Every time I ask someone to consider switching to a green cleaning product the first response is, “yes, but does it work?”
I was frustrated for years as well, wanting to use environmentally friendly cleaners but finding them sorely lacking in the power department. I finally found the dream combination, effective, totally green, and priced fairly. I like it so much I became an
Independent Shaklee Dealer and happily put my name out there backing it.
Having used Shaklee’s HE laundry detergent for about nine months now, it still continues to impress. To make a long story short, I sometimes go lend a hand in the dairy barn milking cows. I never minded the smell of a dairy barn, but there is a time and place for everything and it is a strong pervasive odor. You can pretty much count anything worn into a dairy barn as not useable again in any public setting. I used to use one of the “best” store-brand laundry detergents out there, tried several of them, and only smelled like a cow flop in a bed of saccharine flowers .. And usually got a case of dry skin / eczema for my trouble.
Just for fun I tossed a whole winter load of post-dairy barn clothing in the wash; coat, hat, jeans, sweater, shirt, gloves, all of it - set the washer on cold (I always use just cold, no problems after nine months, even with whites) and used only the regular amount of laundry detergent, pre-spotting two small areas with it as well. Clean, no spots or stains that barn matter is so well know for. Zero odor. Period. Impressive.
Get clean, really clean, the first time.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Mercury-free cosmetics
I could not believe my eyes when I saw this headline today By Associated Press writer MARTIGA LOHN Mercury in mascara? Minn. law bans it. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071214/ap_on_he_me/mercury_in_mascara”.
I guess I should not be surprised given what is in “cleaners,” but how Pollyanna of me to think there was some kind of common sense regulation on products meant to be applied to the face and eyes. If you recall, in my “Because Clean Shouldn’t Hurt” article, absorption via the skin is the second fastest method to take in a substance, led only by inhalation. Good thing cosmetics don’t have a smell …
“Federal law allows eye products to contain up to 65 parts per million of mercury” and many other personal care and beauty products contain it as well as multiple other unhealthy chemicals and substances that are known to be a health hazard. Sixty-five parts per million is probably not a lethal dose, but add that to moisturizer, blush, shadow, lipstick, foundation, concealer and now you have a dose that would be six times over allowable by Federal law. Toss in the brew in your laundry soap, bath soap and cleaning products and you may as well go swimming in a waste dump.
I will not test your intelligence by listing all the negative health effects of mercury, but please do think a moment if this avoidable ingredient is really okay with you. A gentle reminder as well that in order to put mercury in your make up also requires a manufacturing process involving workers exposed to it as well as waste being added to the environment. There is no federal law about ingredient labels so do not bother going to look, trust me if it is there the last thing they want you to do is know about it. The good news is now we know where they put all that mercury from our thermometers that were too dangerous to have OUTSIDE our homes.
I became an
Independent Shaklee Dealer
because, as an herbalist, I was mad at what I found was legal to put in “cleaners” and “health products,” feeling there ought to be a law about selling toxins in pretty packages. For 50 years this company has not wavered on allowing profits over health, and has managed to keep the costs even with, and frequently less than the competition.
Give it some thought, and give me a call or drop me an e-mail if you decide that a little truth and safety are a good thing.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Wild edible and medicinal plants walk
Julie Casey of The Sundance Life led a wild edible and medicinal plant walk at Salt Springs State Park today. The weather was beautifully cooperative, if a bit windy, making it a little difficult to use our hand lenses to examine the specimens we found! Everyone appeared to have a great time, and a few even learned a thing or two - even if it was only that being able to properly identify and harvest the nutritious and tasty foods available free to all honestly is possible without having to obtain a degree from Harvard!
The herbalist educational program is a new feature at Salt Springs, which is adding exciting programs all the time. Watch their schedule for Julie to re-appear, possibly even this fall or winter and in the meantime be certain to sign up for David Fisher’s wild mushroom foray in the fall! Many thanks go to David for introducing Julie to Salt Springs, to Nancy W. for her months of efforts to bring a program like this together and make it appear to be “easy,” and to Maddie for her willingness to catch a photo or two of the action.
