Bugs are obnoxious.
From fruit flies in your home to mosquito bites and everything in between, I’ve got you covered.
DIY Recipe Quick Links
Welcome to your go-to for DIY recipes that will wipe out the toxins in your home and actually work!
Toxin-Free Travel
Oh, how I love travel, but even more when its toxin-free travel.
The excitement of our bags packed, onto the next adventure.
After our third year of traveling toxin-free, I finally feel we have mastered the art of it.
To simplify, let’s break it into three categories: Packing + Storage Needs, Getting there…and Back, and Must Have Products.
Toxin-Free Travel Part 2
Toxin-Free Travel: Must Haves
Must Have Toxin-Free Products For Traveling
After three years of trial and error, these are toxin-free travel must haves.
This makes our time that much more enjoyable, and we find much less stressful as well.
Why Oils?
This Will Impact Your Life Forever
A proactive lifestyle just will.Â
Our family will never be the same–praise God!
We had no idea what we were doing to our bodies in this generation or the next, and I’m willing to bet that neither do you.Â
Step-by-Step Toxin-Free Living: Week 4
Week 4: Cleaner
When it comes to our flooring week 4, it was tough to find a product on the market that had no warnings.
The floor is where our babies play, our animals relax, and they have a role in our whole-home toxicity.
The convenience of grabbing carpet or hard surface cleaner at the store is nice, but it’s not worth it if you’re choosing organ, reproductive, and respiratory- destroying products in the process.
Hard Surface Flooring
(If you haven’t gotten your 24% discount and toxin-free wellness box, click here: Young Living Starter Kit )
Option 1:
The one we use in our home (because we use it in place of TEN toxic cleaners) is Thieves Household Cleaner.
We simply fill this refillable mop with hot water, add one capful of Thieves Household Cleaner, and mop away with amazing results!
The best part about this cleaner is the wonderful smell!
It’s like Christmas and coziness all wrapped up into one. We always get compliments after mopping!
Carpet Cleaners
Unfortunately there were no carpet cleaners that scored an “A” without any concerns, but feel free to see what did make the “A” list here.
Option 1:
When it comes to carpets, Thieves still comes in handy! I add one capful of Thieves Household Cleaner to 1 C baking soda, sprinkle on the carpet and scrub in with a bristled brush in those extra stubborn spots.
Let sit for an hour, and vacuum.
Option 2:
Add 1C baking soda to a glass bowl.
Drop 5 or 6 drops of Young Living’s Purification essential oil blend or Citrus Fresh blend in and stir.
Sprinkle on carpet. Scrub stubborn spots. Let sit for an hour, and vacuum.
Final Thoughts
For our family, buying doesn’t make sense in the store. Why waste our money on something that might work, when I already have Thieves Household Cleaner and purifying oils in my cabinet?
It’s also super easy to make, works so well, and leaves our home smelling so fresh!
How to Get the Products Above
You have options.
Option 1: The Premium Starter Kit (best value)
Benefits
- 24% discount for life on all products
- No obligation to buy-ever
- The leading essential oils available
- You can visit the farms and watch the entire process seed-to-seal.
- You can choose a monthly wellness box like me and receive up to $200 in free products each month
- Tons of guidance and support
- Free Welcome Kit and personalized help
Option 2: Basic Starter Kit
Pros + Cons
PROS:
- 24% discount for life on all products
- No obligation to buy-ever
- The leading essential oils available
- You can visit the farms and watch the entire process seed-to-seal
- You can choose a monthly wellness box like me and receive up to $200 in free products each month
- Tons of guidance and support
- Free Welcome Kit and personalized help
CONS:
- Much slower start toward a toxin-free life than Premium Starter Kit
- Doesn’t come with a diffuser
YL + Toxin-Free Living
I chose Young Living after spending a long time researching.
Young Living made sense for our family because it was a source I could trust when I kept running into different companies off the shelf that I couldn’t.
Step-by-Step Toxin-Free Living Week 3: Oven and Stove Cleaner
Oven and Stove Cleaner
Confession: I hate cleaning the oven and stove.
Alas, it must be done.
I would like, however, to propose that it no longer has to be done with poison.
(If you haven’t gotten your 24% discount and toxin-free wellness kit yet, click here: Young Living Starter Kit)
Oven + Stove in the Store
Sadly, there’s some bad news on the oven cleaner front. There are currently no safe cleaners in the stores.
This means the entire market is saying it’s impossible.
Take a look at this:
Generational Poison
Corrosive alkalis (like Easy-Off) for your oven is poisonous.
POISONOUS!
How can oven and stove cleaners affect your body?
