Photo by Brittany Neale on Unsplash.
Many of our clients highlight the pleasant aroma that remains in the home after our cleaning services. Now, our cleaning products are plant-based and biodegradable and are totally free of toxic chemicals, therefore, they do not have ingredients with artificial aromas. This is why we use peppermint essential oil while cleaning to make the environment feel fresh and invigorating. Our clients love that “green clean” smell! We also want each member of the family to feel safe breathing it as it’s 100% natural and has no negative effects on the health, on the contrary, there’s a myriad of benefits to learn about.
For some time, pure essential oils and their multiple uses have been widely popularized. If you have a “green” or holistic lifestyle you will know what we’re talking about, but if you’re just starting out on this journey, do not worry, here’s a short summary of these awesome distilled plant extracts.
What are essential oils?
Essential oils are pure distillations of aromatic parts of herbs, plants, or flowers and are obtained through different extraction processes. There are hundreds of essential oils that have benefits for personal care, mental well-being and at home, they can be used aromatically (the most common), topically, or internally. Today we can find in the market a variety of brands of essential oils, however we must verify that they are 100% pure and do not contain toxic chemicals or other substances, since they could be altered with synthetic compounds in the extraction process and would not have the same benefits. Even the duration of the distillation affects the potency and the retention of beneficial properties of a botanical oil blend.
Why do we use aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy works through a diffuser that vaporizes essential oils in the home, allowing the properties of the oil to act on the mind and body. We use aromatherapy during cleaning to help disinfect areas, eliminate bacteria and odors in the home. Our favorite essential oil is peppermint (mentha piperita) that has a menthol aroma with stimulating and purifying properties. It is refreshing and helps create an invigorating ambiance that allow for focus and concentration in the home.
Why not use artificial fragrances?
Artificial fragrances have a large number of chemical compounds such as benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, propylene glycol, phthalates, parabens, sulfates, and petroleum derivatives, which allow for a longer shelf life and penetrate and coat with polymers the skin, for the scent to last longer after its initial application. These chemicals do not degrade easily and some can accumulate in the human body and could have unwanted effects on health, such as allergic reactions or respiratory problems.
Environmental Working Group (EWG) tells us this about the word “fragrance”:
The word “fragrance” or “parfum” on the product label represents an undisclosed mixture of various scent chemicals and ingredients used as fragrance dispersants such as diethyl phthalate. Fragrance mixes have been associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress and potential effects on the reproductive system.
In addition to its toxic chemical compounds that tax our health and body systems, artificial fragrances do not have the therapeutic properties that natural essential oils inherently have. And if you’re concerned about sanitizing or such claims made by pesticide-laden substances, there’s nothing best than using nature’s own weapons. Oils such as clove, rosemary, peppermint, cinnamon, thyme, and oregano are extremely effective for eliminating and destroying airborne germs and bacteria. (Link to study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5206475/)
So let’s try a recipe for cleaning your home with one of our favorite aromas, mint. For scrubbing inks and tubs, mix 5 drops of peppermint and lemon or wild orange essential oils with baking soda and add enough water to make a paste. Store cleanser in a covered glass jar because essential oils are potent in concentration and will break down plastic overtime. Scoop out cleanser with your hand as needed, and scrub and wipe down as usual—a soft scrubbing brush works great! (Make sure to test the paste in an inconspicuous area of the surface you’re going to clean).
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