Click Here To - Little House on the Valley
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Click Here To - Little House on the Valley
Natural Home Makeover by Denise L. Thompson Copyright ©2014 by Denise L. Thompson. All rights reserved. Photos licensed to Denise L. Thompson, BigStockPhoto.com, or doTERRA. ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 2 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 5 Our Family Story… .............................................................................................................................. 5 What about you? ................................................................................................................................. 6 Where do we start? ............................................................................................................................ 6 THE FIRST STEPS ............................................................................................................................ 8 The Master Makeover List ............................................................................................................... 9 About Essential Oils ........................................................................................................................ 11 What Is An Essential Oil?............................................................................................................... 13 ALL PURPOSE CLEANING MAKEOVER.......................................................................................... 15 Mirror and Glass Cleaner .............................................................................................................. 15 Sparkle Citrus Window Cleaner ................................................................................................. 16 Natural Hard Floor Surface Cleaner .......................................................................................... 16 Liquid Natural Carpet Cleaner .................................................................................................... 16 Eco-Friendly “Carpet Fresh” Powder ........................................................................................ 17 All-Purpose Cleaner #1.................................................................................................................. 17 All-Purpose Cleaner #2.................................................................................................................. 17 Natural “Soft Scrub” ........................................................................................................................ 17 Simple Vacuum Air Freshener .................................................................................................... 18 Furniture Polish ............................................................................................................................... 18 Mold Remover ................................................................................................................................... 18 Citrus Scented Homemade Cleaning Wipes ........................................................................... 18 THE KITCHEN MAKEOVER ........................................................................................................... 20 Microwave Oven Cleaner .............................................................................................................. 20 Refrigerator Cleaner....................................................................................................................... 21 Garbage Disposal Cleanser / Drain Cleaner / Drain Deodorizer ................................... 21 Vent Hood Filter Cleaner............................................................................................................... 21 Fruit & Vegetable Cleaner............................................................................................................. 21 Organic Berry Wash ........................................................................................................................ 22 Natural Dishwasher Tablets ........................................................................................................ 22 Dishwasher Rinse Aid .................................................................................................................... 22 Oven Cleaner Recipe ....................................................................................................................... 22 THE LAUNDRY ROOM MAKEOVER............................................................................................... 24 Laundry Liquid Soap Recipe ........................................................................................................ 24 Laundry Powder Soap Recipe ..................................................................................................... 25 Front Load Washing Machine Rubber Ring Freshener ...................................................... 25 Liquid Fabric Softener ................................................................................................................... 25 Natural Lavender Dryer Wool Balls .......................................................................................... 25 Oxygen Cleaner & Stain Remover .............................................................................................. 26 Lavender Linen Spray .................................................................................................................... 26 Ironing Spritzer ................................................................................................................................ 26 THE BATHROOM MAKEOVER ...................................................................................................... 27 Natural Tile Grout Cleaner ........................................................................................................... 