1.) Respiratory System:
While using them, breathing may be difficult due to inhaling the fumes. This is irritating to the lungs and can exacerbate any respiratory issues a person may have.
2.) Ears, Nose, Throat, and Eyes
Oven and stove cleaners can cause throat swelling and pain. It has also been found that it can create burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue. In serious cases, vision loss was reported.
3.) Digestive System:
Everything from general abdominal pain to bloody stools and vomit have been reported as concerns when it comes to oven and stove cleaners. It’s also alarming that breathing in these particular toxins can burn to the point of creating holes in the esophagus.
4.) Circulatory System:
When it comes to our heart and blood flow after using these poisonous products, research shows low blood pressure developing rapidly, severe change in blood acid level leading to organ damage, and even collapse.
5. Skin (Our Largest Organ):
We know that these cleaners can go from simple skin irritation to burning our skin all the way to holes in the underlying tissue.
6.) Cellular Level:
Toxins enter the body when we breathe them or touch them and can cause damage to our DNA leading to sick, malfunctioning organs. The chances of our cells turning cancerous increase a ton when we use products like stove and oven cleaner.
TAKE BACK YOUR HOME
In minutes and with as low as two ingredients, you can deep-clean your stove and oven.
The best part?
You can avoid DNA-harming toxins and actually SUPPORT all of the body systems the other cleaners tear apart!
DIY Option 1:
- Mix one cap of Thieves Household Cleaner in a 16 ounce spray bottle full of hot water.
- Spray oven or stove generously.
- Drop Young Living’s Lemon essential oil around the area.
- Use a scrub brush to mix oil and cleaner and let sit. Some ovens can wait an hour. Others may even need overnight.
- Scrub until clean. Some people have found success using a putty knife to scrape away any extra-tough stuck on gunk.
DIY Option 2:
- Mix one cap of Thieves Household Cleaner with 1 C baking soda.
- Sprinkle in oven.
- Scrub and wipe away with warm water. May leave overnight if needed.
DIY Option 3:
1 C baking soda
6 drops Young Living’s Lemon essential oil
5 drops Young Living’s Purification essential oil
- Mix together in a small, glass bowl with a spoon and coat oven with a scrub brush.
- Leave overnight if needed.
- Wipe away with warm water.
Why Thieves Cleaner?
1.) Clove Essential Oil
Supports Cardiovascular, Digestive, Immune, and Respiratory Systems.
2.) Lemon Essential Oil:
Supports Digestive, Immune, and Respiratory Systems.
3.) Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil :
Supports Immune System.
4.) Eucalyptus Radiata Essential Oil :
Supports Respiratory System and skin.
5.) Rosemary Essential Oil:
Supports Immune, Respiratory, and Nervous Systems.
The other ingredients, Alkyl Polyglucoside,Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate, Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate, are all rated safe on EWG!
Final Thoughts
Though it annoys me that I can’t simply “add to cart” or shop at my local store to grab an oven or stove cleaner, I truly don’t mind these DIYs.
Why?
1.) They work hard.
2.) They’re easy and super quick to make.
3.) I’m exchanging bodily harm for supporting our bodies!
It’s also great because they’re ingredients that come super cheap and are staples in our home, so they’re always on hand.
How to Get the Products Above
You have three options.
Option 1: The Premium Starter Kit (best value)
Benefits
- 24% discount for life on all products
- No obligation to buy-ever
- The leading essential oils available
- You can visit the farms and watch the entire process seed-to-seal.
- You can choose a monthly wellness box like me and receive up to $200 in free products each month
- Tons of guidance and support
- Free Welcome Kit and personalized help
Option 2: Basic Starter Kit
Pros + Cons
PROS:
- 24% discount for life on all products
- No obligation to buy-ever
- The leading essential oils available
- You can visit the farms and watch the entire process seed-to-seal
- You can choose a monthly wellness box like me and receive up to $200 in free products each month
- Tons of guidance and support
- Free Welcome Kit and personalized help
CONS:
- Much slower start toward a toxin-free life than Premium Starter Kit
- Doesn’t come with a diffuser
YL + Toxin-Free Living
I chose Young Living after spending a long time researching.
Young Living made sense for our family because it was a source I could trust when I kept running into different companies off the shelf that I couldn’t.
However you choose to live toxin-free, make sure you research using free resources like ewg.org to learn the truth about your products and keep your family as safe as possible for generations to come.
WEEK 4: Floor Cleaners >>>>>
DIY Staples + Pricing
One of the biggest issues I hear when it comes to living this toxin-free lifestyle are the upfront costs, so let’s go over some real-world pricing .
