Save Hundreds by Making Your Own Green Cleaners

Why make your own green cleaners? There are many benefits. The top of my list is to save money, but a great extra is making sure what you are using in non toxic. Most cleaning products that you can buy are loaded with toxic materials that wreak havoc on our bodies, our hormones, and our health. I know that before I switched to homemade green cleaners, I used to suffer with a migraine after cleaning. It took me a long time to make the connection, but once I did, I was so relieved. The following are a few of the recipes I use in my home to save money and avoid toxic cleaners.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

4 Cups hot water

1 Fels Naptha Soap bar or other laundry soap bar

1 Cup Arm and Hammer super washing soda*

1/2 Cup borax

5 gallon bucket with lid

Grate soap bar. I used to grate my soap by hand with a cheese grater, until I found a food processor at a yard sale. Bring water to a soft boil and add grated soap, stirring gently until soap is completely dissolved. Fill the 5 gallon bucket with hot water, add melted soap, washing soda, and borax. Stir until completely combined. Fill the bucket the rest of the way with warm water and let sit over night. The soap will thicken into a gel. Fill a 2 gallon laundry container half way with soap, and then dilute the rest of the way with water. Add 10-20 drops of pure essential oil. A great oil to add is Purify. It is a blend of Lemon, Lime, Pine, Citronella, Melaleuca, and Cilantro, and it is great for removing odors.

All purpose Surface Cleaner

1 Part Hydrogen Peroxide

1 Part water

10-20 drops of essential oil

I like to use On Guard essential oil blend. Not only does it smell fantastic, it antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral. On Guard contains Wild Orange, Clove, Cinnamon bark, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary.

Window Cleaner

2 parts water

1 part vinegar

20-30 drops of lemon essential oil

Have you ever looked at the labels on your cleaning products and then Googled them? Have you tried your hand at making your own green cleaners with any success? I would love to hear your feedback.

How Essential Oils Can Save You Money

That's right, you can actually save money using essential oils!  When you figure out the price per drop and realize that you only use a few drops at a time, you will be amazed at not only the money, but the time you will save!  I often hear how expensive essential oils are, and I can't help but think of the ways they have saved us money.

I bought a Family Physician Kit from doTERRA, and I saved $200 the first week I had it.  Two of us ended up with ear infections on a Saturday morning.  Not good.  I was thinking I would have to go to the emergency room over the weekend, as we had done previously, but I simply used essential oils.  Not only was our pain reduced, but the ear infection completely went away and did not return.  I simply put a drop of Melaleuca on a cotton ball and gently put the cotton ball in our ears.  Now, I am not a huge fan of antibiotics, and feel that they should only be used when absolutely necessary (as do most responsible physicians nowadays).  If you figure that Melaleuca costs .08 cents per drop, it costs approximately .16 cents to treat it.  I don't even have to do the math for you with the emergency room visit, but we have a $100 co-pay, plus the cost of a prescription, not to mention waiting a day or two to get relief!  Even if you had free medical care, wouldn't you rather spend your evening in the comfort of your living room than in an emergency room?

This story is just one of the experiences I have had where oils have saved our family money.   Here are a few more price comparisons.  Digestzen for stomach discomfort is .13 cents a drop.  Even if I had to use a few drops, I think that would still be less than the cost of Pepto Bismol, or Tums.  Not to mention the extra benefits of Digestzen oil.  Digestzen contains Ginger, Peppermint, Tarragon, Fennel, Caraway, Coriander, and Anise.  Ginger is great for the digestive system, and can help with nausea and motion sickness.  Peppermint is anti-inflammatory, soothing, cooling and is beneficial for food poisoning, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, bad breath, colic, and is even great for morning sickness!  Tarragon can help with dyspepsia, flatulence, intestinal cramps, and sluggish digestion.  Fennel can help improve digestion by supporting the liver.  Caraway is antiparasitic, and antispasmodic.  You definitely won't find those qualities in Pepto Bismol!  Coriander is antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory.  Finally Anise helps to calm and strengthen the digestive system.  So, while buying one bottle of essential oil may seem expensive at first, consider all the things that you can treat with that one oil, and then remember that you only use a small amount because essential oils are 50-70 times more powerful than herbs!

I would never recommend using an essential oil in an emergency situation instead of seeking treatment if treatment is available, but many of the trips that people make to Emergency rooms every year are completely unnecessary and could be avoided. 

What about you?  Have you ever saved money by having essential oils handy?  I'd love to hear your experiences.

Diffusing Essential Oils to Create the Mood You Want in Your Home

I used to be a candle enthusiast until I did some research on the toxic effects of most synthetic perfumes and fragrances. You can read a little bit about these effects here: http://www.getawhiffofthis.com/. Now I use the Whisper diffuser from Aromatools. You can get the Whisper diffuser here: https://www.aromatools.com/Whisper_Premium_Silent_Misting_Diffuser_p/9377.htm

Whisper Premium Silent Diffuser

With doTERRA certified pure, therapeutic grade essential oils, you not only get a beautiful scent, you get aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is the use of aromatic plant extracts and essential oils in massage or baths. The great thing about aromatherapy, is that it can affect people's moods positively without them even knowing what is happening. I have witnessed firsthand as people that were anxious and stressed received comfort and calmed down in minutes. I have also used aromatherapy in my home to create peace, and help with concentration during homework time.

The following are some of my favorite essential oils blends to diffuse:

Wild Orange and Peppermint: Wild Orange is antidepressant, and sedative. Peppermint is antibacterial, antiviral, and invigorating. I use this one when we are needing focus and energy. If I am teaching a class and I want people to feel alert and be able to focus, I diffuse this amazing blend. I use 3 drops Wild Orange, and 2 drops Peppermint.

Grapefruit and Cassia: This blend was recommended by a friend of mine, and I absolutely love it. Grapefruit is an antidepressant, disinfectant, and stimulant. It can help to reduce mental fatigue. Cassia is antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral. It has a delightful cinnamon scent. Diffuse with caution, do not inhale directly. I use 3 drops of Grapefruit, and 2 drops of Cassia in my Whisper diffuser.

Wild Orange and Lavender: Again, Wild Orange is antidepressant, and sedative. Lavender is antidepressant, antifungal, anti-infectious, and sedative. I love this blend when I have had a stressful day and cannot unwind. I use 3 drops Wild Orange and 2 drops Lavender.

Geranium and Lime: Geranium is antibacterial, antidepressant, relaxing, and sedative. Lime is antibacterial, antiviral, and restorative. This is my peaceful blend. I use 4 drops of Lime and 1 drop of Geranium.

On Guard: On Guard is doTERRA's protective blend. It has Wild Orange, Clove Bud, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus radiate, and Rosemary. On Guard is antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antidepressant, disinfectant, and stimulating to the immune system. I love this one during the fall and winter when colds and flu are prevalent.

Serenity:  Serenity is a calming blend. It contains Lavender, Sweet Marjoram, Roman Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, Sandalwood, and Vanilla Bean Extract. Serenity is also peaceful, and may help ease tension.

These are just a few of my favorite recipes that I like to use in my whisper diffuser.