Go Green and Get Clean with Essential Oils

When we think of spring, spring cleaning usually comes to mind, right? You might picture a sparkling clean, fresh-smelling, organized house. However, when we clean with the conventional products found in stores we might be getting rid of dirt and germs, but we are filling our homes with very toxic and even dangerous chemicals that can have serious consequences for our health. So what's the solution? Make or buy your own non-toxic, safe cleaning products that still clean well with these recipes and products!

Check out the webinar I did on this topic:

Essential Oils 101 - What Are They and How do they Work?

What are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are steam distilled or pressed from plants – from the leaves, roots, bark, stems, rinds or seeds.

They are much more concentrated, and therefore, more potent than dried herbs. 1 drop of peppermint oil is the same as 26 cups of peppermint tea! 1 drop of lemon oil is the same as 16 lemon rinds!

They are the life blood of the plant that initiates regeneration into the cells. They enhance the immune system of plants, and they work the same for humans. Anything that our blood does for us is what the essential oils do for the plant.

They can effectively combat the damaging effects of toxins, impurities and harmful substances in and around our body.

They are very powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants create an unfriendly environment for free radicals that our bodies are in contact with daily. Free radicals come from sources outside your body, such as tobacco smoke, toxins, or pollutants, and can damage our bodies’ cells, proteins, and DNA by altering their chemical structure.

Essential oils can quickly penetrate the tissues of the skin, and from there diffuse throughout the body in the blood and tissues

One drop of essential oils contains 40 million trillion molecules. Which means that the molecules are very small and they can affect the body at the cellular level by penetrating the cell wall to repair damage and boost the immune system. The  molecular structure of some oils are so small and contain high amounts of sesquiterpenes, which is a chemical constituent in pure essential oils, that they can even cross the blood-brain barrier (Lemon, Cedarwood, Vetiver), making essential oils powerful to deal with issues of the brain.

Essential oils work synergistically WITH the body to help it heal itself because they are recognized by the body as nutrients, unlike synthetic chemicals which the body recognizes as foreign substances.

How to Apply Essential Oils - Aromatically, Topically and Internally

Three Ways to Use Essential Oils

AROMATICALLY

  • Diffuser – my favorite way to use EO’s.
  • Changes mood & emotions, kills airborne germs and odors, purifies the air.
  • Scent affects the limbic part of the brain that controls emotions and memories.
  • Use a diffuser that does not operate with heat, heat destroys the therapeutic properties of the oils.
  • Easy, safe, less is more

TOPICALLY

Due to their molecular structure, essential oils are rapidly absorbed by the skin. Applying the oils to the Vita-flex points on a foot that relates to organ system will activate their reflex (that foot chart is shown here in the slide. You can see the chart in the guidebook that I give to all of those who sign up as a member underneath me). Applying the oils to your feet is a great way to absorb the oils into your body. With over 2,000 pores in each foot, they have some of the largest pores on your body.

  • Takes just 2-3 sec for oil to reach bloodstream when used topically.
  • Takes 20 min for an oil to reach every cell in the body.
  • 2 ½ – 3 hours to fully metabolize
  • This is a powerful and effective way to use oils!
  • Use vegetable carrier oils, organic is best, like Sweet Almond, Olive, Jojoba, Coconut, Fractionated Coconut, etc. to dilute the oil.
  • Do a skin patch test first to make sure you won't have a reaction, especially when new to oils.

 

INTERNALLY

  • If the oil bottle label indicates it can be used as a dietary supplement, then it is safe to take internally.
  • Can add oils to food for flavor (just need a drop or two – lemon, basil, oregano, thyme, etc.)
  • Put a drop of lemon in water, or dilute in coconut oil and add to herbal tea
  • Put in enteric coated gelatin capsules (doesn’t dissolve until it’s in the intestines, safer), Young Living sells these capsules.
  • Not recommended for children.

How to Properly Dilute Essential Oils

How Do I Dilute The Oils?

Okay, now I want to show you how to dilute your oils safely and effectively for topical use, as this is probably the most common question people have when they first start. This is advice I’ve gotten from both Young Living’s guidebooks and aromatherapy experts.

First, let’s talk about carrier oils. The are vegetable oils that are used to dilute the essential oils and “carry” them over your skin. It is an economical way to use your oils and it’s also safer, especially for children and infants. Those include any cold pressed vegetable, nut or seed oil like sweet almond, coconut, fractionated coconut, jojoba, grapeseed, and even olive oil!

When you’re new to oils, I suggest to always start with diluting because your body isn’t used to the oils and it could have a detox effect, which results in a rash, itching, headache or nausea. So, I say, start slow to be safe.

