It’s that time of year. It must be genetically wired into us. Just as we see the birds and rabbits suddenly emerge from the colder months energetically scampering around, building nests and doing… whatever else animals do in the spring time. We find ourselves ready for the new season and looking around to freshen up our environment. Cleaning can be cathartic, so try embracing a good scrub down of the house versus dreading it. Take the purge to a new level and make your home a few steps healthier by eliminating these items:
- Plug-In Air Fresheners. I remember the days of browsing the local bath products store at the mall….the one you can smell as soon as the waft of the cookie place is out of reach. Suddenly in said store there wasn’t just body wash and lotion……I could make my entire apartment smell “great” simply by plugging in the adorably decorated seasonal wall oil warmer! Fast forward about 15 years and I’d rather my house smell like stepped on skunk than plug one these into my outlets. Luckily, there’s a third option. I diffuse doTERRA’s essential oils. It’s important to mention the brand here because not all oils are the same. The ones you find at the grocery store are synthetic and not as purely sourced or produced. There are tons of options of blends that smell amazing and offer the added benefits that come with breathing in 100% pure plant fragrance versus toxic pretend scents.
- Aerosol Room Sprays. We’ve all seen the commercial of the disgusted mom heavily spraying down the kid’s stinky room. I’ve bought them, you’ve probably bought them. It’s a quick fix when you’re looking for that “fresh” smell. The problem is that the “fresh” smell is anything but. Over 90% of the chemicals manufacturers use to create synthetic fragrances actually come from petrochemicals that are known to cause a whole slew of issues to our systems. The great thing is….for the producers of these products…. that they don’t have to list out these chemicals on their items. This is why you’ll see a neat little all inclusive ingredient: “fragrance”. DIY your own spray with essential oils, distilled water, and witch hazel.
- Scented Trash Bags and Toilet Paper. Are you seeing a trend here? Anything that makes our home smell like a “spring meadow” or “lavender dreams” is probably doing much more harm than good. Purge like a maniac and get these nostalgic things that you buy on autopilot out of the house! Drip a drop of essential oil on the inside of your toilet paper ring and into the trash can liner.
- Toxic Cleaners. Cleanliness has become more important over the last year than ever. This is why it is vital to educate yourself and become more aware of what you’re spraying all over your surfaces and floors. Research your brand of choice (even if it says “natural” on the label). Educate yourself on these chemicals and what impact they could potentially have on you and your family. Then make swaps where necessary. I clean most of my bathroom with baking soda and vinegar. For everything else, I use doTERRA’s OnGuard Cleaner Concentrate in a spray bottle.
- Candles. Y’all, I saved this one for last because out of allllll the things I have removed from our home, this one is the hardest. Candles= welcoming, homey, ambiance. All the things I strive for in my space. Yet, especially since having kids, I knew I needed to wean myself. What I have done is invested in some nice flameless versions that flicker and are visually appealing. For the scent, my oil diffuser saves the day once again! On occasion, I do still give into my old habits, but I’m smarter. Look for soy candles versus paraffin. Even better, find a local candle maker (or one on Etsy) who uses essential oils for the scent instead of chemicals.
