What made me want to change how I cleaned my house?
*this post may contain affiliate links which allows me to keep this content free to my readers.
I have always been someone that as desired to use things in my home and on my body that were all natural and simple. I was raised in a home that had all the typical supplies, and we used bleach regularly. I didn't think a thing about using what was on the store shelves.
Until, June 23, 2018. I woke up that morning having a stroke. While that is a story for another post, the end result was this: I had had a stroke, and my doctors could not tell me why I had a stroke. That will let your mind wonder for awhile. I didn't know what had caused it, and if I had done something or taken something that could have prevented it. I still do not know.
With that unknown being part of my history I started to look for alternatives and all natural ways of doing things.
It started with looking for something to help with headaches and sleep, to using very simple basic cleaning ingredients. My search lead me to using essential oils and plant based cleaning products. I found that in one place, Young Living. I didn't realize it at the time, but finding oils and plant based cleaning would lead me to a whole slew of new things, but that is for another post as well.
How do you clean naturally? And how do you know what to switch out?
While I had heard that bleach wasn't great for me, I also knew that I hadn't found anything that cleaned well that was truly all natural. After getting essential oils from Young Living, I saw that they had a cleaner that lots of people online were talking about becuase it could really clean.
I grabbed a bottle of Thieves Household Cleaner. It's a concentrate so I had to measure what I needed for a spray bottle to clean my house. Super easy though, just one capful of cleaner for 16 oz. of water in a spray bottle and you have an all purpose cleaner.
Thieves cleaner works because the essential oils and plant based ingredients are considered phenols. Phenols are types of chemical properties that break down cell walls. This means the bacteria and germs that are on surfaces will break down and be destroyed when sprayed with Thieves Cleaner. That is why it works.
This lead me on a no-chill- type clean out of my cleaning products. I would look them up on the Environmental Working Group (EWG) website and see what they were rated. I also used the Think Dirty App to scan barcodes and they would show me what the product is rated. A bad rating got tossed. Before I knew it on one January day in 2020 I cleaned out 17 different cleaning products.
Being new to this whole idea, it can be overwhelming to know what to toss and what to keep, or even what to investigate. I truly had no chill and when I realized how many of the chemicals in my home were known carcinogens, or had links to health problems like cancer, asthma, eczema, hormone disruption, and more, I wanted them out of my house.
If you need help knowing what to look at I created a free printable checklist. Its all the things I switched over to all natural products.
What is Thieves?
Thieves is a essential oil. Its actually a mix of five oils (lemon, rosemary, cinnamon, clove, and eucalyptus). These oils have germ fighting properties and they work together to clean and sanitizer your surfaces, but more importantly it helps support our immune system.
Its an oil that not only supports your health, but can help clean your house. It's crazy. But such a good idea, right?!
Young Living created a cleaner from this oil. It smells amazing, like potporrui on the stove at Christmas! I love the smell of this cleaner so much. Its way more pleasant than any other cleaner I've used.
Along with this cleaner, there is a whole list of products you can get that have Thieves essential oil in it to help with boost our immune system and helps keep us clean. Things like Laundry soap, dish soap, hand soap, fruit and veggie rinse, mouth wash, cough drops, mints and more.
Where do you get Thieves?
Thieves is only sold from Young Living. You can go here, and buy a bottle of Thieves Cleaner.
You can create a free account like you would at Amazon or Target and purchase only when you need to. One bottle of Thieves Cleaner Concentrate will make roughly thirty 16 oz spray bottles of all purpose cleaner. That means it will last a long time.
When you buy Thieves Cleaner I will send you recipe cards that will walk you through step by step on how to use Thieves. I also will connect you with a private Facebook Group that is full of like-minded people that do things like you and I - low-tox! Its a great place to get some good tips and tricks on living a low-tox lifestyle. Believe me, I have learned more than I ever realized I should or even wanted to learn just from being in a private group of crunchy-oil loving people. Very eye-opening.
*In full transparency, I do make a small commission from your purchase since I am a Brand Partner with Young Living.
How to use Thieves.
There are so many ways to use Thieves but the main way I use Thieves is in my all-purpose cleaner and the home made soft scrub.
All Purpose Cleaner Recipe:
- 1 capful of Thieves Household Concentrate
- 16 oz of water
Combine in a 16 oz spray bottle and use.
Use on: granite, wood, tile, glass, stainless steal, ceramic, and anything else that needs to be cleaned. It is the simplest way to clean. You do not have to make a bunch of different cleaners to make sure all your surfaces are clean. Thieves is plant based and gentle, but still has the power to clean.
Does Thieves Cleaner actually clean?
Yes. There is no doubt it cleans. Click this link and watch to see if Thieves Cleaner can clean raw chicken on kitchen counters. It passed the test! I feel confident that it cleans germs and everything else that's on my counters and in my bath tub.
Homemade Soft Scrub Recipe:
- Combine equal parts Baking Soda and Thieves Cleaner Concentrate.
- Mix to combine, It should look like mashed potatoes. If it is too thin, just add more baking soda, and if it is to think add more Thieves Concentrate.
- You can add tea tree for areas that have mold, or oregano oil for added germ fighting, or lemon oil to help cut grease and sticky grim.
- Apply to areas like the kitchen sink, bath tubs, stove tops, and even scuffs on shoes and the wall! It acts like a magic eraser.
- Store in an air tight container.
