Today the new moon rose in Libra as my mind wandered through the cosmos in my dreams. Upon waking I sat for meditation, a few minutes of quiet breathing and mantra, as I usually do first thing in the morning. I visualized every inhaled breath coming through my crown chakra, the most perfect white light flowing into me from that point, as though I was breathing in the beauty of the universe and filling my entire body with blissful energy. With each exhalation I projected that light out through my heart center, feeling it burst forth like a beacon of light from my chest and expanding to fill all the space around me as though I was lighting the room with my own radiance, and beyond that, the rest of the earth was bathed in this light, and beyond that - the whole universe. I noticed the light projected from my heart was not the same light I was breathing in through my crown. Rather than the perfect white light I was breathing in from the cosmos, my heart center gave off a golden light, somehow thicker, more tangible and warm. The golden light was somehow changed within my body, as though the best parts of me were infused with the cosmic grace and when I sent this light out into the world I was sharing not just the beauty of the universe but also the beauty of my own soul, the infinite love in my heart and the grace and wisdom that I am slowly learning in my years of life on Earth. My beacon of golden light energy seemed to warm the room and although the sun was not yet risen, I felt more than saw the light create a golden glow in the room, perhaps the whole house, or maybe I was lighting up the whole world with this golden grace.
I practiced Sun Salutations while the sun gently rose and I felt my body renewed by the experience of filtering the light and projecting it outward. I wasn't depleted, but rather I had more energy, more peace, despite all I had given away. As I lay in Shavasana, I again visualized the light entering my crown in its blazing white glory and propelled it upward and outward with my exhaled breath, sending a ray of golden light up and out into the heavens. Perhaps you felt it, as the sun was rising, a sense of peace, a golden grace, a renewal of consciousness and beauty in being alive.
I sure hope you did. And I hope that you feel my love now, for all life and consciousness, for all beauty and grace, flowing out from my heart and surrounding you in the golden glow of life and love.
Namaste
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer!
Tea Tree (Melaleuca) Oil is one of the most widely used and proven effective essential oils. It is highly antimicrobial, killing bacteria (including anti-biotic resistant strains like MRSA,) yeast, fungus and even viruses! Can your hand sanitizer do that??!
Here's what you need:
a 10-15mL amber glass bottle with inset dropper top (I reuse an empty essential oil bottle)
Clear Vodka 80 proof
40-50 drops of Tea Tree Oil
That's it! And you guessed it, making this sanitizer is as simple as pouring the vodka in the bottle (be sure to leave room for the oil, you can always top it off with more vodka if necessary) and then dropping in the tea tree oil one drop at a time. Put the dropper top and cap back on, then shake gently to mix. Done.
To use the sanitizer, shake before each use, then simply allow about 5 drops to fall into your palm and rub it all over your hands. This sanitizer is very safe and effective for adults and adolescents, but I would take care using it around small children. Tea Tree Oil is not safe to ingest, so young children who put their hands in their mouths a lot probably shouldn't use it.
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Yoga saved my life
Those of you who know me well, know that nutrition and holistic living are what I am most passionate about. You also know that going to the gym is not my cup of tea and that I prefer a quiet conversation over a cardio butt kicking. Keeping up with my 7 year old son keeps me moving, but it is just not enough to maintain health with the level of stress that I encounter as a single mother with a professional career.
I'd always enjoyed doing a yoga class here and there, and loved the times that I was able to make time and money available to learn more Tai Chi, but it wasn't until I found myself suffering daily with pain and overwhelmed with my life that I turned to a daily yoga practice. You can read more about the struggle I went through over the last few years here, if you are interested.
I began hesitantly, not sure that I was going to be doing the postures correctly (a common concern among people interested in Yoga) and used a beginners guide with lots of pictures to get me started. I work with Solar Salutations mostly, but also learned the Warrior pose, Tall Warrior, Tree, Crocodile and Boat poses.
You can watch a brief video on how to do a Solar Salutation here.
