A Natural Home

At Sleep Organics, we’re all about having the most natural and healthy environment possible, in the bedroom but also throughout your home.  One important aspect of making every room in your house as natural as possible is looking at the ingredients not just on your table, but also in other items throughout your home. Just think about the cleaners and fragrances under your kitchen or bathroom counter. Have you picked up a bottle of cleaner and read what’s inside?

Usually there are a long list of ingredients, some of which could be harmful to your family’s health.  However, the good news is that you might have other items in your pantry which can clean just as effectively––but much more naturally!

Around the Home

Make a homemade dusting spray using ¾ cup olive oil, ¼ cup distilled white vinegar and 30–40 drops of clove, orange, lemon or other citrus essential oil (optional). Combine these ingredients in a spray bottle and shake thoroughly before each use. You can utilize this concoction as youwould a regular dusting spray around your home, spraying directly onto furniture then buffing with a clean and dry cloth.

For a natural wood furniture polish, combine ½ cup of coconut or vegetable oil with ¼ cup of lemon juice then, using a small amount on a rag, polish and buff your wood furniture. To add a more refreshing scent, add lemon or orange essential oil to the mixture.

Dryer sheets can contain harmful chemical and fragrances, so opt for wool dryer balls instead. You can even add a few drops of your favorite essential oil (lavender is ideal for sheetsand bedding) to each ball for an aromatic, soothing and natural fragrance.

Dispose of plug-in fragrances or sprays, and utilize essential oil diffusers instead. Theyare relatively inexpensive and eco-friendly––not to mention less toxic for your home. Numerouscombinations––even holiday blends like pumpkin spice and evergreen tree––can be achieved with essential oils.

Bathrooms

When it’s time to deep clean your toilet, simply pour ½ cup of baking soda and approximately 10 drops of tea tree essential oil (optional, but tea tree is known for its disinfectant properties) in the toilet bowl. Then, add ¼ cup of vinegar and scrub while it fizzes.

Fill a spray bottle with a mixture of ¼ cup vinegar and four cups warm water. Use a dry cloth or newspaper to wipe down your bathroom mirrors and windows.

Clean your drains with a ½ cup baking soda, followed by one cup vinegar. Allow this concoction to fizz inside the drain for about 15 minutes then rinse with hot or boiling water. Forparticularly clogged or dirty drains, you can repeat or leave overnight.

Kitchen

If you’re looking to sanitize a cutting board, grab half of a lemon, rub the citrus across the entire board then rinse after about 10 minutes. These natural acids eliminate bacteria, while making the board––and––kitchen smell lemon-y fresh.

For an all-purpose natural kitchen cleaner, combine one cup distilled white vinegar, one cup water, three drops tea tree oil and three drops grapefruit essential oil in a 16-ounce spray bottle.  Apply this mixture on countertops, sinks or appliances just as you would a traditional cleaner. Shake thoroughly before each use.

Easier Than You Think

Make your home more natural and non-toxic requires less effort or expense that you might think.  You can even start by simply switching out items in one room of the house or replacing one product with a natural alternative.

If the DIY route isn’t for you, there are several options on the market for natural home cleaners and fragrances. Just look at the ingredients label and make sure that you recognize everything on the list. Start with the basics and over time, all the ingredients in your cleaners could be as natural as the ingredients in your pantry!