27 Homemade Poo-Pourri Spray ..................................................................................................... 28 All Natural Fizzing Toilet Cleaner .............................................................................................. 28 Toilet Paper Natural Deodorizer ............................................................................................... 29 3 Easy Disinfectant Spray ................................................................................................................. 29 THE SCENTED ROOM MAKEOVER................................................................................................ 30 Simple Citrus Peels.......................................................................................................................... 30 Spices and Herbs .............................................................................................................................. 30 Dried Aromatic Herbs .................................................................................................................... 31 Diffusing Essential Oils .................................................................................................................. 31 Stove Top Natural Scent Recipes ................................................................................................ 32 Cleaning The Air With Houseplants .......................................................................................... 33 Essentially Scented House Paint ................................................................................................ 33 THE FARM & GARDEN MAKEOVER ............................................................................................. 34 Eco Ant Killer..................................................................................................................................... 34 Spider Ridder .................................................................................................................................... 34 Gnat No More ..................................................................................................................................... 35 Flea Spray ........................................................................................................................................... 35 Mice Be Gone ..................................................................................................................................... 35 Bug Off Spray ..................................................................................................................................... 35 Gardener’s Hand Scrub Recipe ................................................................................................... 35 Natural Weed Killer ........................................................................................................................ 36 SKIN & BODY CARE MAKEOVER .................................................................................................. 37 DIY Makeup Remover Recipe ...................................................................................................... 37 Clay Face Wash ................................................................................................................................. 38 Honey Face Wash ............................................................................................................................. 38 Natural Skin Toner .......................................................................................................................... 38 Simple Skin Moisturizer ................................................................................................................ 38 Baby Bottom Spray.......................................................................................................................... 39 Simple Detox Foot Bath ................................................................................................................. 39 Pregnancy Moisturizing Butter .................................................................................................. 40 Hand Sanitizer Recipe .................................................................................................................... 40 THE MEDICINE CABINET MAKEOVER .......................................................................................... 41 Our Personal Health Makeover .................................................................................................. 41 GETTING STARTED WITH ESSENTIAL OILS ................................................................................ 44 Safety Precautions With Essential Oils .................................................................................... 44 How To Apply Essential Oils ........................................................................................................ 44 The Top 10 Oils To Get You Started .......................................................................................... 46 RESOURCE LIST ............................................................................................................................ 48 HOW TO PURCHASE ESSENTIAL OILS ......................................................................................... 48 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................ 50 ABOUT DENISE ............................................................................................................................. 