Doing the postures themselves turned out to be less of a challenge than working time into my routine for doing yoga. I decided to wake up 20-30 minutes earlier than usual, and was surprised to find that most days this wasn't a burden and I actually felt better upon rising earlier than I had when I would sleep until the last possible second.
My routine goes something like this most days:
I take 5 minutes as soon as I rise to sit for a brief mediation. I find that the first moments of waking offer a unique opportunity to have a quiet mind without struggling to manage the thoughts of the day. It is naturally a time of reflection and inward focus, so I take advantage of that time by breathing deeply and allowing myself to feel quiet and serene. Once I get out of bed, I do 2-4 Solar Salutations (which in reality is doing the series of postures 4-8 times, as a traditional Solar Salutation is moving through the postures twice) during which I breathe in each pose for 4 breaths the first round, and then reduce the number of breaths in half to 2 breaths per pose in the second round, and if I have time to do more I move to one breath for each pose, offering an invigorating way to get started in the morning. After my Solar Salutations, I take between 5-10 minutes to do the "corpse pose" otherwise known as Savasana. This is the pose I consider the most important, so I always make sure to make time for this even if it means only doing one Solar Salutation, or sometimes none at all if I sleep late or have an unexpectedly rushed morning. Traditional yoga practice recommends 20-30 minutes in Savasana, but I've honestly never had the time to do that intense of a practice and do find relief from my pain and tension in less time. Ideally, when I feel inclined and have a couple of extra minutes, I will sit for another brief meditation and breath awareness practice, sometimes as little as 2 minutes, just to really set my mind in focus for the day ahead.
I've found that by adding these practices to my daily routine I have improved so many things about my life and health, in just 20-30 extra minutes. I no longer suffer from daily pain, I feel more grounded and balanced, and my body has maintained its feminine shape and strong muscles, despite not ever doing a rigorous "workout" program. I seriously can't say enough about how much Yoga has improved my life. The pain and stress I felt daily before I added this practice were debilitating and made me depressed and overwhelmed, which affected my performance at work, at home and as a mother. Now that I am free from pain, my mind is more clear and I feel like I am back on top of my game. I've begun to pursue my interests and passions again, which is something that I haven't done in years and thought at one point I may never have time or energy for again. Even my parenting has improved since I began doing Yoga daily, as I am now spending more quality time with my son and have been able to teach him some basic principles of breath awareness and yoga that he can use if he feels overexcited or upset.
It may sound a bit over the top, but I truly feel that yoga has saved my life. It has brought me closer to myself and my path than any other single change that I have made in my life. I highly recommend that anyone who feels they could use more balance, peace and vitality in their life to explore yoga and meditation, whether it is in the home or under the supervision of a knowledgeable teacher.
I'd always enjoyed doing a yoga class here and there, and loved the times that I was able to make time and money available to learn more Tai Chi, but it wasn't until I found myself suffering daily with pain and overwhelmed with my life that I turned to a daily yoga practice. You can read more about the struggle I went through over the last few years here, if you are interested.
I began hesitantly, not sure that I was going to be doing the postures correctly (a common concern among people interested in Yoga) and used a beginners guide with lots of pictures to get me started. I work with Solar Salutations mostly, but also learned the Warrior pose, Tall Warrior, Tree, Crocodile and Boat poses.
You can watch a brief video on how to do a Solar Salutation here.
Doing the postures themselves turned out to be less of a challenge than working time into my routine for doing yoga. I decided to wake up 20-30 minutes earlier than usual, and was surprised to find that most days this wasn't a burden and I actually felt better upon rising earlier than I had when I would sleep until the last possible second.
