"Soft Scrub" You Can Touch

Hello there!!

I was raised using the cleaner "Soft Scrub with Bleach" to clean everything. (Sorry Mom... I will never use it again and hope you stop soon as well.) It would always leave me with a headache, irritated skin wherever it had touched, and sometimes ruined clothes. While cleaning I would have to constantly yell at my dogs to stay away or close myself into a bathroom that feels like it has no oxygen. It was never pleasant... I used to dread cleaning.

I have been working so hard to remove all harmful chemicals from my life. I am so happy with the knowledge I am gaining from my classes at the Aromahead Institute School of Essential Oil Studies. I encourage all who are interested to check out the classes offered. (The Intro to EOs is a free class.)

I follow my teacher, Andrea Butje on youtube. (Click here to see her channel). I am sharing her video with a recipe to make an all natural, soft, abrasive cleaning scrub.

I adjusted the recipe to fit my needs. This is what I used:

2 cups baking soda

6 tbsp castile soap

1/2 tbsp corn starch

2 1/2 tbsp white vinegar

30 drops lemon EO

30 drops tea tree EO

20 drops peppermint EO

The container I used was one I recycled. It was a 16oz container for my coconut flour. When I was through with the flour I saw the the plastic used was PET plastic. This type of plastic is safe for use with essential oils.

I have been using this scrub to clean the kitchen sink, kitchen counters, and bathroom and I am so happy with it. A little goes a LONG way, it smells wonderful, and best of all it is chemical free. There is no worry about the safety of my brain cells and lungs, no worry about my pups getting near me, no worry about being stuck in a bathroom full of chemical fumes. I am actually HAPPY to clean now and proud of the way it leaves surfaces. I even had some stains on the counters that have disappeared after scrubbing with this. 

I am one happy cleaning machine these days. I get excited to use my home made essential oil products. I hope you are cleaning safer and healthier as well.

XOXOX

Lily Bean

Lemon Oil vs Sticker

Howdy!

I know that I mentioned how Lemon Essential Oil eats up petrochemicals... and I have heard that it will melt stickers right off of things. But I was still somehow surprised when it worked.

A few weeks ago I bought a mini grater from World Market. I wanted it mainly to grate ginger to add to cooking and for teas. The sticker was very inconveniently placed inside the itty-bitty grater... and boy was it STUCK. You can see the corners where I scratched and scratched attempting to remove the sticker.

Then a stroke of genius! Of course... I needed to put a few drops of lemon essential oil. So I added a drop on each side and rubbed it in to be sure the sticker was covered. I left it to sit for about 15-20 minutes. When I returned to see how it worked I expected to still give some effort in scratching it off. I thought I would be able to get it all off but not all in one piece. And then I picked at it...

As you can see, the whole sticker came off in one piece. All that is missing is what I originally scratched off. There was minimal residue left over. This came off when I washed it. (I always let dishes soak in water with Thieves cleaner and then wash with a sponge and blue Dawn.)

My mind is blown and I am beyond impressed with Lemon Essential Oil right now.

Hooray for oily success!!

XOXOX

Lily Bean

Starting My Mean Green Cleaning Arsenal

Hi there!!

I was finally able to take a moment from my day to make Thieves household cleaner sprays. I have heard so many awesome reviews on Thieves products and I am beyond excited to finally be able to use them.

For those of you who are not yet familiar with Thieves household cleaner, let me fill you in on the important details. 

It is made of plant-based ingredients (including Thieves essential oil and Lemon essential oil) and uses a biodegradable formula. It is highly concentrated and will surprise you how far you stretch it by the cap-full. This household cleaner is strong enough to clean your toilet and safe enough to clean your dog. My friend even uses this in the kiddie pool to keep mosquitoes out without having any worry about the girls swimming in chemicals.

There are suggested usage ratios on the bottle but I did some asking around and these are the recipes I decided on using.

I bought a pack of commercial grade spray bottles at Sams. I love these sturdy bottles!!!