For those who chose to attend this event amongst all the other options available to them - thank you for being one of the most responsive and enjoyable groups I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I hope that I was able to give at least as much as I received from all of you!
If you were with us on the walk today please do take a moment to let me know you stopped by!
Sunday, June 3, 2007
In toothpaste we trust?
When it comes to our family it is all about trust, trust that the things we use to improve our lives or make them more comfortable will do us good, not harm. As an
Independent Shaklee Dealer, many people have said to me that “toxins in our lives are unavoidable, why try?” My answer is always to do the math. Every one less IS one less, leaving our bodies healthier and stronger to deal with the things we can not avoid. Math will tell you that every product you use, some several times a day, times 365 days a year, increases our exposure to toxins exponentially .... or not based on some very simple choices. Our choices directly increase our health, and our quality of life.
One simple choice we make every day is to brush our teeth, often several times a day. We have all heard and understand that proper regular brushing not only prevents dental caries, and by now most have heard that professionals such as Professors Robin Seymour and James Steele of the University of Newcastle Dental School in England say that you are less likely to get coronary heart disease if you have healthy gums. This seems simple enough until you ask, does trust need to be an issue with toothpaste? Unfortunately yes. “Off the shelf” toothpaste can contain anything from chemical detergents for “foaming” to those brands just pulled off the shelf because they contained the very inexpensive to use but toxic diethylene glycol; a sweet-tasting thickening agent in antifreeze (Associated Press http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070603/ap_on_re_as/china_us_toothpaste).
Trust is important to me. Not worrying if there are “safe levels” of multiple toxic ingredients in my children’s toothpaste is important to me. I became an
Independent Shaklee Dealer for many reasons ..one of which is that for over 50 toxin-free years, trust has been there. Do the math, brushing your teeth just three times a day means putting that toothpaste in your mouth 1095 times a year. Brushing as dentists recommend; morning, bedtime and after meals, puts toothpaste in your mouth 1,825 times a year. What’s in your
toothpaste? Check out The Sundance Life’s organic and kosher non-toxic
toothpaste to get clean with trust.
Independent Shaklee Dealer, many people have said to me that “toxins in our lives are unavoidable, why try?” My answer is always to do the math. Every one less IS one less, leaving our bodies healthier and stronger to deal with the things we can not avoid. Math will tell you that every product you use, some several times a day, times 365 days a year, increases our exposure to toxins exponentially .... or not based on some very simple choices. Our choices directly increase our health, and our quality of life.
One simple choice we make every day is to brush our teeth, often several times a day. We have all heard and understand that proper regular brushing not only prevents dental caries, and by now most have heard that professionals such as Professors Robin Seymour and James Steele of the University of Newcastle Dental School in England say that you are less likely to get coronary heart disease if you have healthy gums. This seems simple enough until you ask, does trust need to be an issue with toothpaste? Unfortunately yes. “Off the shelf” toothpaste can contain anything from chemical detergents for “foaming” to those brands just pulled off the shelf because they contained the very inexpensive to use but toxic diethylene glycol; a sweet-tasting thickening agent in antifreeze (Associated Press http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070603/ap_on_re_as/china_us_toothpaste).
Trust is important to me. Not worrying if there are “safe levels” of multiple toxic ingredients in my children’s toothpaste is important to me. I became an
Independent Shaklee Dealer for many reasons ..one of which is that for over 50 toxin-free years, trust has been there. Do the math, brushing your teeth just three times a day means putting that toothpaste in your mouth 1095 times a year. Brushing as dentists recommend; morning, bedtime and after meals, puts toothpaste in your mouth 1,825 times a year. What’s in your
toothpaste? Check out The Sundance Life’s organic and kosher non-toxic
toothpaste to get clean with trust.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Non-toxic cleaners
If you have not read my posts on “Because Clean shouldn’t hurt” and “Essential Oils 101" yet, I strongly suggest you do for even greater understanding.