51 ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 4 INTRODUCTION Before you start reading this little book, I wanted to take the time to thank you for visiting my blog and for subscribing to Little House On The Valley. I am so grateful for kind people like you, who frequent my online home-away-from-home. I appreciate your emails, comments, and messages that lift me up and cheer me on. You are a blessing! I know you have many choices of blogs to read online, so I am honored that you are here right now, and that you have found me in the big world wide web. This book is my gift to you, and a token of my appreciation. I pray you will be blessed and find some fresh ideas to create your own natural home makeover. Our Family Story… In 2012, our family began a journey of health from the inside out. I personally was having a lot of physical issues at the time, and wanted to feel better and get healthier. I was tired of feeling physically run-down with depression, anxiety, hormonal problems, and digestive issues. I was also growing weary of the headaches and nausea I would experience when using commercial cleaners in my home, and the side effects of over-the-counter drugs I would take for my common every day ailments and allergies. My husband was also suffering from some of his own physical issues and taking medications for acid reflux, digestive problems, low energy, and overall stamina. 5 Our two youngest twin boys had some physical issues that concerned us more and more. With our growing worries, we began a series of many doctor appointments to hear the all-too-common labels such as ADHD and ADD, Motor Tics, and Anxiety, with no real answers or solutions that we could grasp on to—they were just labels. At that point in our life, we were desperate for help. We took a long hard look at how we were doing life, how we were eating as a family, and filling our home with toxic products that weren’t very good for us. Our “Extreme Home Makeover” After much prayer, trial and error and persistence, I can tell you that our household is not the same today. Over the last couple years we have been able to change the quality of our life, and take charge of our health, and we are feeling better than ever by switching over to natural alternatives. We now save so much money each month because we aren’t heading to the doctor as often, and buying expensive cleaners and commercial products. We have converted to a whole foods and gluten free diet, and are seeing significant changes in all of our health problems that existed before. By using all homemade cleaning products, and essential oils for our home and health related needs, we feel as if we have been given a new lease on life! You can read my recent blog post on how we are overcoming ADHD naturally. What about you? Maybe you are like our family, and want some natural solutions for your home and health? Maybe it’s time that you want to take a look around your house and see what needs to be changed over? I created this little book for people just like you and me because it is my passion to help others and share what I have learned. I believe God has led our family through this process so that we can help others from our lifechanging experience. Where do we start? No matter where you are on your path to changing out the products in your home from toxic to non-toxic, it can seem like a big overwhelming task to create a more green and healthy environment for you and your family. Don’t get overwhelmed. Just take one day at a time and I assure you it can be done. My suggestion to you is to start with baby steps, just one room or area of your life at a time. Start with the simplest thing for you to change or the greatest need. This will keep you from getting overwhelmed. Slowly over time, you can switch one cleaning product at a time and one health remedy at a time. Before you know it you will be living a healthy lifestyle and the money you save will be icing on the cake! In this book I have broken down the different areas of your home to get you started in a quick and simple way. My desire was to give you enough to get started and not ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 6 overwhelm you with too many choices. Be sure to keep checking back at my blog as I add posts every week that will be useful for you in continuing your toxic-free natural home makeover. A quick tip about the book: if you want to refer back to the natural home tips and recipes in this book, you can look at the table of contents and click on any chapter or recipe to go straight to that text for fast reference. Feel free to print off the recipes for personal use and put in a binder. 7 THE FIRST STEPS The first step to your natural home makeover I want to talk about is the cleaning supplies and products that you can switch out right away. All the tips and recipes you will read about in this book include natural ingredients and common household items. With the exception of the therapeutic grade essential oils I recommend, everything on the following list is compiled of items found at your local grocery or convenience store. You won’t believe how easy this is going to be! If you can keep your home stocked with these cleaning cupboard staples, you will be set to clean, deodorize, and maintain your home in a natural way. Feel free to add to this list as you see fit, but these are the items I recommend to start with and keep on hand. ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 8 The Master Makeover List Baking Soda White Vinegar Apple Cider Vinegar Hydrogen Peroxide Castile Soap (Bars & Liquid) Liquid Detergent Washing Soda Borax Wool Dryer Balls Rubbing Alcohol Old tee-shirts, flannel sheets, & towels (cut these up for rags) Used glass jars, mason jars, & bottles for holding cleaning solutions Empty Spray Bottles; plastic & glass. Table Salt Fresh lemons 9 Fresh citrus fruit peels Epsom Salts Raw Sugar Honey Redmond Clay Witch Hazel Coconut Oil Olive Oil Carrier Oils: fractionated coconut oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil. Essential Oils As you can see, it’s a simple list that will take care of hundreds of things in your home and for your health. Let’s get started learning more about how to use these ingredients to makeover the home naturally! ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 10 About Essential Oils Before we move on to all the recipes and tips in this book, I wanted to address the subject of essential oils. If you read my blog then you know I have lots of posts and information about essential oils. The reason I talk about essential oils so much is that they truly have changed our family life in so many ways, and become an integral part of our wellness and toxic free mission for living. I couldn’t write this book or share the cleaning tips, beauty recipes, and health information without essential oils being mentioned. They are one of those staple items no home should be without when tackling a natural home makeover. Aren’t They Just Hippie Oils? You may think I am crazy when I talk about essential oils, and not understand what all the fuss is about. I didn’t always think essential oils were that awesome. In fact I thought they were hippie oils, and something that other kinds of people used. I was rather naïve and judgmental. My limited knowledge was that essential oils were for making the air smell good, and for putting in your bath as aromatherapy. I really had no clue of the healing properties of essential oils for our bodies and how they could be used throughout my whole day for multiple uses. The two oils I knew about were Lavender and Melaleuca (Tea Tree Oil). Learning the Truth 11 I was introduced to essential oils from some fellow bloggers who kept talking about how they were using them to treat various ailments with their families. They were detoxing their bodies and homes, giving amazing testimonials, and cleaning with all these fabulous homemade products and using essential oils in them. I wanted some of what they had. I was enticed, intrigued, and ready to give these oils a try. My Big Mistake- You Get What You Pay For! Next, I did what most intelligent people would do. I immediately ran to my local drug store and bought some cheap essential oils to make up home cleaners. I wasn’t overly impressed with the results or the smell. I honestly didn’t really get what all the hype was about. When I made up my first cleaners they didn’t have the wonderful aroma that I had been hearing all about, and they certainly weren’t for treating health issues. I did more research and eventually learned those oils I purchased were very different from the ones my blogger friends had been talking about, and that cheap doesn’t mean best. As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. Learning The Truth I found out that many of the cheap essential oils are full of fillers and chemicals, not pure, organic, or free of GMOs. In my research I also learned that the cheaper oils stated right on their bottles “not for internal use” which was unlike the certified pure therapeutic grade essential oils. That was enough for me to be convinced to take the plunge and get some better quality oils. I knew that I wanted only the best oils when it came to putting them on my skin, in cleaning supplies and for health issues and ailments. I soon ordered my first kit of doTERRA certified pure therapeutic grade essential oils, and then I understood what all the raves were about. When I opened my kit, I immediately could experience the contrast. It was a night and day difference. First, the aroma of the oils was amazing, the cleaning supplies I made up were ten times better, and we as a family began to see results in treating our health issues right away. To top it off, when I started making my cleaning recipes with the new oils I was actually using a lot less drops of oil to get the great results because of their high quality, and therefore saving money. It didn’t take long before I threw out the cheap oils and never looked back. ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 12 What Is An Essential Oil? Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. They can be both beautifully and powerfully fragrant. If you have ever enjoyed the gift of a rose, a walk by a field of lavender, or the smell of fresh cut mint, you have experienced the aromatic qualities of essential oils. In addition to giving plants their distinctive smells, essential oils provide plants with protection against predators and disease and play a role in plant pollination. Essential oils are used for a very wide range of emotional and physical wellness applications. They can be used a single oil at a time or in complex blends depending on user experience and desired benefit. God’s Gift To Us I believe essential oils are God’s gift from His creation of natural plants to us. Essential oils are not a cure-all, but enable our bodies to heal naturally as God created them to do. If you look in the Bible you will see how essential oils were used in many ceremonies, as gifts, healing balms, anointing, and holy incense and were very precious and highly sought after. Remember how the three kings came bearing gifts to baby Jesus of frankincense and myrrh? There was a reason those essential oils were given to a king because of their amazing healing properties and their value. Today frankincense and myrrh are used in daily application for a long list of ailments. We even read in Mark 15:23 of the Bible where Jesus was offered a cup of wine drugged with myrrh for pain as he hung on the cross to die. They were using essential oils back in the Bible times and already knew of their healing effects. Now all these years later we have the amazing opportunity to use essential oils for health, wellness, and for creating non-toxic environments in our home. You can read more in the book Healing Oils Of The Bible by David Stewart. You Can Learn More The subject of essential oils is vast and there is much to be learned. I know it can be overwhelming. If you would like to know more about essential oils for yourself and why I am so passionate about using the purest and highest quality of therapeutic grade oils you can read the following articles to get started. What Is An Essential Oil? History Of Essential Oils How Essential Oils Are Extracted Why doTERRA? I