Why I Switched to Natural Cleaning Products (+Recipes to DIY!)

When I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder in 2019, I knew there was more I could do to hasten my healing beyond taking a daily prescription pill. I started scouring the internet and the library for resources regarding all the ways I could improve what I put in, on, and used around my body in an effort to support my health.

One of those ways was to change the cleaning products we used. 

The Reasoning
Have you seen the documentary "Stink" on Netflix? It's eye-opening (and a bit jarring) to realize the way toxic chemicals in our everyday cleaning products can cause (and are causing! and continue to cause!) major health problems. Environmental experts estimate the average household contains  about 62 toxic chemicals, from the phthalates in synthetic fragrances to the noxious fumes in oven cleaners. 

Of course, we all want our homes to be sanitized and smell good, but here's the catch - most air fresheners and store-bought cleaning products are actually doing you a huge disservice when you use them in your home. In fact, a study by the University of California at Berkeley found that when used excessively or in a small, unventilated area, these products release toxic levels of pollutants. 

Let me say that again - people are cleaning their homes with toxic levels of pollutants. 

Ingredients in common household products have been linked to asthma, cancer, reproductive disorders, hormone disruption and neurotoxicity. I absolutely encourage you to do your own research, but please make it a point to look into what you are cleaning with. You can check this website to get a sense of how toxic standard household cleaners are. 

We decided to engage in a gigantic "ditch and switch" from the toxic household cleaners we'd been using in our home to natural alternatives that I could make myself. I'd already been using doTerra essential oils since 2009 for the aromatic experience, but in 2019, I really dug into the ways I could combine them with natural cleaning agents like vinegar and castille soap to take full advantage of all their beneficial properties. 

Even when the pandemic hit in 2020, we stuck to our all-natural cleaners because we'd already witnessed the way they effectively and consistently got the job done, and we stayed healthy.

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The Major Players

• Lemon Oil is is an amazingly powerful cleansing agent.  It purifies both the air and surfaces and also works as a natural deodorizer. 
• Tea Tree Oil is another versatile, safe, and natural option. It has powerful antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antiseptic properties that make it both a fantastic natural remedy for your medicine cabinet and a safe cleaner for your home.  
• Lavender Oil smells nice and supports calm and relaxation.
• Purify Oil is a proprietary blend from doTerra designed to eradicate odors in a natural, safe way. Purify replaces foul odors quickly and is an effective cleaner throughout the home. (I use a few drops of Purify oil on my wool dryer balls that I use in place of fabric softener sheets.)
• On Guard Cleaning Concentrate is another doTerra exclusive oil blend combined with plant-based derivatives to provide a non-toxic and biodegradable way to clean and eliminate odors. Not for use on hardwood floors or natural stone countertops.

The Recipes

All-Purpose
16oz glass spray bottle

• 2T On Guard Cleaner Concentrate
• 4T Vinegar
• 6 drops Lemon Oil
• 6 drops Purify Oil
• 6 drops Tea Tree Oil
  

*shake well*

Bathroom Counters/Surfaces
16oz glass spray bottle

• 2T On Guard Cleaner Concentrate
• 1/4C Vinegar
• 11 drops Lemon
• 11 drops Purify
• 5 drops Tea Tree

*shake well*

Bathroom Tub/Tile Paste
small glass container with snap-tight lid

• 3/4C Bon Ami
• 1/4C Castille Soap
• 1T Distilled Water
• 1T Vinegar
• 10 drops Lemon Oil
• 10 drops Tea Tree Oil

*add water as necessary to make the paste a spreadable consistency* 

(Note: to clean our toilet bowls, I sprinkle Bon Ami in the bowl, then spray the Bathroom Surface cleaner on it, too. I let it sit for about 10 minutes before scrubbing the bowl with a brush and flushing.)

Carpet Refresh
glass jar with small holes punched through lid

• 1C Baking Soda
• 30 drops Lavender Oil or Peppermint Oil
  

*sprinkle onto carpet for 15 minutes before vacuuming*

Furniture Polish
10oz glass bottle

• 1/2C Vinegar
• 1/4C Olive Oil
• 15 drops Lemon Oil
• 15 drops Lavender Oil

*shake well*

Glass Cleaner
16oz glass spray bottle

• 1t Vinegar
• 1 capful of On Guard Cleaner Concentrate
• 5-10 drops of Lemon Oil
• Distilled Water

*shake well*

Granite Countertops
16oz glass spray bottle

• 1/2C Isopropyl Alcohol
• 1/2t Natural Dish Soap
• 1&1/2C Distilled Water
• 10 drops Lemon Oil
• 10 drops Lavender Oil

*shake well*

This is what works for our home. Of course, your mileage may vary, and as I mentioned earlier, I encourage you to do your own research. There are lots of options out there! Don't feel overwhelmed if your current cleaners get a toxic score on the Environmental Working Group's website or like you're doomed if you don't make a zillion changes all at once. If you do want to do your own "ditch and switch," just start replacing your current cleaners as they run out with natural, safer solutions.

Let me know if you have questions in the comments below. :) 

I love you and I'll see you soon!
xo,
Coach Alex

P.S. Looking for more "ditch and switch" ideas? I invite you to check out my blog post 12 Changes We've Made to be a Healthier Home. ​