  • For babies to age 5, dilute 1 tablespoon carrier oil to 2-3 drops essential oil.
  • For children ages 5-10, dilute 1 tablespoon carrier oil to 3-6 drops essential oil.
  • For teens and adults, dilute 1 teaspoon carrier oil to 2-6 drops essential oil.

Remember, these are general guidelines. Use your best judgement and the more accustomed you body becomes to natural living and oils, the better it can handle them and use them!

FREQUENCY is also very important when sick or dealing with a chronic issue. Oils metabolize in the body after 2.5-3 hours. So, you can reapply that often when you're sick, or 2-4 times a day.
Basic Essential Oil Usage and Safety Guidelines

Basic Oil Usage and Safety Guidelines

Do not put essential oils in the mucus membranes such as the eyes, or inside the ear drum. If they accidentally get in one of these areas DO NOT USE WATER to get the oil out (as oil and water don't mix), it will make it worse. Instead, use a CARRIER OIL to dilute it and rub it out.

Read the label to determine if dilution is necessary (“hot” oils like Thieves, Peppermint, Cinnamon and Clove will sting the skin, may cause a rash).

All oils should be diluted for children up to age 5.

Store oils in glass containers and in a dark bottle or cabinet. Sunlight and heat will cause them to oxidize and lose potency (but not go bad or rancid). Oils will last several years if cared for properly. Can also store in the fridge.

Pregnant women, epileptics, those with high blood pressure and the elderly should consult with their health practitioner before using.

When sick, frequency is super important. Oil metabolize in the body after 2.5 to 3 hours, so you can reapply that often, or 4-6 times a day.  Remember, apply early and apply often.

Why Choose Young Living Essential Oils?

Why Use Young Living Essential Oils?

So, there are a lot of essential oil brands out there. What makes Young Living so special?

I mentioned at the beginning of the class about my story and how I used to buy the cheapest oils I could find on Amazon, they smelled nice for my homemade cleaning supplies but didn't work to get rid of things like headaches, bug bites, acne or poison ivy. I thought all essential oils must be a quack.

That all changed when I started buying Young Living

Now, essential oils are not regulated by the FDA, so you do have to do your own research to make sure you're buying a truly pure oil. That doesn't mean they aren't safe, they just are regulated because they aren't classified as a drug.

Young Living owns all their own farms and they are located all over the world, near the plants' native environment. Anyone can visit these farms and watch the planting, harvesting and distillation processes, and many folks in the business I know have seen it first-hand!

Young Living Oils are first distillation only. Think of olive oil – there is Extra Virgin, which is the first press of the olive and is the most potent, then there's regular Olive Oil, which is the second press, so less potent. All of Young Living's oils are potent, called the first distillation, or the first press.

The oils are rigorously tested both in-house and by third-party, in fact, only 28% of the batches actually pass lab tests for purity and quality and are then sold, the rest are used as pesticide and herbicide!

All the weed control is done by hand!

They've been in business for over 20 years and are experiencing crazy, record growth. Now is a great time to join and you'll get tons of support from me and my team on how to use your oils or even start your own oil business!

Popular Cleaning Products are Highly Toxic

 

Popular Cleaning Products are Highly Toxic

According to the Environmental Working Group, the U.S. law allows manufacturers of cleaning products to use almost any ingredient they wish, including known carcinogens and substances that can harm fetal and infant development. And the government doesn’t review the safety of products before they’re sold. YIKES!

  • Fumes from some cleaning products may induce asthma in otherwise healthy individuals. A large and growing body of evidence links frequent use of many ordinary cleaning supplies at home or on the job with development of asthma and other respiratory problems. It is already known that cleaning product fumes may trigger attacks in persons previously diagnosed with asthma.
  • Common cleaning ingredients can be laced with the carcinogenic 1,4-dioxane. Other products contain preservatives that release low levels of cancer-causing formaldehyde.
  • 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.
  • Some cleaners can cause chemical burns and poisonings as well as less severe irritations and allergies. Severe physical reactions signal that consumers should take care anytime they use these products.
  • Despite these health concerns, cleaning product labels often do not give consumers enough information about their ingredients to allow people to make informed decisions on which ones are safer and which ones might harm their health.

Investigating the full range of risks of cleaning products to public health and the environment should be an urgent priority. Yet the problem remains largely hidden from the view of the American consumer.

Sound chemical policy is critical to identifying and removing from commerce harmful chemicals in everyday products like cleaning supplies.Learn more about harmful cleaners here:

  • Asthma
  • Cancer
  • Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity
  • Allergies and Irritation
  • Accidents: Burns and Poisonings

This is the reason I started my blog – I wanted to rid my house of dangerous cleaning chemicals when I started having children because I didn’t want my kids accidentally poisoned. So, what’s the good news? It’s that making your own non-toxic cleaning products from home is so safe the worst thing that might happen is a stomach ache! And they actually work and they are EASY PEASY to make.