My routine goes something like this most days:
I take 5 minutes as soon as I rise to sit for a brief mediation. I find that the first moments of waking offer a unique opportunity to have a quiet mind without struggling to manage the thoughts of the day. It is naturally a time of reflection and inward focus, so I take advantage of that time by breathing deeply and allowing myself to feel quiet and serene. Once I get out of bed, I do 2-4 Solar Salutations (which in reality is doing the series of postures 4-8 times, as a traditional Solar Salutation is moving through the postures twice) during which I breathe in each pose for 4 breaths the first round, and then reduce the number of breaths in half to 2 breaths per pose in the second round, and if I have time to do more I move to one breath for each pose, offering an invigorating way to get started in the morning. After my Solar Salutations, I take between 5-10 minutes to do the "corpse pose" otherwise known as Savasana. This is the pose I consider the most important, so I always make sure to make time for this even if it means only doing one Solar Salutation, or sometimes none at all if I sleep late or have an unexpectedly rushed morning. Traditional yoga practice recommends 20-30 minutes in Savasana, but I've honestly never had the time to do that intense of a practice and do find relief from my pain and tension in less time. Ideally, when I feel inclined and have a couple of extra minutes, I will sit for another brief meditation and breath awareness practice, sometimes as little as 2 minutes, just to really set my mind in focus for the day ahead.
I've found that by adding these practices to my daily routine I have improved so many things about my life and health, in just 20-30 extra minutes. I no longer suffer from daily pain, I feel more grounded and balanced, and my body has maintained its feminine shape and strong muscles, despite not ever doing a rigorous "workout" program. I seriously can't say enough about how much Yoga has improved my life. The pain and stress I felt daily before I added this practice were debilitating and made me depressed and overwhelmed, which affected my performance at work, at home and as a mother. Now that I am free from pain, my mind is more clear and I feel like I am back on top of my game. I've begun to pursue my interests and passions again, which is something that I haven't done in years and thought at one point I may never have time or energy for again. Even my parenting has improved since I began doing Yoga daily, as I am now spending more quality time with my son and have been able to teach him some basic principles of breath awareness and yoga that he can use if he feels overexcited or upset.
It may sound a bit over the top, but I truly feel that yoga has saved my life. It has brought me closer to myself and my path than any other single change that I have made in my life. I highly recommend that anyone who feels they could use more balance, peace and vitality in their life to explore yoga and meditation, whether it is in the home or under the supervision of a knowledgeable teacher.
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Spring Cleaning! Lift your Spirit Edition
I imagine everyone feels uplifted on the first warm and sunny day of spring. If you want to keep the feeling going though, try some of these simply ways to rejuvenate and lift your spirit everyday.
Walking
Walking is one of the most beneficial exercises that can maintain and improve health. Try walking mindfully, taking care to focus on your breath and let go of thoughts and chatter in your mind. Observe your environment and perhaps more importantly, observe your own body and breath. Notice how the sidewalk feels under your feet or the temperature of the air as it enters and leaves your nostrils. Taking a reflective walk each day is one of the best things you could do for your overall wellbeing, as it tones and strengthens your mind, body and spirit!
Find Joy in Essential Oils
Aromatherapy is used extensively to improve mood, reduce anxiety and enhance spiritual awareness. Diffusing an essential oil into the air or applying a blend of carrier and essential oils to your skin are both great ways to enjoy the uplifting effects of aromatherapy.
My first essential oil blend is still my go to for feeling good every day. Try Joy! Essential Oil Roll On from Dantian Products by clicking here. Essential oils that can help you beat depression include lemongrass, bergamot, ylang ylang and lemon.
Essential oils that diminish anxiety are lavender, rosemary, basil and vetiver.
Savasana
Want to know one of my favorite things about Yoga? The most beneficial and healing pose is also the most simple and relaxing! Doesn't matter if you are a Yoga guru or you have never set foot on a mat, doing Savasana (Corpse Pose) everyday is going to enhance your awareness, detoxify your body and lift your spirit in noticeable ways.
Take 10 minutes to lie on your back, breathing deeply with your legs relaxed apart and your arms at your sides about 45 degrees from your body. Starting with your forehead, slowly relax all the muscles in your body all the way down to your toes. If you have trouble letting go of tension in an area, pulse (or tense) the muscles until you are able to completely relax. Try to keep your mind clear and simply observe any thoughts that do come up but don't focus on them. Allow yourself to completely relax your mind and body, and feel the release of simply being.
Find out how to do the pose here:
http://www.yogabasics.com/asana/corpse/
A daily practice of Yoga, Tai Chi, martial arts or even a long mindful walk each day will bring you more peace of mind and strength of spirit than you have ever known.
Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Wellness/101277479938151
Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/liveonewellness
Check out my other Spring Cleaning posts here:
Spring Cleaning! Clear Your Mind
Spring Cleaning! Home Edition
Monday, March 30, 2015
Spring Cleaning! Clear your Mind Edition
Just about everyone feels really stressed out from time to time, and for many people stress, anxiety and tension are a constant burden to overcome. Wouldn't it be nice to release some of that tension and do more than just reduce stress, but actually help make your mind and body stress-proof? Here are some simple ways that you can help clear your mind and find more balance in your daily life.
Cleansing Breathing
Breath is life. The way that you breathe holds more impact on your health than you might think. Take a moment to notice how you are breathing right now. Are you hunched over your desk or device, taking shallow and short breaths? Or are you relaxed, drawing each breath in and allowing it to flow out naturally and evenly? Breathing into your diaphragm slowly and deeply brings the most vital nutrient that your body needs into all your systems and organs. Oxygen is one of only 6 elements that comprise about 99% of your body, and breathing could be considered the most important function your body can perform to sustain life. Why then, is so little ever mentioned about the correlation between our breathing and our health?
Focusing more on our breath, what some might call breath awareness, is one great way to release stress and clear the mind.
This practice is so simple, there is only 1 step: Breathe.
If you wanted to take it a step further, you could focus on keeping your breath deep and even, feeling the inhalation fill your diaphragm and then feeling the cool breeze of the exhalation as it leaves your nostrils. By being more present with your breath, your body is revitalizing itself and actually counteracting the effects of stress on your body. If you take 5 minutes to simply breath every evening before you go to bed and/or first thing when you wake up, you create a new pattern of awareness and balance in your life and can see results almost instantly when you are able to truly relax.
Crocodile Pose
What if you are having trouble relaxing, or worse yet, are in the midst of a full on panic attack or emotional overflow? You can induce diaphragmatic breathing simply by lying on your stomach in this soothing hatha yoga pose that is often referred to as the crocodile pose.
This link will show you how to do the pose: http://www.yogabasics.com/asana/crocodile/
Crocodile Pose is one of the simplest poses, and for me it is one that has the most potent impact on the way I am feeling. No matter which direction my emotions and moods are swinging, this pose will chill me out within minutes.
Simply lie on your stomach and put your arms out in front of you with your fingers gently resting along the other elbow so that your arms are forming a triangle shape. Rest your forehead on top of your arms comfortably so that you are able to relax and breath deeply in the pose. Focus on your breathing for at least 5 minutes in this pose, and you will feel deeply calm and more balanced.
Essential Oils for Clearing the Mind
Vetiver - Vetiver essential oil is known as the Oil of Tranquility in India and has been used all over the world for healing since the 12th century. It is particularly soothing in the bath, and is used in Ayurveda to heal and balance the body and mind.
Frankincense and Myrrh - These oils are among the most commonly referred to as "meditative" but in addition to quieting your mind and relieving your stress, these oils also kill germs and other microbes and are excellent for your skin.
To experience the amazing relaxation power of this superhero duo, check out the newest product from Dantian Essential Oils - Chocolate Bath Salts!
Rosemary and Basil - These herbs aren't just for making your food taste delicious! Rosemary essential oil is known to release stress symptoms in the mind and body. It is cooling and refreshing and can help make your skin look and feel amazing as well. Basil Linalool essential oil has been used extensively for it's pain relieving and calming properties.
Check out our Tension Release Roll On to reduce muscular tension and relieve tension headaches and migraines.
Lemon - Lemon essential oil is one of the most versatile oils in my collection. Amazing for cleaning your home and body, lemon oil has also been shown to clear the mind, uplift mood and increase concentration. And who doesn't love the smell of lemon?!
Hope you've enjoyed this week's Spring Cleaning series post! If you missed last week, check it out by clicking HERE and stay tuned for more great tips from our Spring Cleaning series throughout the month of April!
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Wellness/101277479938151
Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/liveonewellness
Cleansing Breathing
Focusing more on our breath, what some might call breath awareness, is one great way to release stress and clear the mind.