Non-toxic is a priority for me, so are cost and effectiveness. After trying what felt like them all I became a
Independent Shaklee Dealer and hope you will consider these time-tested products. I also present these alternative if you can not right now ... because we all share this earth and I still win if you choose to get clean with methods that are safe for your family and the earth. Having said that, here are some of the recipes I found to work the best:
Laundry Soap:
1 bar bath soap, grated (your favorite brand, fels naptha is best) 1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 1/2 cup borax and hot water. 5 - 10 drops essential oil if desired.
Place grated soap in a pot. Cover with water and simmer over medium heat until all soap is melted, stirring occasionally. Pour into 5 gallon bucket. Add washing soda and borax. Add 2 gallons water. Stir (I use a yardstick). Let sit overnight to gel. Use 1/2 cup per load. (You can pour this into old detergent containers or leave in the bucket. Please cover with a lid if leaving in the bucket to protect children and pets.).
Dishwasher: (I have hard water and this tends to leave a film with that).
Equal parts Borax and baking soda, ½ part washing soda. 2 - 3 drops essential oil. Use 1 TBSP per load.
Soft scrub: 1 2/3 cups baking soda 1/2 cup liquid soap 1/2 cup water 2 tablespoons white vinegar, tea tree , lavender or rosemary oil for disinfectant.
Stir liquid soap (Castile or
Vegetable-based soap ) into baking soda. Add the water, and stir to be as smooth as possible. Add the vinegar and stir again. Pour into a squeeze bottle. (A clean, empty ketchup or syrup bottle works well.) Shake well before using, and keep tightly closed between uses.
All purpose:
2 tablespoons borax, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 2 cups hot water 5 - 10 drops tea tree, thyme, rosemary or lavender essential oil. Add borax to lemon juice, shake to dissolve. Add rest of ingredients. Use within a week.
Windows/Mirrors:
1 cup white vinegar, 3 cups water. Mix ‘em up and shoot. Adding 3 drops peppermint or basil oil will make fly repellant windows. Try microfiber cloths.
Wood:
2 parts olive oil to 1part lemon juice. Make fresh. Use a small amount and buff with a cloth.
Bug repellant:
1 tablespoon PURE vanilla extract, 1 cup water. Make fresh each week.
Non-toxic is a priority for me, so are cost and effectiveness. After trying what felt like them all I became a
Independent Shaklee Dealer and hope you will consider these time-tested products. I also present these alternative if you can not right now ... because we all share this earth and I still win if you choose to get clean with methods that are safe for your family and the earth. Having said that, here are some of the recipes I found to work the best:
Laundry Soap:
1 bar bath soap, grated (your favorite brand, fels naptha is best) 1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 1/2 cup borax and hot water. 5 - 10 drops essential oil if desired.
Place grated soap in a pot. Cover with water and simmer over medium heat until all soap is melted, stirring occasionally. Pour into 5 gallon bucket. Add washing soda and borax. Add 2 gallons water. Stir (I use a yardstick). Let sit overnight to gel. Use 1/2 cup per load. (You can pour this into old detergent containers or leave in the bucket. Please cover with a lid if leaving in the bucket to protect children and pets.).
Dishwasher: (I have hard water and this tends to leave a film with that).
Equal parts Borax and baking soda, ½ part washing soda. 2 - 3 drops essential oil. Use 1 TBSP per load.
Soft scrub: 1 2/3 cups baking soda 1/2 cup liquid soap 1/2 cup water 2 tablespoons white vinegar, tea tree , lavender or rosemary oil for disinfectant.
Stir liquid soap (Castile or
Vegetable-based soap ) into baking soda. Add the water, and stir to be as smooth as possible. Add the vinegar and stir again. Pour into a squeeze bottle. (A clean, empty ketchup or syrup bottle works well.) Shake well before using, and keep tightly closed between uses.
All purpose:
2 tablespoons borax, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 2 cups hot water 5 - 10 drops tea tree, thyme, rosemary or lavender essential oil. Add borax to lemon juice, shake to dissolve. Add rest of ingredients. Use within a week.
