Natural cleaning is healthy cleaning!

A clean home is a beautiful home. It’s also a healthy space for your family to spend time in—especially if you use natural cleaning products.

A lot of commercial cleaning agents get rid of germs by using harsh, potentially toxic chemicals that aren’t ideal for you, your family, or the planet.

The good news is, you can make your own germ-busting natural cleaning products that are just as effective as store-bought versions (without the harsh chemicals). Here are the top reasons to make your own natural cleaning products!

1. Get the toxins out of your home

The harsh synthetic substances found in many cleaning products can cause immediate negative reactions, like skin irritation, watery eyes, and allergies. Other reactions are more subtle, lowering your immune health over time and affecting overall wellness for you, your family members, and your pets.

Making natural cleaning products is the answer! You don’t have to sacrifice strength for safety: household ingredients like high-proof alcohol and Castile soap are great at washing away dirt and killing germs. And many essential oils have incredibly purifying components that make them excellent for natural cleaning.

This leads us to the next point . . .

2. Stay healthy

Homemade natural cleaning products protect your health!

Instead of being exposed to potentially harmful substances, you’re surrounding yourself with essential oils—which actually support your wellness.

Oils like tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), lemon (Citrus limon), and lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus ct rhodinol) are popular for cleaning recipes.

Along with getting rid of dirt and germs, natural cleaning blends can boost your immune health, calm stress, help you relax, perk up your energy, and even support healthy breathing.

They’re also safer for children and pets to be exposed to.

3. Go green & sustainable

Natural cleaning products are better for the planet.

When you clean, the products you use end up going down the drain and evaporating into the air. The EPA points out that some ingredients are corrosive, o-zone depleting, and can harm wildlife. VOCs (volatile organic compounds) reduce indoor air quality and increase outdoor pollution, while some ingredients affect water quality and aquatic species.

The EPA suggests using biodegradable,
non-toxic cleaning products whenever possible.

Once again, ingredients like natural, biodegradable Castile soap give you safe, effective alternatives to common cleaning products. You can even make your own abrasive scrubs (we’ve got a recipe for you below!)

4. Save money

Buying conventional cleaners can mean you’re consistently spending money on a bunch of different products for different areas of your home. Kitchen, bathroom, sinks, shower, tub and tile, glass cleaner, floor cleaner, air freshener, laundry detergent, carpet freshener, linen and upholstery spray . . . it’s a long list!

In truth, you don’t actually need so many different kinds of products.

With a few common ingredients and purifying
essential oils, you can make a complete collection
of natural cleaning products for your entire home.

It can save you a lot of money over time!

5. Customize scents in your home

Many store-bought cleaners have harsh smells that you may or may not love. Even fragranced products can be overwhelming, making your eyes water and your nose wrinkle. Oftentimes, those “scents” are created using synthetic chemicals that can compromise your health.

Using natural cleaners allows you to use essential oils to customize aromas. If you like that fresh, medicinal, clean scent, then oils like tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) and ravintsara (Cinnamomum camphora 1,8-cineole) are a good option. Conifers like Siberian fir (Abies sibirica) make your home smell like evergreens, while the ever-popular citruses leave rooms smelling bright and cheery!

In addition to smelling amazing, many essential oils can also increase the purifying power of DIY cleaning products.

Get a free guide to making natural cleaning products!

Our free guide explains which 10 essential oils to use for natural cleaning,
the supplies you’ll need to get started, safety issues to be aware of,
and more. It’s your step-by-step handbook for going healthy and green!
Read it online or download your copy today.

Natural cleaning recipes

REFERENCES

Astani, A., Reichling, J. and Schnitzler, P. (2010) Comparative study on the antiviral activity of selected monoterpenes derived from essential oils. Phytotherapy Research 24, 5, 673-679.

Boukhatem, M.N., Ferhat, M.A., Kameli, A., Saidi, F. and Kebir, H.T. (2014) Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oil as a potent anti-inflammatory and antifungal drug. Libyan Journal of Medicine 9, 25431. Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ljm.v9.25431

Cassella, S., Cassella, J.P. and Smith, I. (2002) Synergistic antifungal activity of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oils against dermatophyte infection. International Journal of Aromatherapy 12, 1, 2-15.

Da Silva AC, Lopes PM, de Azevedo MM, Costa DC, Alviano CS, Alviano DS. (2012) Biological activities of a-pinene and ß-pinene enantiomers. Molecules 2012 17, 6305–16.

Faiyazuddin, Md., Suri, S., Mustafa, G., Iqbal, Z., Talegaonkar, S., Khar, R.K., Ahmad, F.J. (2009) Phytotherapeutic potential of tea tree essential oil in vitro and emerging vistas in the skincare industry: a comprehensive review. International Journal of Essential Oil Therapeutics 3, 2-3, 84-90.

Lang, G. and Buchbauer, G. (2012) A review on recent research results (2008-2010) on essential oils as antimicrobials and antifungals. A review. Flavour and Fragrance Journal 27, 13-39.

Mahumane, G. D., van Vuuren, S. F., Kamatou, G., Sandasi, M., & Viljoen, A. M. (2016). Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Eucalyptus radiata leaf essential oil, sampled over a year. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 1-14.

Raphael TJ, Kuttan G. (2003) Immunomodulatory activity of naturally occurring monoterpenes carvone, limonene, and perillic acid. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. May;25(2):285-94. doi: 10.1081/iph-120020476. PMID: 12784919.

Silva, B., Guterres, S.S., Weisheimer, V. and Schapoval, E.E. (2008) Antifungal activity of the lemongrass oil and citral against Candida spp. Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases 12, 63-66.