This practice is so simple, there is only 1 step: Breathe.
If you wanted to take it a step further, you could focus on keeping your breath deep and even, feeling the inhalation fill your diaphragm and then feeling the cool breeze of the exhalation as it leaves your nostrils. By being more present with your breath, your body is revitalizing itself and actually counteracting the effects of stress on your body. If you take 5 minutes to simply breath every evening before you go to bed and/or first thing when you wake up, you create a new pattern of awareness and balance in your life and can see results almost instantly when you are able to truly relax.
Crocodile Pose
What if you are having trouble relaxing, or worse yet, are in the midst of a full on panic attack or emotional overflow? You can induce diaphragmatic breathing simply by lying on your stomach in this soothing hatha yoga pose that is often referred to as the crocodile pose.
This link will show you how to do the pose: http://www.yogabasics.com/asana/crocodile/
Crocodile Pose is one of the simplest poses, and for me it is one that has the most potent impact on the way I am feeling. No matter which direction my emotions and moods are swinging, this pose will chill me out within minutes.
Simply lie on your stomach and put your arms out in front of you with your fingers gently resting along the other elbow so that your arms are forming a triangle shape. Rest your forehead on top of your arms comfortably so that you are able to relax and breath deeply in the pose. Focus on your breathing for at least 5 minutes in this pose, and you will feel deeply calm and more balanced.
Essential Oils for Clearing the Mind
Vetiver - Vetiver essential oil is known as the Oil of Tranquility in India and has been used all over the world for healing since the 12th century. It is particularly soothing in the bath, and is used in Ayurveda to heal and balance the body and mind.
Frankincense and Myrrh - These oils are among the most commonly referred to as "meditative" but in addition to quieting your mind and relieving your stress, these oils also kill germs and other microbes and are excellent for your skin. To experience the amazing relaxation power of this superhero duo, check out the newest product from Dantian Essential Oils - Chocolate Bath Salts!
Rosemary and Basil - These herbs aren't just for making your food taste delicious! Rosemary essential oil is known to release stress symptoms in the mind and body. It is cooling and refreshing and can help make your skin look and feel amazing as well. Basil Linalool essential oil has been used extensively for it's pain relieving and calming properties.
Check out our Tension Release Roll On to reduce muscular tension and relieve tension headaches and migraines.
Lemon - Lemon essential oil is one of the most versatile oils in my collection. Amazing for cleaning your home and body, lemon oil has also been shown to clear the mind, uplift mood and increase concentration. And who doesn't love the smell of lemon?!
Hope you've enjoyed this week's Spring Cleaning series post! If you missed last week, check it out by clicking HERE and stay tuned for more great tips from our Spring Cleaning series throughout the month of April!
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Wellness/101277479938151
Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/liveonewellness
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Spring Cleaning! Home Edition
Thankfully I did most of the spring cleaning in my home last weekend when the weather was a balmy 60 degrees in the Twin Cities. Now we may be getting snow again. But no matter what your climate, the change in seasons is the perfect time to do some deep cleaning! Not just your gutters and window blinds, but in your body, mind and spirit as well!
One Wellness' Spring Cleaning blog series will bring you new ideas each week for holistic and sustainable ways to get rid of the dirt, dust, toxins, parasites and habits that build up over the long winter months and can interfere with your health and wellbeing. Your body is programmed to naturally detoxify itself in the spring, and these tips will get you jumpstarted to wellness even faster!
We will start with the obvious way to clean house in the spring. By cleaning your house! First, we will take a look at what we have under the sink. As a mother you might think that I keep my cleaning products locked away, but nothing could be farther from the truth! Since I don't use any toxic products to clean my home, I leave everything out where my son could easily access it, and maybe even help me with the chores! He loves spraying the counters and wiping the table, even if I can't seem to get him to pick up the toys in his room.
What's in my cleaning arsenal?