We’ve already nailed down how much each of our toxic products cost (minus doctor visits for what it does to our bodies), and we’ve added that into our budget, so how do we make the switch without breaking the bank?
Safe MultiPurpose Cleaner
Lets tackle something that will cover lots of your toxin-free bases: Multi-Purpose Cleaner.
Toxin-Free Laundry
Toxin-Free Laundry
If you want a healthy life, one of your biggest steps will be switching whatever you get in the store for toxin-free laundry products.
Laundry detergents have serious hormonal disruptors which pollute your homes air, outdoor air, and then hang in your closet seeping out into your breathing air while you sleep.
So, yeah…pretty serious.
Synthetics Out!
While you are cleansing your home from synthetic fragrance, add these to your got-to-go list:
- air fresheners
- candles (yes, even soy and other “special” ones)
- wall plug-ins
- wax melts
- fake, store bought essential oils (yes, those are synthetic!)
- room sprays
Why is it so important to completely rid your home of synthetic smells?
Our homes are 3-5 times more toxic (AKA carcinogenic, hormone disrupting, respiratory debilitating, developmentally harmful, environmentally harmful) than the outdoor pollution because of toxins in our homes. Synthetic fragrance is a HUGE contributor!
Laundry Detergent
Option 1: Simple and Awesome DIY Recipe!
You’ll want to bookmark this amazing DIY detergent recipe that has been our family’s go-to for a while now.
Best DIY Laundry Detergent Recipe: DIY Laundry Detergent
Option 2: Buy Online
Keep in mind that the only one you can actually count on is the Young Living option.
Young Living’s Thieves Laundry Detergent: Click HERE
More great news?
With your wholesale discount, dilution of this seriously concentrated product, and utilizing the Essential Rewards program, you will come out far less expensive than in-store and way healthier, too.
Reminder…
There’s a serious misconception that fragrance is somehow natural when it’s labeled as something we commonly use (i.e. grapefruit, lavender, eucalyptus).
The truth is that unless it discloses that Young Living is supplying its oils to create a fragrance, you’re getting synthetic fragrance, which means you’re messing with your body’s hormones, increasing your cancer risk, etc.
Real Life Use
As a mom running every which way, I must say I really don’t mind the five minutes it takes to make the DIY detergent.
The links in the recipe lead to buying in bulk, which means I have all the ingredients I need to make this about once a month for a little over $3 per month, saving me lots without much trouble.
Fabric Softener
One of the worst offenders when it comes to our home’s air quality is fabric softener and dryer sheets.
They release fragrance that sticks to your clothes and whose chemicals enter into your blood stream through your largest organ-your skin.
Some reports have even linked it to seizures in children.
Thankfully, there is a great answer so you can avoid static.
Option 1: Super Fast DIY
This DIY is literally two ingredients. You can add dryer balls to the dryer with a few drops of essential oils (we like the Premium Starter Kit options of Citrus Fresh, Lemon, or Lavender).
DIY Recipe Here: 2 Ingredient Fabric Softener
Option 2: Online Non-Toxic Fabric Softener
So many people have fallen in love with throwing a Young Living baby wipe in the dryer as their dryer sheet that I have to share it!
Young Living Seedlings Baby Wipes:YL Baby Wipes.
Real Life Use
Mixing two ingredients together once a month for a few bucks and reusing our dryer balls whenever we want a little extra fragrance is my personal choice because it’s just too easy not to!
Final Thoughts…
Just by removing all air fresheners from your home and switching to toxin-free laundry, you have created a much cleaner and safer environment for your family!
While the idea of pulling all the toxins from your home can be daunting, please remember that what you’re doing is making a huge difference and to give yourself grace through this process.
You will get there, and I do so wish I would’ve done it this way instead of the panicky, scrambled way I learned.
Please feel free to message me on my Facebook page or to post your own thoughts and questions, so we can all work together toward a better, cleaner, and safer future!
Make it Even Simpler
If you’d like to find out how to get the simplest form of this amazing toxin-free life, click here.
Multi-Purpose Cleaner >>>>
Essential Oil Hacks You Need NOW!
Whether researching the life blood of plants, sitting with a new Premium Starter Kit , or at old pro status, these essential oil hacks can make life much easier!
Essential Oil Hacks: Getting Started
These essential oil hacks help with the basics of the toxin-free transition.
Essential Oil Hacks: Resources
DIY is totally achievable…if you have the right resources.
Essential Oil Hacks: Rollerbottles
Get more bang for your buck making rollerballs with the use of rollerbottles!
Let’s dig into some of my favorite recipes!