For the bathroom cleaning spray I used:

2 caps Thieves cleaner

6 drops Lemon EO 

4 drops Thieves EO

Fill with water

For the kitchen cleaning spray I used:

1 cap Thieves cleaner

3 drops Lemon EO

2 drops Thieves EO

Fill with water

For the linen refreshing spray I used:

1 caps Thieves cleaner

Fill with water

I am so excited to try these out when I do my housework tomorrow! I will admit, I already sprayed the couches because I couldn't wait to try them all out until tomorrow.

Here is a photo-op with my new cleaning arsenal.

I need to get a "squeeze" bottle so I can make a "soft scrub" type cleaner. I also want to make some laundry detergent. I hear you can simply wash a load with 1-2 caps of Thieves cleaner alone... it's just after years of washing clothes with conventional detergent I struggle with the thought of washing with only 1 tablespoon of cleanser. I am going to make a detergent mainly because I need to trick my brain to being okay with the change.

I am one step closer to ridding my life of chemicals!

Happy (safe and healthy) cleaning!

XOXOX

Lily Bean

Safe and Effective Air Freshener

Hello, hello!

Next in my mini-series of DIY recipes is a very simple, inexpensive air freshener.

Why would I consider making my won air freshener? Do an internet search of "dangers of air fresheners" and make your own informed decision. 

"According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), most store-bought air fresheners consist of formaldehyde, petrochemicals, p-dichlorobenzene and aerosol pollutants [source: EPA]. The agency's "Indoor Guide to Air Quality" also notes that air fresheners "release pollutants more or less continuously" [source:EPA]."

Do you want to breathe in "fresh" air full of pollutants, chemicals, carcinogens, and toxins? Or would you rather breathe in TRULY FRESH air using only a few dollars and absolutely no chemicals?

I cleanse and freshen the air in my house using only distilled water and therapeutic grade essential oils. Nothing more, nothing less. Absolutely nothing else. 

Ingredients:

Distilled water

8 drops Lemon Essential Oil

8 drops Purification Essential Oil

Add both the Lemon and Purification Oils to a 2 ounce glass spray bottle. Fill the rest with the distilled water. Shake well before each spray. This takes care of unpleasant odors with 3-5 sprays. It not only smells delicious, but is safe enough to spray all over yourself without fear of what you may be absorbing. 

I want to try some recipes out for Fall scent air fresheners... I just love all the Fall scents but can't bring myself to purchase any brand now that I know I can make my own safe spray.

Now to take a deep breathe of delicious, truly fresh air!

XOXOX

Lily Bean

Happiness is...

Happiness is...

I received my very first essential rewards "ER" order from Young Living. Waiting for this package felt just like the anticipation of Christmas when I was a child. 

What did I order, you ask.

- The Thieves Essential rewards package which includes 2 bottles of household cleaner, 2 foaming hand soaps, 2 one ounce Thieves spray (perfect to keep in my purse), 2 bottles hand sanitizer, 1 AromaBright toothpaste, 1 bottle of mouth wash, and a bottle of Thieves oil. Pretty good rewards package if you ask me! Especially these days when your immune system can surely use the extra boost.

- An extra bottle of Thieves oil. You can never have too much of a great thing.

- 2ml Sample bottles because sharing is caring

- And I replaced my Lavender, Peppermint, and Lemon before they run out.

The order was big enough to qualify me for the monthly promotion, so I received Cinnamon Bark, Orange and Nutmeg oils as freebies.

I must say, now that I wash my hands with Thieves hand soap I walk around like Mary Katherine Gallagher sniffing my hands all day. I am so in love with Thieves and love that it smells like Christmas in a bottle.

I am more than happy to have replaced my hand soap and oral hygiene products with the Thieves line or products. My mouth feels cleaner than ever and I have no fears of ever need poison control. I even swallow my mouthwash now and can never compare the feeling to conventional brands of tooth care products.

What is the ER program with Young Living?

It is a programs that rewards you for your loyalty with the company. Much like the Target Red Card... only better rewards. You can earn from 10-20% back in rewards points to be used in future purchases (Target only rewards you with 5%), access to ER only packages (such as the Thieves one I just received), and you get discounted shipping options.

What's not to love about the all that?

I can't wait for my order next month. I will finally be getting my own bottles of Ningxia Red.

Stay oily!

XOXO

Lily Bean