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Is your cleaning really as dirt-free as you think?
In the battle to keep your living space hygienic and healthy, are you using conventional products with caustic and toxic ingredients? Remember… many of today’s products can just as harmful as the grime and bacteria they’re meant to eliminate!
Whether you’re shopping for prepared natural cleaning solutions or making your own, keep in mind that the word “aromatherapy” is now being coined to everything scented - from dish-washing liquid to laundry detergent.
The true practice of aromatherapy, however, relies on using pure essential oils extracted from plants. These natural plant essences nurture us on mental, emotional, physical and even spiritual levels. While house cleaning isn’t exactly a sacred exercise, adding the effects and properties of essential oils to your homemade household products can enhance the experience and the effectiveness of your task.
Essential oils have potent antimicrobial effects along with their clean, pleasant natural aromas. Here are a few “classic” home-care essential oils:
• Lemon (clean, sweet, uplifting scent; deodorising),
• Peppermint (minty, fresh; air purifier; mild pest repellent),
• Eucalyptus and Tea Tree (air and surface sanitizers; fresh, therapeutic aromas).
Shopping list:
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) - Gently abrasive scouring powder, odour absorber and an excellent base for making your own cleaning preparations.
Washing soda (sodium carbonate).
Borax (sodium borate) - Natural mineral compound, laundry booster, multipurpose cleanser, fungicide/insecticide.
White distilled vinegar (acetic acid).
Liquid soap (sodium hydroxide) - Choose from vegetable oil-based soaps such as olive oil or sweet almond.
Distilled water - Clean, distilled water acts as a better carrier and dirt solvent. Tap water will often contain salts and minerals that can lead to spotting and build-up.
Click here for simple recipes using the above ingredients, to make everything from a gentle scouring cream, dishwasher, window cleaner, furniture polish, and carpet deodoriser; to a microwave scrub, leather conditioner, coffee and tea stain remover, shine enhancer, rust repel and more!
Janice Andersen is our Decor and DIY expert. Ask her a question here, or visit www.homedzine.co.za for more.
In the battle to keep your living space hygienic and healthy, are you using conventional products with caustic and toxic ingredients? Remember… many of today’s products can just as harmful as the grime and bacteria they’re meant to eliminate!
Whether you’re shopping for prepared natural cleaning solutions or making your own, keep in mind that the word “aromatherapy” is now being coined to everything scented - from dish-washing liquid to laundry detergent.
The true practice of aromatherapy, however, relies on using pure essential oils extracted from plants. These natural plant essences nurture us on mental, emotional, physical and even spiritual levels. While house cleaning isn’t exactly a sacred exercise, adding the effects and properties of essential oils to your homemade household products can enhance the experience and the effectiveness of your task.
Essential oils have potent antimicrobial effects along with their clean, pleasant natural aromas. Here are a few “classic” home-care essential oils:
• Lemon (clean, sweet, uplifting scent; deodorising),
• Peppermint (minty, fresh; air purifier; mild pest repellent),
• Eucalyptus and Tea Tree (air and surface sanitizers; fresh, therapeutic aromas).
Shopping list:
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) - Gently abrasive scouring powder, odour absorber and an excellent base for making your own cleaning preparations.
Washing soda (sodium carbonate).
Borax (sodium borate) - Natural mineral compound, laundry booster, multipurpose cleanser, fungicide/insecticide.
White distilled vinegar (acetic acid).
Liquid soap (sodium hydroxide) - Choose from vegetable oil-based soaps such as olive oil or sweet almond.
Distilled water - Clean, distilled water acts as a better carrier and dirt solvent. Tap water will often contain salts and minerals that can lead to spotting and build-up.
Click here for simple recipes using the above ingredients, to make everything from a gentle scouring cream, dishwasher, window cleaner, furniture polish, and carpet deodoriser; to a microwave scrub, leather conditioner, coffee and tea stain remover, shine enhancer, rust repel and more!
Janice Andersen is our Decor and DIY expert. Ask her a question here, or visit www.homedzine.co.za for more.