How to Stretch Young Living Products
How to Stretch Young Living Products
In addition to the amazing value in the Premium Starter Kit, there’s a way you can get the most out of your wholesale membership–here’s how to stretch Young Living product!
But First…
(If you haven’t gotten your 24% discount and toxin-free box yet, click here: Young Living Starter Kit)
My Favorite Ways to Stretch Product:
1. Foam Pumps
Two tablespoons of products like Orange Blossom Face Wash and any of our bath gels can be put into rust-proof foam pumps like this one
2. DIY
DIY projects mean you get more bang for your buck! 250 drops in a 15mL bottle, and you only need ten for a product that will last you three months? That’s a win!
3. Rollerballs
Rather than putting a drop on the soles of my feet each night, I use a roller I’ve made,and it lasts much longer!
4. Don’t Go Overboard in the Diffuser
You really only need about six drops total in our DewDrop diffuser. Any more and you’re wasting precious oils!
DO, however feel free to diffuse Young Living oils all day long!
5. Inhalers
A great way to get all the cell-reaching benefits of the life blood of plants is through direct inhalation.
Not only are these inhalers
One thing I love about stretching product is that it means enjoying our oils for even longer! The best part-it makes sharing a non-toxic, healthy lifestyle that much easier.
>>NEXT: Hacks You Need NOW! Part 6>>
Young Living: Save a Ton!
Young Living: Save a Ton!
I wondered if I would ever take advantage of the Essential Rewards program until I realized with Young Living I could save a ton!
First Thing’s First
(If you haven’t gotten your start to a toxin-free lifestyle yet, click here: Young Living Starter Kit )
After the second month using oils and learning there’s literally an oil to support everything, my husband and I took a look at my ever-growing list of products, oils, and oil blends and knew we needed Essential Rewards.
Why?
1. Give Me ALL the Oils
My budget-watching husband disagreed. No, Andrea. You cannot trade food and shelter for oils.
$50 per month. Now, THAT we can do!
2. Free Product Thank Yous
I’m budgeting oils into our life AND you’re giving me some of the money back to use like cash on other oils on my list? UM…OKAY!
And you’re going to send me a free oil at 3,6,9, and 12 months? Alrighty!
And you’ll offer me more free product up to over $200 retail value each month on promotional items? Yesss….
And you’ll discount certain products, like our beloved Ningxia Red, in exclusive ER bundles? Ah!
Love like this should not be passed on, friends!
Our family has been given thousands and thousands of dollars worth of free product!
We’ve got one squeaky, toxin-free homestead over here, y’all, and we didn’t even have to pay for all of it!
I love free things just as much as the next momma bear. But I love this even more. Our boys, including one spunky cancer survivor, are only breathing in and wearing goodness!
Loyalty
You can choose Essential Rewards.
The Wholesale Discount Premium Starter Kit with 12 oils, a diffuser, and a 24% discount will pop up, and you simply click the loyalty box.
Add in the Essential Rewards, and you’re looking at 49% back in your pocket just for making your home full of the most trusted non-toxic products on the planet, and save tons!
>>NEXT: Hacks You Need NOW! Part 7>>
Young Living Referral Program
Young Living Referral Program
Use the Young Living referral program… the right way.
What Makes it So Great?
Did you know that once you get your 24% wholesale discount, Young Living loves when you share the life-blood of plants so much that they will send you a $50 “Thank You” check each time someone uses your link to order a Premium Starter Kit?
(If you haven’t started your toxin-free journey with the only nonGMO trusted oils, click here: Young Living Starter Kit )
It’s true, but beware!
This is SO not about the $50!
This is someone’s life you’re invested in, so let’s make sure you do it right!
Here are the 3 easy {yet crucial} steps to welcoming someone you care about into our oily family:
STEP 1:
Get your link. If you don’t know how to do this, ask your sponsor!
STEP 2:
Add your friend or family member to an educational group like this one.
STEP 3:
Introduce your friend or family member to the person in your upline closest to you who has their own Young Living business. You can find who these people are in your “My Account” section of your Virtual Office.
If you were not introduced to this person, reach out and then add your friend or family member in the conversation. Let them know you’re ready to learn more and exactly what you need from your oils.
If each person takes these three important steps, we should never have someone who is lost on the learning curve that comes along with a new lifestyle.
Our heart is to serve, not make a quick buck, so keep ya’ heart right, friends!
>>NEXT: Hacks You Need NOW! Part 8>>
Essential Oils Education
Essential Oils Education
Essential oils education is key for this new, simpler and safer lifestyle.
The right education, that is.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m quite the Pinterest queen.