Windows/Mirrors:
1 cup white vinegar, 3 cups water. Mix ‘em up and shoot. Adding 3 drops peppermint or basil oil will make fly repellant windows. Try microfiber cloths.
Wood:
2 parts olive oil to 1part lemon juice. Make fresh. Use a small amount and buff with a cloth.
Bug repellant:
1 tablespoon PURE vanilla extract, 1 cup water. Make fresh each week.
Essential Oils 102
I will restate the beginning, as it is that important: Essential oils (EO)
NEVER ever ingest essential oils. They are a pure and natural product made by concentrating the active components of pounds of plant material down into ounces of oil. A very small amount of some oils can kill if ingested. Likewise, essential oils are generally too strong to use undiluted on the skin, most must be first mixed into a carrier oil such as almond, grapeseed or olive oil in a ratio of drops of essential oil to ounces of carrier oil to be safe. If you are interested in using EO’s either internally or in direct application to the skin ALWAYS consult a knowledgeable source first to prevent possible serious harm.
I add essential oils for smell and effect to my cleaning products, either when I make my own or now when I use the much more effective or purchased natural cleaners .
Bay: About $36 per ounce. (Add 3 drops per ounce of olive oil for cooking too). Said to clear mental confusion and clarify thought processes. Calming, relaxing.
Lavender: About $34 per ounce; a familiar and popular smell, lavender is said to bring balance, lifting mood and energy when down, settling nerves and focus when anxious. Lavender mixes well with just about anything, try it with citrus or floral in the spring / summer and or pine or clary sage in the winter. Lavender is said to have antiseptic qualities so may be a good choice when someone in the house is ill.
(Sweet) Basil: About $18 an ounce. Member of the mint family with a well known fragrance. Sweet basil is said to be uplifting and a memory aid. Flies seem to hate it so I use a few drops or peppermint) in my non-toxic window cleaner during fly season, streak free and bug repellant windows, who could ask for more.
Rosemary: About $18 an ounce. “Rosemary for remembrance.” It is said to not only be uplifting in spirit but clears the mind and helps memory. Some have said that rosemary (and chamomile) are just as effective for a headache as a pain pill. Rosemary is said to have antiseptic and antibiotic properties, so you will often find it in my non-toxic all purpose cleaner . A drop on your hairbrush or in a pint of water as a final hair rinse may make your hair shine and help with dandruff.
German Chamomile: About $145 an ounce (ouch - hang on for floral water!) Smells somewhat like green apples and is said to be great for relaxation, the blues and headaches. German and blue chamomile are high in the chemical Azulene, which seems to lend anti-inflammatory properties to it. Roman Chamomile is the preferred choice for relaxation. Chamomile is a very thick oil, almost like cold pancake syrup, so is usually cut with a carrier oil for ease of use.
Pine: About $23 an ounce. Said to be energizing and uplifting, a great scent to start your day. Pine also has a reputation for helping aching muscles. The pines are one of the few oils with a short shelf life, you will want to buy small amounts and store them in the fridge.
Cardamon: About $90 an ounce. Said to add that “warm and cozy” feeling to the day. Uplifting. Try mixing one drop of cardamon with 3 drops of sweet orange during a winter snowstorm and wrap up with a good book. Just be careful you don’t wind up suddenly craving some holiday pie!
Other fun oils to play with are orange, lemon, clary sage, vanilla, cypress, bergamot, .... once you try them alone begin to combine for even more fun. Try tea tree and peppermint, orange and cinnamon, and lavender and lemon.
1 oz = 2 tablespoons or 6 teaspoons or 30 ml/cc or 28.35 grams or approx. to 580 drops
20 drops to one mL if the liquid is water and delivered from a burette or medicine dropper -1 ounce is equal to 29.57 milliliters
NEVER ever ingest essential oils. They are a pure and natural product made by concentrating the active components of pounds of plant material down into ounces of oil. A very small amount of some oils can kill if ingested. Likewise, essential oils are generally too strong to use undiluted on the skin, most must be first mixed into a carrier oil such as almond, grapeseed or olive oil in a ratio of drops of essential oil to ounces of carrier oil to be safe. If you are interested in using EO’s either internally or in direct application to the skin ALWAYS consult a knowledgeable source first to prevent possible serious harm.
