Essential Oils - Natural Cleaning

I've never really thought much about the cleaning products I use in my home. I am not someone who disinfects every surface, nor is my home spotless at all times but earlier this year I was thinking about how much my Hypothyroidism affects me and every year I seem to develop more symptoms, despite being on the correct medication. I was wondering if changing some of the products I use and what I eat would make me feel better. 

Please note that I don't want the info in this blog post to scare you. Do your research and then decide what's best for your family. There is no need to chuck out all your cleaning products immediately but it's better, for your budget, to replace them as you run out.

When I joined DoTerra I started seeing posts about how toxic a lot household cleaners are and how they include toxic chemicals and hormone disrupters. Just search online for 'Are cleaning products toxic?' and you'll find lots of websites and I've listed a few below. Do your own reading and research and make up your own mind. I've always tried to have a balanced view on these issues but I am wondering if these products are as safe as we think they are. I've always assumed that products sold for use in the home are safe to use. Everything we spray around us or on us is absorbed into our bodies and are these cleaning products as safe as we think they are? And how much damage do they do to the environment.

Here are a few websites I found: 

• How toxic are your household cleaning supplies?
• Toxic chemicals
• Safer Cleaning Products
• The hidden dangers of cleaning products - this also talks about artificial fragranced products

I decided to try some natural cleaning products but I waited until my current cleaners ran out. So last month I got the DoTerra On Guard Cleaner Concentrate. For general surface cleaning, which I use in my kitchen, floors and for dusting, I use two table spoons in a 500ml spray bottle. It's best to use a glass bottle.

I am not houseproud and my house is never as clean as it should be. I severely dislike cleaning my hob and it can get really filthy and grimy before I tackle it. I'm slightly embarrassed to share this photo but it's rare that my hob gets quite that disgusting. I hadn't cleaned it for about a week and Emily was home for the weekend and had cooked the night before and she always make a mess.

With my old kitchen cleaner I'd spray it on, leave it for a few minutes, wipe it off, then spray it again and I sometimes had to spray the hob three or four times and use quite a bit of effort to get stuff off. With the On Guard cleaner I sprayed it on, left it for a couple of minutes then wiped it off with a paper towel to get rid off the grease and left over food. I then sprayed it again and wiped it with a damp cloth and it was clean. No scrubbing or spraying extra times on stubborn areas. I've used this cleaner daily in my kitchen since and if there are any food stains from the night before I haven't wiped up, I just spray and wipe and it comes right off. I'm REALLY impressed with the power of this cleaner. It's way better than any regular kitchen cleaner I've ever used and I've tried all the big brands. And I know that this is safe for me to breathe in and get on my skin. 

The spray bottle in this photo is probably about 200ml.

The On Guard cleaner comes in a 355ml bottle and you use two table spoons per 500ml for multi purpose cleaning and three table spoons for bathrooms.So a bottle will last a long, long time. The Cleaner Concentrate costs £13.20 incl VAT if you have a DoTerra membership. (If you don't have an account, I'll talk about how you can get one at the end of the post). You can buy it retail but it makes sense to get an account, but if you wish to buy it retail, it's £17.60 incl VAT (please note prices on the website are excluding VAT).

This is what DoTerra says about the On Guard Cleaner Concentrate: 'dōTERRA On Guard Cleaner Concentrate is designed to be the ideal natural cleaner. It is fortified with the proprietary dōTERRA On Guard Protective Blend of Wild Orange, Clove, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, and Rosemary CPTG® essential oils, which provide natural protection against certain environmental factors while elevating the overall cleaning capability. This powerful essential oil blend is combined with plant-based derivatives that provide a non-toxic and biodegradable way to clean and eliminate odors, so it is safe for loved ones as well as the environment. The multi-purpose capabilities of dōTERRA On Guard Cleaner Concentrate make it perfect to expertly clean hard surfaces in the kitchen, bathroom, or any room, leaving behind a clean and invigorating scent.'

Last week I got the On Guard Foaming Hand Wash. You can buy this in a starter pack with two dispensers. This doesn't need to be diluted but many people do dilute it to make it go further. One bottle is more than enough for two dispensers. I diluted mine slightly. I filled up the dispensers 3/4 full then topped up with water. You can buy the Foaming Hand Wash separately and you can buy the dispensers separately.

This is what DoTerra says about the Foaming Handwash: 'Gentle cleansers and emollients clean and soften hands throughout the day without drying or irritating sensitive skin. doTERRA On Guard Foaming Hand Wash is pH balanced to protect the delicate moisture barriers of the skin. The spice and citrus aromas of doTERRA On Guard invigorate the senses during and after use. The power of doTERRA On Guard essential oils enhances the cleansing function to take it to a new level and set it apart from other commercially branded products.'

Again, the best way to buy this product is to get a membership. You can then get the Foaming Handwash and two dispensers pack for £17.40 incl VAT. It retails for  £23.30 incl VAT.

The next product I want to try is the On Guard Laundry Detergent. You use half a cap for each wash and this bottle promised 64 loads. It can also be used to spot treat stains. 

This is what DoTerra says: 'This small bottle packs a punch with 10 mL of doTERRA On Guard essential oil and the ability to do up to 64 loads of laundry! It is color safe for washable fabrics at all temperatures and is free of synthetic fragrances, dyes, and toxins, which makes it a safe choice for your family as well as the environment'.

The On Guard Laundry Detergent retails at £38.80 incl VAT but if you're a member you can get it for £29.10. That's 45p per load. 

You can see the whole On Guard collection here (I've linked to the US site as it has more info about each product than the European site).

The best way to purchase DoTerra products is to get a wholesale membership. You can purchase an enrollment kit and the enrollment fee is included or pay £24.80 incl VAT (or US $35 if you're in the US) for a year's membership. There are no minimum orders or monthly required orders. You don't have to become a consultant like me. Most DoTerra members are just regular wholesale customers who buys products for their own use. If you would like to discuss how you can earn an extra income from DoTerra, email me on annikenallis25@gmail.com and put 'essential oils' in the subject heading for a no obligation chat about what's involved. 

If you have any questions about any of the products I've talked about in this post, or any other DoTerra products, do not hesitate to contact me on annikenallis25@gmail.com. I'm happy to help you.

If you're ready to get started with DoTerra, you can sign up for a wholesale membership here. If you'd like to find out more about what's involved in a wholesale membership, just e-mail me on annikenallis25@gmail.com. Please put 'essential oils' in the subject line.

You can read more about why I chose DoTerra and find other blog posts here and like my new Facebook page for daily tips and education.

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