemary, Grapefruit, Eucalytpus Radiata, and—of course—Thieves to your naturally derived cleaning solutions is all you need for a powerful cleaning solution without the harmful chemicals!

These are some of our favorite oils to add to your cleaning routine. Tell us your favorite oils to clean with below!

Lemon

• Often found in cleaners and soaps, Lemon’s citrus scent is an indispensable freshener in any home and is a cleaning must-have.

• Lemon has an energizing and uplifting aroma.

• It makes a great adhesive remover! Use a few drops to help remove stickers, labels, and goo from surfaces!

• Add a few drops to your laundry detergent or wool dryer balls for a pleasant, refreshing aroma.

• Add a few drops of Lemon to your surface cleaning solution to clean your floors, surfaces, and windows.

• Add a few drops to your toilet bowl to keep the room smelling fresh. Pro tip: Put a few drops in the bowl before you go to keep the room smelling fresh. Game changer.

• Make a toilet spritz by combining 15 drops of Lemon in ½ cup of rubbing alcohol and ½ cup of distilled water and save it in a glass spritzer bottle. Keep it handy to spray toilets before using to avoid smells from filling the room.

Pine

• Pine essential oil is steam distilled from the needles of the Pinus sylvestris tree, which originates in Austria, the United States, and Canada.

• Refresh your home with the rich aroma of Pine. This essential oil is a great addition to floor surface cleaners and creates an aroma reminiscent of fresh air and the outdoors.

• It adds a clean, sweet scent to your home when diffused!

• Add it to your Thieves Household Cleaner to mop your floors.

• Combine Pine with water and spray it on carpet for a fresh smell after vacuuming.

• Add a few drops of Pine to olive oil and Thieves Household Cleaner to shine your wood furniture and floors.

Purification

• Replace overpowering aerosol fragrance sprays with Purification. This blend is great to keep your home and laundry fresh.

• Purification is made up of six essential oils for the ultimate tool against odors: Citronella, Lavandin, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Myrtle, and Tea Tree.

• It creates a refreshing, bright scent that keeps you and your family happy and comfortable, especially in the springtime!

• Add a few drops to laundry to give your wash a great-smelling boost.

• Place a few drops on cotton balls or wood clothes pins and stash them wherever necessary: the car, closets and drawers, air vents, shoes, or gym bags.

• Create your own air freshener by mixing 5 drops of Purification and 2–3 drops of your favorite essential oil, plus a cup of distilled water, in a glass spritzer bottle to attack offensive smells after cooking. You can also use it to freshen your linens.

Tea Tree

• Tea Tree is best known for its ability to get rid of musky, undesired odors. Diffuse it anywhere that needs some refreshing.

• Tea Tree is a great natural deodorizer.

• Mix 5 drops of Tea Tree and 3 drops of Lavender with a cup of baking soda to make your own carpet powder. Sprinkle it over carpet, let it sit for 15 minutes, and then vacuum away!

Thieves

• This blend is a powerful combination of Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary essential oils.

• Thieves fills any space with a rich, spicy aroma when diffused.

• Add a few drops to your dishwasher or dish water to thoroughly clean your dishes and eliminate odors.

• Add a few drops of Thieves to a cotton ball and leave it resting on your air conditioning vent to infuse your room with its spicy, sweet aroma and eliminate odors.

• Mix 1 part Thieves Household Cleaner and 3 parts baking soda to create a thick, deep-cleaning paste. Apply the mixture to desired areas and scrub thoroughly.