I add essential oils for smell and effect to my cleaning products, either when I make my own or now when I use the much more effective or purchased natural cleaners .
Bay: About $36 per ounce. (Add 3 drops per ounce of olive oil for cooking too). Said to clear mental confusion and clarify thought processes. Calming, relaxing.
Lavender: About $34 per ounce; a familiar and popular smell, lavender is said to bring balance, lifting mood and energy when down, settling nerves and focus when anxious. Lavender mixes well with just about anything, try it with citrus or floral in the spring / summer and or pine or clary sage in the winter. Lavender is said to have antiseptic qualities so may be a good choice when someone in the house is ill.
(Sweet) Basil: About $18 an ounce. Member of the mint family with a well known fragrance. Sweet basil is said to be uplifting and a memory aid. Flies seem to hate it so I use a few drops or peppermint) in my non-toxic window cleaner during fly season, streak free and bug repellant windows, who could ask for more.
Rosemary: About $18 an ounce. “Rosemary for remembrance.” It is said to not only be uplifting in spirit but clears the mind and helps memory. Some have said that rosemary (and chamomile) are just as effective for a headache as a pain pill. Rosemary is said to have antiseptic and antibiotic properties, so you will often find it in my non-toxic all purpose cleaner . A drop on your hairbrush or in a pint of water as a final hair rinse may make your hair shine and help with dandruff.
German Chamomile: About $145 an ounce (ouch - hang on for floral water!) Smells somewhat like green apples and is said to be great for relaxation, the blues and headaches. German and blue chamomile are high in the chemical Azulene, which seems to lend anti-inflammatory properties to it. Roman Chamomile is the preferred choice for relaxation. Chamomile is a very thick oil, almost like cold pancake syrup, so is usually cut with a carrier oil for ease of use.
Pine: About $23 an ounce. Said to be energizing and uplifting, a great scent to start your day. Pine also has a reputation for helping aching muscles. The pines are one of the few oils with a short shelf life, you will want to buy small amounts and store them in the fridge.
Cardamon: About $90 an ounce. Said to add that “warm and cozy” feeling to the day. Uplifting. Try mixing one drop of cardamon with 3 drops of sweet orange during a winter snowstorm and wrap up with a good book. Just be careful you don’t wind up suddenly craving some holiday pie!
Other fun oils to play with are orange, lemon, clary sage, vanilla, cypress, bergamot, .... once you try them alone begin to combine for even more fun. Try tea tree and peppermint, orange and cinnamon, and lavender and lemon.
1 oz = 2 tablespoons or 6 teaspoons or 30 ml/cc or 28.35 grams or approx. to 580 drops
20 drops to one mL if the liquid is water and delivered from a burette or medicine dropper -1 ounce is equal to 29.57 milliliters
Essential Oils 101
Quick facts
Why use essential oils, read my post on The Because Clean Should Not Hurt if you have not done so.
NEVER ever ingest essential oils. They are a pure and natural product made by concentrating the active components of pounds of plant material down into ounces of oil. A very small amount of some oils can kill if ingested. Likewise, essential oils are generally too strong to use undiluted on the skin, most must be first mixed into a carrier oil such as almond, grapeseed or olive oil in a ratio of drops of essential oil to ounces of carrier oil to be safe. If you are interested in using essential oils either internally or in direct application to the skin ALWAYS consult a knowledgeable source first to prevent possible serious harm.
Essential oils are volatile (as are many toxins) - that is they evaporate quickly and completely into the air. They are not friends with heat, which can quickly break them down and dilute their effect. Placing a few drops in a small dish of water will release some nice fragrance to the air. Use of an atomizing diffuser will reduce the molecules in to such small particles they will remain suspended in the air for hours. One of the fastest and most effective delivery methods of a substance is via inhalation and the lungs (another being through contact with the skin), so always carefully and completely check the historic use of any oil unless you like surprises. One example is Ylang-ylang, a wonderful scent with a reputation for being calming and a stress reducer. It is also reputed to be a fairly strong aphrodisiac, so scenting the air with this to calm yourself as you help you teen get ready for the prom is probably counterproductive.