1. Vinegar - I use this for literally everything! I keep at least 2 spray bottles of vinegar and water, one in the bathroom and one in the kitchen. The ratio is best used at 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar. You can also add a teaspoon of lemon juice and/or 5 drops of lemon essential oil to cut the vinegar smell and increase the cleaning power. Use this to disinfect counters, sink, bathroom surfaces, glass, mirrors and just about anything else that needs to be clean! I also clean my hardwood floors with just vinegar and water (sometimes a few drops of lemon essential oil when they really are dirty) and they come out looking great with no harm to the wood or finish!
2. Baking Soda - Fantastic for cleaning the toilet bowl (sprinkle 1/4 cup of baking soda in the bowl, then pour in a cup of vinegar, wait a few minutes before scrubbing the bowl clean and fresh) and perfect for scouring out pots and pans and freshening up the laundry, carpets, pet areas and fridge! To use as a deodorizer, sprinkle onto carpets and allow to sit for at least 10 minutes before vacuuming (this will also help with any strange smells that come from your vacuum cleaner) or sprinkle into laundry hampers, diaper pails, the cat box or anywhere else that odors linger. To get soap scum and grime off your shower walls and out of the tub, spray with vinegar and then rub with a generous amount of baking soda until the gunk is gone, then rinse.
3. Lemon Essential Oil - Lemon essential oil makes your home smell fantastic of course, but it is also a powerful cleaner. Dirt and grease seems to just lift easier when this is added to a vinegar/water solution or a mop bucket. Only a few drops are needed for most applications. Lemon essential oil is also used in aromatherapy to brighten the mood and focus the mind. Feel free to add it to your homemade cleaning products anytime you want to lift the grime and your spirits!
4. Lemon Juice - Lemon juice helps lift dirt and is also a deodorizer and disinfectant. Add a teaspoon to your vinegar cleaning solutions to cut the vinegar smell and add additional cleaning power. Lemon juice is also really awesome for getting rid of the lingering smell of garlic and onions on your hands and cutting boards. Just rub some pure lemon juice on your hands or over the cutting board, and poof! No more smelly garlic. To deep clean your cutting boards, rub with lemon juice, then sprinkle a generous amount of salt onto the board and scour out the grooves where nasty germs can linger. To polish your furniture, you can mix 2 tsp lemon juice with 1 tsp olive oil and wipe the mixture lightly and evenly over the surface of the wood. Check the recommendations for your specific type of wood finish before attempting to use a homemade furniture polish, although I will tell you that in my home I don't have anything that I don't clean with homemade products.
That's it.
I only need four ingredients to do all of my spring cleaning at home, and they are all way more affordable than the various bottles of toxic waste that are sold in stores to "clean" your home. With the exception of the essential oils (it is recommended to keep all essential oils out of the reach of children and pets because they are so highly concentrated and can be toxic in large doses) none of these cleaners are harmful or toxic to children or pets, so you can use them generously and store them anywhere that's convenient.
Here's a few more suggestions for a more sustainable cleaning experience this spring. You will definitely feel good about making changes to your cleaning routine for a healthier family, cleaner home and sustainable environment!
One Wellness' Spring Cleaning blog series will bring you new ideas each week for holistic and sustainable ways to get rid of the dirt, dust, toxins, parasites and habits that build up over the long winter months and can interfere with your health and wellbeing. Your body is programmed to naturally detoxify itself in the spring, and these tips will get you jumpstarted to wellness even faster!
We will start with the obvious way to clean house in the spring. By cleaning your house! First, we will take a look at what we have under the sink. As a mother you might think that I keep my cleaning products locked away, but nothing could be farther from the truth! Since I don't use any toxic products to clean my home, I leave everything out where my son could easily access it, and maybe even help me with the chores! He loves spraying the counters and wiping the table, even if I can't seem to get him to pick up the toys in his room.
What's in my cleaning arsenal?
1. Vinegar - I use this for literally everything! I keep at least 2 spray bottles of vinegar and water, one in the bathroom and one in the kitchen. The ratio is best used at 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar. You can also add a teaspoon of lemon juice and/or 5 drops of lemon essential oil to cut the vinegar smell and increase the cleaning power. Use this to disinfect counters, sink, bathroom surfaces, glass, mirrors and just about anything else that needs to be clean! I also clean my hardwood floors with just vinegar and water (sometimes a few drops of lemon essential oil when they really are dirty) and they come out looking great with no harm to the wood or finish!