love and use doTERRA essential oils. I trust the quality of oils that doTERRA produces and I can feel completely confident in recommending this brand. I have 13 done a lot of research in deciding on this company over others. Discussing brands of essential oils is like many other products we use, and we all have our favorites for different reasons. You will read all kinds of information out there on the web about brands of oils, and I hope you will do your own research to find the answers you need. What If I Don’t Use doTERRA? If you are loyal to a certain brand of essential oils, then be assured that the recipes and tips in this book are generic enough that you can use the brand you prefer. You are free to use any essential oils you desire, but I can’t vouch for essential oil brands that I haven’t used. My suggestion is to research the purity of the oil you purchase, and make an educated decision for yourself. Why I Trust doTERRA Essential Oils • doTERRA oils are 100% pure with no fillers. • They are therapeutic-grade, which means they are safe to use for health and medicinal uses. • They are free of solvents, contaminates, and synthetic compounds. • Every oil undergoes both mass spectrometry and gas chromatography testing by a third-party lab. • The oils are grown and sourced from their native environments around the world using practices that are beyond organic standards, and are GMO free. • Because of this commitment to quality, many of doTERRA’s oils are safe for ingestion, while oils of lesser quality may not be. For more information about doTERRA and purity of oils read: Essential Oils Grades Before using any essential oil be sure to read this essential oil Safety Guide. I will be covering more about essential oils for health toward the end of the book, but for now let’s get started on our cleaning home makeover recipes and tips. ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 14 ALL PURPOSE CLEANING MAKEOVER I thought I would start our room-by-room makeover by first giving you this starter collection of all-purpose cleaning recipes that you can use through your entire home. These recipes are a great place to begin when launching into making your own non-toxic cleaners. Mirror and Glass Cleaner Ingredients 3/4 cups of white vinegar 2 1/4 cups of warm distilled water 3 teaspoons of Castile liquid soap 4 drops of lemon essential oil Directions Add all of the ingredients to a new spray bottle that is free from any chemical residue. Shake the bottle to mix the ingredients together thoroughly. Spray the mixture all over the windows, glass tabletop, or mirrors and wipe clean with a soft cloth, paper towels, or some find that newspapers even work great. 15 Sparkle Citrus Window Cleaner Ingredients 1 cup white vinegar 1 cup water 15 drops of orange or lemon essential oil Directions Add all ingredients to a spray bottle and shake well with each use. Natural Hard Floor Surface Cleaner Some of the traditional floor cleaners can even strip the wax off the floors. This is too strong for most floors. Cleaners like these leave floors looking dull and lifeless. Your floor will shine it will be so clean. Ingredients 1 gallon of hot tap water 1 tablespoon of liquid soap (I use Castile) 1/4 cup of white vinegar 5 drops of lemon or melaleuca essential oil Directions Just combine all the ingredients together in a mop bucket and stir together. Mop the floor with your favorite mop and let dry. No rinsing is necessary. This gently cleanses any floor except for hardwood floors, which take special care. Check with the manufacturer of your hardwood floor before using this solution on it. Liquid Natural Carpet Cleaner Carpet cleaners come in various forms to remove dirt and stains from carpets. I prefer using a carpet-cleaning machine to get my carpet clean. However, I do not like the strong detergents that are made for these machines. I came up with my own recipe. Ingredients 1/4 cup of white vinegar 1/4 cup of liquid Castile soap 1/4 cup of borax 1/4 cup of table salt Directions Stir together all the ingredients until the borax is dissolved. Add the appropriate amount into your carpet-cleaning machine according to the manufacturer's directions. Then add water like the directions state. Shampoo your carpet and see how effective this cleaner is. You can also use it for spot cleaning with a clean rag. ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 16 Eco-Friendly “Carpet Fresh” Powder I love the effects of the commercial carpet fresh powder for freshening my carpets, but not the sweet floral scent that comes with them. Here is a super simple alternative that won’t leave you with a headache. Ingredients 20 drops of your favorite essential oil 3 cups of baking soda Directions Stir essential oil into baking soda and place in a glass jar with lid. Let mixture sit overnight. Sprinkle on carpets and upholstery to deodorize and freshen. Let powder sit on surfaces for several hours or overnight, then vacuum. All-Purpose Cleaner #1 Spray cleaners cost a small fortune in the stores. Many have strong chemicals in them too that can even burn your eyes (the fumes) and hurt your skin using them. However, check out this recipe for a natural, spray cleaner that is gentle on your skin, no fumes for your eyes and cleans effectively. Ingredients 1 cup of water 1 cup of apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon of liquid Castile soap 15 drops of lemon essential oil Directions Mix these ingredients together and stir thoroughly. Place the mixture into a spray bottle. This mixture is ideal for your kitchen and bathroom countertops, stovetop and kitchen table. It is an ideal gentle cleaner. All-Purpose Cleaner #2 Ingredients 1/2 tsp. washing soda 1-2 Drops of liquid soap 2 cups hot tap water 15 drops of melaleuca essential oil Directions Mix the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake until the washing soda has dissolved. Apply and wipe off with a sponge or rag. Natural “Soft