Purification Essential Oil Blend is Great For Non-Toxic Household Cleaning!

Purification Essential Oil Blend as a Household Cleaner

Purification is a blended oil of citronella, lemongrass, lavandin, rosemary, melaleuca, and myrtle

I love to diffuse it in the house when it doesn’t smell quite right – like after cooking fish or emptying the trash! Great to use in the bottom of the trash can.

I also use it in my homemade deodorant and have found it to be very effective as a natural outdoor spray. It is also great for cleaning the house and the skin. Many use it when their bodies need some help staying well. I love to use it on my homemade cleaners as well, it makes the house smell so fresh and clean and I love that it's not toxic, synthetic fragrance!

My Own Recipes Using Purification:

Click here for my deodorant recipe using Purification–>natural deodorant, natural outdoor spray

Thieves Essential Oil is Excellent for Natural, Safe Cleaning!

Thieves Essential Oil Blend as a Household Cleaner

Thieves is a blend made from cinnamon, clove, lemon, and rosemary, and eucalyptus based on a really cool medieval legend.

It smells so good with the cinnamon and lemon in it, so it makes an excellent household cleaner. It is powerful and effective, so use it on countertops, bathrooms, toilets, surfaces, to clean the car, door handles, on your hands as a natural hand sanitizer, and more!

Thieves Household Cleaner - A Safe, Non-Toxic Way to Clean Your House!

Thieves Household Cleaner – A Safe, Non-Toxic Way to Clean Your House

Not a DIY person? Then you'll love Thieves Household Cleaner!

Thieves Household Cleaner has cleansing power and a safe, sustainable formulation. The formula contains ingredients from renewable plant and mineral sources, vegetable-based surfactants compliant with the Green Seal and EPA Design for Environment (DfE) standards, and Thieves and lemon essential oils for extra cleaning power. Bottle is 100% recyclable.

Dilution ratios: light degreasing 60:1; medium degreasing 30:1; heavy degreasing 15:1; floors 100:1; walls 30:1; upholstery, fabrics, carpet spotting 40:1; carpet 100:1; glass 320:1; pots and pans; 100:1 hand cleaner 1:1.

Use on grease, bathrooms, countertops, windows, upholstery, fabrics, carpet, glass, pots & pans, and even the body!

How to Use Citrus Oils Like Lemon and Orange for Safe, Natural Household Cleaning

Citrus Oils Make Excellent Household Cleaners

Citrus essential oils like grapefruit, lemon, orange, tangerine and the blend Citrus Fresh are bright, uplifting oils that purify and cleanse, kill germs, and boost the immune system. It is also nice to drop in a glass of water and drink.

They are know for lifting stuck-on particles, a natural Goo-Gone – use to get off stickers, get gooey things out of carpet and upholstery, cut through odors, add to your natural cleaning products, and more!

They leave an incredible, bright and fresh smelling scent!

DIY Natural, Chemical-Free Household Cleaner Recipe

DIY Chemical-Free, Safe Household Cleaner Recipe

This is super easy to make at home!

Ingredients and Supplies

  • 1 16 oz. glass or plastic (PETE) spray bottle (where to buy)
  • 2-3 tablespoons liquid castile soap (where to buy)
  • 15 drops of your favorite cleaning oils (Purification, Citrus Fresh, Thieves, lemon, orange are all nice ones)
  • About 15 oz. of water (doesn't matter which kind)

Pour the 2-3 tablespoons of castile soap in the bottom of your squirt bottle. Add the 15 drops of oil to it. Fill the remainder with water very slowly (or it will bubble like crazy!). Give it a swirl to mix together and you're done!

This can clean everything but windows! I even use it on upholstery and carpets!

Get the original, full recipe here along with a free printable label!

DIY Air Freshener Recipe - Ditch the Toxic Febreeze for This Easy and Safe Recipe!

DIY Non-Toxic Air Freshener Recipe

  • 1 2 oz. spray bottle
  • Pinch of salt
  • 10 drops of your favorite odor zapping oils (orange and rosemary, Purification, Citrus Fresh, Thieves, sage and lavender – all are nice combos)
  • Fill with water

The salt helps to emulsify the solution so the oils don’t just sit on top. You could also use 80 proof vodka for a stronger solution.

Of course, this is multi purpose – you can spray it on surfaces to zap germs, too! You can even spray on your hands.

Read my original recipe here along with other ideas and tips!

Powerful non-toxic cleaning with Thieves Wipes and Spray

Non-Toxic Cleaning with Thieves Wipes and Thieves Spray

Young Living makes an entire line of cleaning products using Thieves essential oil. They are all non-toxic, safe, natural and biodegradable!

Thieves spray will purify germs and clean surfaces, but it can also be used on your hands as a hand sanitizer, spray in your mouth when your throat feels icky, or as a breath freshener, and to clear the air!

