Dust particles are made of of 70-80% of our own dead skin cells, ewe! The other 20-30% is a mix of hair, fibers from clothing, dirt and soil particles, tiny specks of plastic, pollen, mites, even pieces of dead bugs. That's a pretty disgusting!
Here's a few tips to minimize the dust in your home:
1) Vacuum using a model with a HEPA filter that's regularly cleaned
2) Replace your Air Filter every three months or as directed from the manufacture
3) Drier climates suffer from more dust, use a Humidifier to add moisture to the air (and your skin)
4) "Stuff" collects dust, Decluttered your space(s) so they are easily wiped down
5) Clean Carpet regularly, if it's old consider replacing it with hardwood
This week in our Healthy Home Series we're moving into the living room. These easy do-it-yourself (DIY) recipes using natural solutions will help you reduce your homes toxic load, by reducing the number of chemicals that you get with traditional cleaners.
Wood furniture is an investment and it is important to take care of it. Although polishing wood furniture should only be done every couple months, it is important to continually keep it clean by dusting it or wiping it with a damp wet microfiber cloth.
WOOD CLEANER/POLISH
• ¼ cup Olive Oil
• ¼ cup Vinegar
• 10 drops essential oils (Wild Orange, Lemongrass, Arborvitae, or Lemon)
DIRECTIONS:
Add olive oil and vinegar to glass spray bottle. Add 10 drops of essential oil. Shake well before each use. Apply to microfiber cloth and wipe wood down your wood surfaces. Repeat every 2–3 months or as often as needed/desired.
Did you know coconut oil works as an excellent leather polish? Clean up imperfections in your leather shoes, purse, or other items with this 3-ingredient solution containing the cleansing power of Eucalyptus oil.
LEATHER POLISH
• 1/4 cup Fractionated Coconut Oil
• 1/4 cup Vinegar
• 5–10 drops Eucalyptus essential oil
DIRECTIONS:
Combine all ingredients into a small glass dish and mix thoroughly. To use, dip a toothbrush or other cleansing tool into mixture and rub over leather surface to clean and condition. Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth and let any extra moisture dry before use.
WINDOW & MIRROR CLEANER
• 1 cup Vinegar
• 1 cup Water
• 5 drops Lemon or Wild Orange oil
DIRECTIONS:
Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake before each use. Spray onto windows or mirrors and wipe clean with a paper towel or streak-free cloth.
ROOM REFRESHER SPRAY
• 2 cups Water (distilled or boiled)
• 20-30 drops of Essential Oil(s) of Choice
DIRECTIONS:
Take a 16oz glass spray bottle and add essential oils of choice. Fill the rest with distilled or boiled water. Shake well before each use and spray to cleanse and refresh room(s).
COUCH & PILLOW SPRAY
• Water
• 1 tbls Baking Soda
• 20 drops Essential Oil(s) of Choice
DIRECTIONS:
In a small bowl whisk together baking soda and essential oils. Add to 2oz glass spray bottle and top with water. Spray couch, pillows and linens to re-fresh.
I hope you find these natural solution DIY recipes to be easy to incorporate into your living room cleaning routine. Make sure to check out the rest of the Healthy Home Series if you've missed any. This series is taking us room by room throughout your home to help reduce your toxic load, unveil our homes hidden toxins and teach you how your can empower your cleaning with natural plant-powered cleaning. So far we've covered the kitchen, laundry room and bathroom.
xoDanette