Take a moment and think aboout the pthalates (and 150 other unregulated chemicals) in your laundry detergent, fabric softner, soap, shampoo etc., you are wearing them on your skin 24/7. Delivery of substances through the skin is one of the fastest ways to get a substance to the whole body ... Here is an experiment, slice a piece of garlic thin and place on the bottom of your foot, tape or a sock helps. Wait 5 - 10 minutes and smell your breath ... how is that for a fast delivery system, from your foot to your lungs in minutes! Back to oils. As an
Independent Shaklee Dealer I carry the original non-toxic way to clean and be clean.
Essential oils can give you sticker shock when your first begin to investigating their purchase, expect to pay $10 to thousands for an ounce (30 ml). Never fear, an ounce contains approximately 580 drops if using the standard of a burette or medicine dropper. Due to the concentration of essential oils you will rarely use more than 2 - 3 drops for any given purpose, after 232 uses of any one scent you will probably be tired of it anyway. Most oils are sold in 1/4 ounce or smaller containers for 1/4 of the price. We will also discuss a few easy methods to make your own oils and floral waters. The prices are set where they are because of the sheer volume of plant material needed to collect an ounce of oil, the closest I can come to a true and valid source estimates it takes 60,000 roses to make one ounce of rose oil - thus the $2,100/ounce price tag, quite the bargain compared to purchasing 5,000 dozen rose bunches at $10 - $30 per bunch and processing them yourself.
The cost of essential oils can bring out the worst in some people. You do have to check around for a reputable dealer, which will take a little leg work. The best bet is someplace local that you can hold accountable for quality. Some will “cut” oils, i.e. the inexpensive geranium can come pretty close to faking a rose, and only a chemist or a well-trained nose will sniff them out. A few will dilute oils in a carrier oil such as grape seed or jojoba, and this is easy to detect, and honest EO dealers will lable them as such. Again, essential oils are volatile (many are flammable as well), this means they will evaporate completely when exposed to air. Take a piece of paper and place a drop of oil on it. Wait a few minutes and check the paper - a pure oil will leave no mark at all, but the scent will remain. This quality makes essential oil a fantastic addition to home made laundry soaps and cleaning products. There is probably a fabric that I have yet to run across out there that can be stained by them, but I haven’t found it. It also makes essential oils wonderful additions to home made or purchased (nontoxic please! ) cleaners as they leave a scent behind, but no residue.
Please do note that many reputable sellers do dilute their oils in a carrier oil and label them as such - i.e. 10% Melissa (Lemon balm) is 10% pure Melissa officinalis oil in 90% jojoba or some other listed oil. These oils are much less expensive to buy, but you need to use significantly more for the same effect. I would also not recommend them for addition to cleaning products as the carrier oil is not volatile and will leave a stain and/or residue. The are wonderful for home made skin care products.
A naturally clean home will not harbor odors; scents are options for your enjoyment, not necessary. Do not replace with chemically-based “air fresheners” thinking you will save a dime (they cost the same, many oils are less due to the small amount needed) by putting toxic chemicals in the air of your home! If you really enjoy “on the spot” air fresheners, try mixing about 5 drops of pure essential oil in two ounces distilled water, put in a fine spray mister and have a party.
Why use essential oils, read my post on The Because Clean Should Not Hurt if you have not done so.
NEVER ever ingest essential oils. They are a pure and natural product made by concentrating the active components of pounds of plant material down into ounces of oil. A very small amount of some oils can kill if ingested. Likewise, essential oils are generally too strong to use undiluted on the skin, most must be first mixed into a carrier oil such as almond, grapeseed or olive oil in a ratio of drops of essential oil to ounces of carrier oil to be safe. If you are interested in using essential oils either internally or in direct application to the skin ALWAYS consult a knowledgeable source first to prevent possible serious harm.
