The Benefits of Natural Cleaning Products
You can believe me when I tell you that using a natural herbal product instead of a chemical-laden commercial one makes household tasks almost a pleasure to tackle. I know it’s hard to get excited about cleaning a bathroom, but when you realize that the surfaces are germ and toxin free, and the soothing aroma of cedar or lavender lingers, you won’t be able to suppress a smile of satisfaction. And the enthusiasm is contagious even the kids will want to pitch in!
Save Time and Money by Using Natural Cleaning
Making your own herbal cleaning products is not a time-consuming or expensive endeavor. In fact, quite the opposite is true. It only takes a minute or two to fill a spray bottle with vinegar and water and add a few drops of essential oil. Bingo instant glass and appliance cleaner! Having done that, there’s one less aisle to visit in the supermarket.
The majority of commercial cleaners are quite expensive. A typical spray or foam cleanser for the bathroom, for instance, can deprive you of $4.00 or more. An herbal alternative, on the other hand, will cost mere pennies to make. I buy pure essential oils for an average of $3.00 per half fluid ounce. Since I am only using between 5 and 30 drops of the oil (depending on the particular formula), that half-ounce bottle goes a very long way indeed. Other all-natural ingredients, such as vinegar, baking soda, water, and castile soap are also inexpensive.
Unclutter Your Cleaning Closet
You will also marvel at the amount of uncluttered space that becomes available in the area where you normally store cleaning supplies. According to Debra Lynn Dadd, author of Non-Toxic and Natural, the average kitchen is home to thirty or more commercial products, the laundry room six!
Many of the herbal formulas you will be making will be multipurpose, so the number of cleaning products you store will be greatly reduced. This is an immense help, especially to those of us with only a little bit of space under the sink or in a closet.
Creative Packaging
Why shouldn’t the containers used to store your herbal cleaners be as pleasant as their contents? In this area, you can really exercise the concept of recycling materials. Remember those commercial products you finished up on your way to nontoxic cleaning? Many of those containers can be washed and used a countless number of times for your herbal formulas.
Coffee tins with plastic lids are great for storing car and wood polishes. Those large plastic containers with sprinkle-type tops you get when you purchase dried herbs and spices in bulk are excellent for powdered cleansers. Glass containers work well too, of course, but you may want to stick with plastic if safety is a concern, especially if “little helpers” may be using them.