Thieves Wipes are ideal for use on door handles, toilet seats, and any surface that needs cleaning to protect from dust, mold, and undesirable microorganisms. Keep a pack handy in your bathroom, kitchen, car, office, or anywhere else you want to keep your environment clean.

I mean, what other cleaning products out there can you also use on yourself to get well and help your immunity? Anything else would be poisonous!

DIY Baking Soda Cleaner with Essential Oils - Natural, Scrubbing Power without Toxic Chemicals

DIY Baking Soda Cleaner

This is my favorite upholstery and fabric freshener, as well as extra scrubbing power in the bathroom. It’s just baking soda and essential oils – can’t get easier or cheaper than that! It’s great to have around when potty training, too, whether it be the furry kind or the cute kind.

Baking Soda (enough to fill whatever container you’re using – for me, it was about 2 cups)

10-15 drops of any of the following essential oils: Lavender, Tea Tree, Lemon, Eucalyptus, Purification (a blended oil of Lemongrass, Rosemary, Melaleuca, Myrtle, Citronella, and Lavandin) or Thieves (a blended oil of  Clove, Cinnamon Bark, Rosemary, Lemon, Eucalyptus)

Save your Parmesan cheese container the next time you empty it on a plate of spaghetti (anyone guilty out there?) or spice container because it makes a perfect shaker container for our Baking Soda Freshener. Fill it halfway with baking soda, drop in 10 drops of each oil (unless your container is bigger than my 16 oz. one) and shake. Then, fill the rest up with baking soda and lightly shake again. Done!

Get the original, full recipe here along with a free printable label!

DIY Non-Toxic Fabric Stain RemoverDIY Non-Toxic Fabric Stain Remover

  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1/4 cup liquid castile soap
  • 1/4 cup liquid vegetable glycerine
  • 2 tablespoons baking soda
  • 10-15 drops lemon essential oil or Purification

Get the full recipe in my post here.

Remember, natural solutions DO work, but they take more patience and time to do the same job a harsher cleaner does.

Young Living's Premium Starter Kits - the best and cheapest way to get started with essential oils!

The Premium Starter Kit – the Best Way to Get Started with Oils!

Now, I want to share with you how you can get these oils, because they are not sold down at Whole Foods or your corner Walgreens. The oils sold there are much less potent, and some are even adulterated. But Young Living’s oils are very high quality, therapeutic grade oils.

The way that Young Living has decided to sell them is through individual members sharing with others – they don’t pay for an advertising department and use us instead so we can offer you support. When you buy oils in store or online from just anywhere, you won’t get a team of support helping you learn how to use the oils. And especially when you join my team! We offer monthly Facebook classes, webinars, promotions, giveaways and blog posts so you are always learning!

Okay, you can purchase the oils we just discussed for $163 and that would be the retail price. No sale or discount. But there’s a much cheaper way to get them. I know I’m always looking for a deal, and this is definitely it!

And this is the way I started with Young Living and I highly recommend it. You can actually get this set, plus a home diffuser, PLUS this little starter kit with an extra oil in it, Stress Away, Ningxia Red samples, and little sample sachets you can share or throw in your purse, all for $150! You save over $150 this way. At the same time, you automatically become a wholesale member which means you get 24% off everything!

Now, don’t let the term member scare you. There are no monthly minimums or order requirements. In order to keep your membership after one year, you just need to purchase about $50 worth of products the next year. If you don’t want to, that’s fine! No one is going to hunt you down – there are no penalty or cancellation fees and you could reinstate your membership at any time. AND there are no monthly minimums you have to order or a requirement to sell.

Plus, I will send you a 450-page guidebook that lists every ailment known to humans and the oils it suggests to use with it!

Young Living's Essential Rewards Program

The Essential Rewards Program

Once you’re a member and find you’ve really been able to replace your medicine cabinet and cleaning supplies with essential oils, it really makes sense to join the Essential Rewards program and anyone who does gets a free silver-plated diffuser necklace!

So, what exactly is this program?

Young Living’s monthly program where you order 50 PV per month and earn 10-20% of your order total back in points to use as store credit AND get reduced, flat-rate shipping. Use those points as cash to get free oils!

How to Earn Points Back

When you’re with the company:

  • 1-6 months, you get 10% back in points
  • 7-12 months, you get 15% back in points
  • 13+ months, you get 20% back in points

Design Your Own Program

You can change your order every month, it does not have to be their recommended kits or products. You can change your ship date each month, too! Can’t do it one month? Get a grace month! No contract, no fees, no penalty fees.

Since this spring, I have been able to use more than 400 points, which means I’ve gotten more than $400 of free oils and products! I love the program.

Click Here to Buy Your Premium Starter Kit!

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