Other cleaning supplies I swapped out.
Laundry Soap. Thieves Laundry Soap is plant based and gentle. Perfect for sensitive skin. I dilute my bottle into 3 bottles.
- Separate one new bottle of Thieves Laundry Soap into 3 containers. *use what you have! I use mason jars until I had 3 laundry soap bottles.
- Add 3 capfuls of Thieves Household Cleaner to each of the 3 containers.
- Add 10 drops of essential oil of choice to each of the 3 containers. *lemon oil for brightening fabrics, *lavender for scent, *eucalyptus for stains.
- Top with with warm water and cover with an air tight lid.
- Shake to combine mixture.
Use 1/4 capful from the original Thieves Laundry Soap bottle in your wash like normal.
I also use Molly's Suds to help with whitening.
Also, you do not have to dilute, I just choose to do it sense I have kids that help do laundry and they can be heavy handed with the laundry soap. So we dilute to help with that.
Dish Soap
Did you know that dish soap can have chemicals that can be harmful to our skin and body. Thieves Dish Soap is free of SLS, which is a known skin irritant. This is the same ingredient that makes soap sudsy and foam up. We use very little dish soap when doing dishes because Thieves Laundry Soap is so concentrated.
Hand Soap
I wanted to use hand soap that is SLS and SLES free. I have and love Young Living's foaming hand soap but sometimes I make my own, It's very easy to do.
- 1/4 cup Unscented Castile Soap
- 1 cup Water
- 35-45 drops of essential oils. *use multiple kinds of essential oils to your liking.
- Combine in a foaming soap dispenser.
Fruit & Veggie Wash
I didn't expect to love this product like I do. I would usually wash my fruit and vegetables in water and vinegar. However, Thieves fruit and veggie wash actually last a long time, usually for my family of 5, it last around 9 months. It also has proven to remove reside and film from veggies. Every time I wash my produce each week I am glad that I have something that actually removes pesticide residue and dirt. I actually enjoy looking at the ring of dirt left behind in the sink.
Kitchen and Bath Scrub
I wanted something to use for cleaning toilets that did not involve me making my own toilet cleaner. Thieves Kitchen and Bath Scrub is what I use now. I grew up using Comet cleaner and this is very much like that but nontoxic and doesn't have any harsh fumes.
How did I know how to use Thieves Cleaner?
While I knew how to make the all purpose cleaner, the recipe is on the bottle, I didn't know it had so many other uses. I honestly was surprised.
When I purchased Thieves Cleaner my enroller (the person I bought Thieves from), sent me a bunch of recipe cards that had all the recipes I would ever need to know.
I love a good recipe card because you can print them out and keep them in a drawer in your kitchen for quick reference. Super easy to use.
If you ever purchase Thieves Cleaner or oils using my link, I will send you recipe cards. You will love them too.
My Low-Tox Supply List
Here is a list of supplies I have purchased that I can use Thieves Concentrate in or with, but also supplies that I use regularly to make my cleaning supplies at home.
Diffuser and Oils
This helps me keep fumes and toxins out of my home. I had been using candles and Febreeze spray to make my home smell better. Diffusing actually puts healthy essential oils into the air via a micro mist and it is why I love it. It's a clean alternative to candles.
Shameless plug: I love the Aria diffuser. It's beautiful and it's a staple in my home now. Check it out here.
Little Green Bissell Cleaner
I use this to spot clean furniture, carpet, and rugs. It's nice to have this on hand to take out and clean things when needed. I do not use the cleaning solution that comes with it because it is not low-tox. I add one capful of Thieves Concentrate to the water resevoir of the machine. *this will void the warranty so just be aware. Linked for you here.
Thieves Household Cleaner Concentrate
This cleaner is the easy and simple way to clean your house. You can make whatever cleaner you need for your house. I love that you don't have a bunch of bottles and recipes unless you want to. I don't need a bottle just for glass cleaner because I just use my one bottle of Thieves Cleaner all purpose spray.
And that being said I love that it can be used multiple ways and I have that option if I want it.
You can grab a bottle of Thieves Cleaner here and if you use my link I will send you recipe cards as a thank you.
Spray Floor Mop
This make cleaning the floor simple and low-tox because I can put my own cleaner in the water resevoir. I avoided Swiffers because the solution is not low-tox and I want to know what I am using around my kids.
The best part is that its less that $25! Check it out here.
Glass Spray Bottles
I love having spray bottles in every bathroom, the laundry room, the garage, and the kitchen sink. This is a great set to start with since there is a silicone cup on the bottom that helps protect them from cracking. I have also just used a soda can coozy to protect glass spray bottles. You do you friend! Linked here.
Foaming Hand Soap and Refillable Glass Pump Bottles
I love the foaming hand soap from Young Living. It's soft, nontoxic, and smells amazing. I also love that you can get a refill bottle so I am not buying a bunch of plastic bottles.
The glass pump bottles and Christmas Spirit Foaming Hand Soap are seasonal items and you can find them here. Young Living always has foaming hand soap refill bottles in various scents, just FYI.
Swedish Dish Cloths
This is a recent addition that I though I would share. I am also someone that hates how much paper towels we go through as a family. This helps me feel like I am saving a little paper towels. I like these because they are thick and can be thrown in the dishwasher at the end of the night. Lots of cute options too on Amazon. Linked the ones pictured for you here.