Essential oils are volatile (as are many toxins) - that is they evaporate quickly and completely into the air. They are not friends with heat, which can quickly break them down and dilute their effect. Placing a few drops in a small dish of water will release some nice fragrance to the air. Use of an atomizing diffuser will reduce the molecules in to such small particles they will remain suspended in the air for hours. One of the fastest and most effective delivery methods of a substance is via inhalation and the lungs (another being through contact with the skin), so always carefully and completely check the historic use of any oil unless you like surprises. One example is Ylang-ylang, a wonderful scent with a reputation for being calming and a stress reducer. It is also reputed to be a fairly strong aphrodisiac, so scenting the air with this to calm yourself as you help you teen get ready for the prom is probably counterproductive.
Take a moment and think aboout the pthalates (and 150 other unregulated chemicals) in your laundry detergent, fabric softner, soap, shampoo etc., you are wearing them on your skin 24/7. Delivery of substances through the skin is one of the fastest ways to get a substance to the whole body ... Here is an experiment, slice a piece of garlic thin and place on the bottom of your foot, tape or a sock helps. Wait 5 - 10 minutes and smell your breath ... how is that for a fast delivery system, from your foot to your lungs in minutes! Back to oils. As an
Independent Shaklee Dealer I carry the original non-toxic way to clean and be clean.
Essential oils can give you sticker shock when your first begin to investigating their purchase, expect to pay $10 to thousands for an ounce (30 ml). Never fear, an ounce contains approximately 580 drops if using the standard of a burette or medicine dropper. Due to the concentration of essential oils you will rarely use more than 2 - 3 drops for any given purpose, after 232 uses of any one scent you will probably be tired of it anyway. Most oils are sold in 1/4 ounce or smaller containers for 1/4 of the price. We will also discuss a few easy methods to make your own oils and floral waters. The prices are set where they are because of the sheer volume of plant material needed to collect an ounce of oil, the closest I can come to a true and valid source estimates it takes 60,000 roses to make one ounce of rose oil - thus the $2,100/ounce price tag, quite the bargain compared to purchasing 5,000 dozen rose bunches at $10 - $30 per bunch and processing them yourself.
The cost of essential oils can bring out the worst in some people. You do have to check around for a reputable dealer, which will take a little leg work. The best bet is someplace local that you can hold accountable for quality. Some will “cut” oils, i.e. the inexpensive geranium can come pretty close to faking a rose, and only a chemist or a well-trained nose will sniff them out. A few will dilute oils in a carrier oil such as grape seed or jojoba, and this is easy to detect, and honest EO dealers will lable them as such. Again, essential oils are volatile (many are flammable as well), this means they will evaporate completely when exposed to air. Take a piece of paper and place a drop of oil on it. Wait a few minutes and check the paper - a pure oil will leave no mark at all, but the scent will remain. This quality makes essential oil a fantastic addition to home made laundry soaps and cleaning products. There is probably a fabric that I have yet to run across out there that can be stained by them, but I haven’t found it. It also makes essential oils wonderful additions to home made or purchased (nontoxic please! ) cleaners as they leave a scent behind, but no residue.
Please do note that many reputable sellers do dilute their oils in a carrier oil and label them as such - i.e. 10% Melissa (Lemon balm) is 10% pure Melissa officinalis oil in 90% jojoba or some other listed oil. These oils are much less expensive to buy, but you need to use significantly more for the same effect. I would also not recommend them for addition to cleaning products as the carrier oil is not volatile and will leave a stain and/or residue. The are wonderful for home made skin care products.
A naturally clean home will not harbor odors; scents are options for your enjoyment, not necessary. Do not replace with chemically-based “air fresheners” thinking you will save a dime (they cost the same, many oils are less due to the small amount needed) by putting toxic chemicals in the air of your home! If you really enjoy “on the spot” air fresheners, try mixing about 5 drops of pure essential oil in two ounces distilled water, put in a fine spray mister and have a party.
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