I mean, our boys wouldn’t eat a lot of nights if it weren’t for this handy little invention, but when it comes to putting something into the bodies of my precious babies down to the cellular level, I’m going to need a higher source.
Once you’ve got your Premium Starter Kit/Wholesale 24% Discount, how do you know if you are being educated the right way?
(If you haven’t started your toxin-free journey yet at a 24% discount, click here: Young Living Starter Kit )
There are a few clues that can help.
1.) You’re learning through a Young Living site or blog.
Young Living writes all of the content on their website/PDFs you find there as well as the blog. You can even ask questions on the blog and get an answer from someone at Young Living!
2.) You’re reaching out to Young Living directly.
You can always do the following:
-Email productsupport@youngliving.com
-Call 1-800-371-3515
-Join a live chat via the link at the Contact Us section at the bottom of your Virtual Office
3.) You’re learning from an educational group on Facebook of a ranked member.
What is “ranked?”
Ranked means this person is working hard on growing their Young Living business by continuing their education and teaching others about the oils and products.
They are constantly a student learning from reputable sources as well as consistently trying new product. They are essentially a “product of the product.”
You will know you’re in a group with viable information when they post regularly, have a decent amount of members in the group, and if, when you match their facts with either of the first two sources, they check out.
This educational group is where I share what I have learned from Young Living and my upline leaders.
The same way we want news from worthy sources, we want to learn about our oils with a high standard for who is teaching us.
>>NEXT: Hacks You Need NOW! Part 9>>
Essential Oil Basics
Essential Oil Basics
Learn some essential oil basics to make your life easier.
You’ll want to know some of these basics to be able to get the most out of your Premium Starter Kit/ Wholesale 24% Discount.
(If you haven’t gotten your 24% discount on toxin-free living yet, click here: Young Living Starter Kit )
Hopefully you’ll have been invited by your sponsor to a 101 Basics Oils Class for your Premium Starter Kit, but if you haven’t, here are the top five basics to get you started.
1. Oil Safety
There is a mini-lesson video that goes into more of this in the Files section of my educational group, but here’s the skinny:
-Only ingest Young Living Oils {www.seedtoseal.com}.
-Don’t stick oils in your eyes, ears, or mucous membranes.
-If you do accidentally do the last one, use a carrier oil to flush it out–not water.
-Don’t put citrus oils on in places where the sun will hit it {i.e. your face} before exposing yourself to the sun. They will make you burn easier.
-Dilute hot oils with a carrier oil
2. Carrier Oils
A carrier oil is a fatty oil that basically lessens the heat of “hot” oils or dilutes them for babies, small children, and the elderly.
3. Dilution Ratios
Boy is this a confusing topic! Pinterest, personal preference, and sharing between friends has lead to some big misunderstanding when it comes to dilution ratios, so let’s go to a source we trust no matter what: Young Living.
Dilute for babies and young children. Follow these guidelines:
Dilute when using a “hot oil.” You will also want to patch-test a small amount if you are new to oils. We will be using the directions of Young Living’s own carrier oils as a reference:
1-8 teaspoons is a big difference, isn’t it? Here are the questions you need to ask yourself:
- How far do you want this oil to go?
- Will it be a massage oil, or are you just trying to apply to one smaller area of your body?
- Is this for a child or the elderly?
Once you know the answer to those questions, adjust accordingly.
For our family, it took some trial/error until we got down exactly how much carrier we needed for which occasion. It may be handy for you to jot down any winning amounts for further reference.
4. How to Apply Oils
Topically:
-The soles of your feet have the largest pores. You may also be interested in Vita Flex points for this application.
-Along the spine where nerves are connected.
-Along the furthest outer layer of your ear. There are other Vita Flex points there.
-Directly on the area where you need the most support.
Aromatically:
-Diffuse 6 drops total as needed
-Directly inhale from the bottle, from your cupped hands with one drop them, or a DIY inhaler
Internally:
I cannot stress this enough: Do NOT ingest oils unless they are from the Young Living Vitality line!
Don’t worry about 15mL or 5mL-it’s the same oil, but do please only use from the vitality line!
Rather have them grouped in graphics? Here you go!
5. Knowing Which Oil to Use
You’ll want to be in direct contact with your sponsor, but there comes a point where we teach you to fish, so to speak.
Here’s a way to make it super easy: get a great reference guide book! I love sharing this one
However, I must proclaim and shout it from the rooftops: this guide is just that-a guide. It is never in any way meant to replace the trusted advice and direction of a medical doctor! We focus on wellness with oils, but we ourselves are not doctors!
>>NEXT: Hacks You Need NOW! Part 10>>