2. Baking Soda - Fantastic for cleaning the toilet bowl (sprinkle 1/4 cup of baking soda in the bowl, then pour in a cup of vinegar, wait a few minutes before scrubbing the bowl clean and fresh) and perfect for scouring out pots and pans and freshening up the laundry, carpets, pet areas and fridge! To use as a deodorizer, sprinkle onto carpets and allow to sit for at least 10 minutes before vacuuming (this will also help with any strange smells that come from your vacuum cleaner) or sprinkle into laundry hampers, diaper pails, the cat box or anywhere else that odors linger. To get soap scum and grime off your shower walls and out of the tub, spray with vinegar and then rub with a generous amount of baking soda until the gunk is gone, then rinse.
3. Lemon Essential Oil - Lemon essential oil makes your home smell fantastic of course, but it is also a powerful cleaner. Dirt and grease seems to just lift easier when this is added to a vinegar/water solution or a mop bucket. Only a few drops are needed for most applications. Lemon essential oil is also used in aromatherapy to brighten the mood and focus the mind. Feel free to add it to your homemade cleaning products anytime you want to lift the grime and your spirits!
4. Lemon Juice - Lemon juice helps lift dirt and is also a deodorizer and disinfectant. Add a teaspoon to your vinegar cleaning solutions to cut the vinegar smell and add additional cleaning power. Lemon juice is also really awesome for getting rid of the lingering smell of garlic and onions on your hands and cutting boards. Just rub some pure lemon juice on your hands or over the cutting board, and poof! No more smelly garlic. To deep clean your cutting boards, rub with lemon juice, then sprinkle a generous amount of salt onto the board and scour out the grooves where nasty germs can linger. To polish your furniture, you can mix 2 tsp lemon juice with 1 tsp olive oil and wipe the mixture lightly and evenly over the surface of the wood. Check the recommendations for your specific type of wood finish before attempting to use a homemade furniture polish, although I will tell you that in my home I don't have anything that I don't clean with homemade products.
That's it.
I only need four ingredients to do all of my spring cleaning at home, and they are all way more affordable than the various bottles of toxic waste that are sold in stores to "clean" your home. With the exception of the essential oils (it is recommended to keep all essential oils out of the reach of children and pets because they are so highly concentrated and can be toxic in large doses) none of these cleaners are harmful or toxic to children or pets, so you can use them generously and store them anywhere that's convenient.
Here's a few more suggestions for a more sustainable cleaning experience this spring. You will definitely feel good about making changes to your cleaning routine for a healthier family, cleaner home and sustainable environment!
- Use cloth washcloths and towels instead of paper towels or prepackaged wipes. You can buy an affordable pack of towels at a discount store (or make your own), and mark them as cleaning towels or better yet, coordinate a certain color or design for a certain type of cleaning.
- Up-cycle old t-shirts, socks and linens into cleaning towels! Plain white tees that have underarm stains or holes make the most awesome cleaning towels for just about any job because they are soft and absorbent.
- If you are making the transition to natural cleaners for the first time, don't throw away that old Windex bottle! Rinse it out and refill it with vinegar/water solution for multipurpose cleaning. Otherwise you will need at least one PET plastic spray bottle for your homemade cleaners. These can be found affordably at big box stores in the cleaning and gardening aisles.
- Use a mop instead of those disposable wiping pads for cleaning your floors. It's really not that much more difficult to run some water in a bucket and pour in a little vinegar, right!? Even more points if you use a mop head that you can wash and reuse!
- Recycle plastic shopping bags into garbage bags or pet waste disposal bags. I don't remember the last time I paid money for any type of garbage bag. I just hoard all the plastic bags I get from shopping, and they fit perfectly in the small size kitchen and bathroom trash cans. If you run low in between shopping trips, ask your neighbors! Some people have so many bags around that they are happy to unload some on you.
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