Scrub” Ingredients 1 cup baking soda ¼ cup castile soap 17 1 tbsp white vinegar 10 drops of lemon essential oil Directions Stir ingredients together and store in an airtight glass jar. If mixture gets thick, add a few drops of water to refresh it. Simple Vacuum Air Freshener Put a few drops of citrus essential oil on 2-3 cotton balls and put the cotton balls into your vacuum cleaner bag. You'll create a bright, uplifting mood in your home while vacuuming! Furniture Polish Ingredients 1/2 cup olive oil 12 drops of lemon essential oil Directions Mix the ingredients in a glass jar. Dab a soft rag into the solution and wipe onto wood surfaces or leather. Cover the glass jar and store indefinitely. Mold Remover Ingredients: 1 cup of water 1 teaspoon of melaleuca essential oil 5 drops of lemon essential oil Directions: Add the 1 cup of water, 1 teaspoon of melaleuca essential oil, and the 5 drops of lemon essential oil to a spray bottle and shake to combine. Spray on the mildew or mold. Allow to dry and the mildew or mold should fade. Citrus Scented Homemade Cleaning Wipes These homemade cleaning wipes work really well all over the house for wiping down surfaces and sticky residue that is left behind through my busy house of boys. I especially like them for doing a quick freshening up in the bathroom and the kitchen surfaces. Here is how to make your own citrus wipes. Ingredients: 1 container (a shallow dish-plastic or glass) with a lid works well (large enough to hold a dozen cloths) 12 thin cloths (utility cloths work great- or cut up recycled old t-shirts) 15 drops of lemon essential oil 15 drops of orange essential oil 1 1/2 cups of vinegar (white distilled) 1 1/2 cups of water ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 18 2 tablespoons of baking soda 2 tablespoons of fragrance and dye free liquid soap (hand or dish soap) Directions: Add the vinegar, water, baking soda, and liquid soap in a bowl and gently mix. Add the lemon and orange essential oil and mix. Let the mixture sit until it quits fizzing. Add the cloths into the bowl and with hands squish the cloths until all are wet. Gently squeeze the water (not completely) and neatly place the cloths in the plastic container, making sure the cloths are good and damp. Close with the sealable lid. Store at room temperature, pulling out a cloth whenever you need to clean. If you prefer to use one essential oil, just use 30 drops of one scent, and if you don't like citrus smells, use your favorite essential oil fragrance to freshen your home. 19 THE KITCHEN MAKEOVER Next, we will move to the kitchen for our next natural room makeover. These are my favorite cleaning recipes for my kitchen. They are all simple to make, gentle to smell, and will keep your most used room of the house fresh and sparkling. Microwave Oven Cleaner Ingredients 1 cup of water 2 drops of lemon essential oil 2 drops of orange essential oil ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 20 Directions Mix the 2 drops of lemon essential oil and the 2 drops of orange essential oil into the cup of water (make sure the cup is microwave safe). Place the cup in the center of the microwave oven and turn on 5 minutes. Allow the cup to sit without opening the door for 10 minutes after it stops. Open the door, carefully remove the hot cup, discard the liquid, and wipe down the interior of the microwave oven. Refrigerator Cleaner Ingredients 6 2/3 cups of water 1 cup of vinegar (white distilled) 5 drops of lemon essential oil or juice from a 1/2 lemon Directions Mix the 6 2/3 cups of water, 1 cup of vinegar (white distilled), and the 5 drops of lemon essential oil or fresh lemon juice and pour into a spray bottle. Saturate the area and wipe with a clean cloth. Garbage Disposal Cleanser / Drain Cleaner / Drain Deodorizer Ingredients 1/2 cup of vinegar (white distilled) 1/4 cup of baking soda Directions Turn off the water. Sprinkle the baking soda in the drain. Allow it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Pour the vinegar on top of the baking soda. Mixture will fix and bubble. Give it about 5 minutes to work, then follow with warm water in drains or warm water and run the garbage disposal for a minute to rinse out the cleanser. Vent Hood Filter Cleaner Ingredients 1 to 2 cups of hot water 1/2 cup of baking soda 5 drops of lemon essential oil Directions Mix the hot water, baking soda, and lemon essential oil in a bowl. Place the vent hood filters on a large baking sheet (make sure it has lips to hold the water). Pour the hot cleaner over the filters, and using a toothbrush, clean the filters. Rinse under the tap when the grease is removed. Dry with paper towels and replace the filters. Fruit & Vegetable Cleaner Ingredients 1 cup of water 2 tablespoons of baking soda 5 drops of lemon essential oil 21 Directions Mix the water, baking soda, and lemon essential oil and pour into a spray bottle. Wash vegetables (and fruit) with water, then spray and coat with the vegetable cleaner. Let sit for 5 minutes. Rinse produce with water. Organic Berry Wash Fill kitchen sink with cold water, add ½ cup to 1 cup of vinegar to the water. Add your organic berries to the sink of vinegar water and let soak for 10-15 minutes. This works amazingly well to keep organic berries from molding before you have a chance to eat them! I just recently discovered this gem, and I was so thrilled. There is nothing more disappointing then buying those berries and having them mold before you can even use them. ( You can also use this as a vegetable wash) Natural Dishwasher Tablets Ingredients 1 cup of Epsom salts 2 cups of washing soda 2 cups of Borax 1 1/2 cups of fresh lemon juice Directions Add all the powdered ingredients to a large bowl and stir to combine. Slowly add the lemon juice until you have a moldable paste. Place the paste into ice cube trays. You do not want to put the paste any thicker than the depth of the detergent tray in the automatic dishwasher. The paste will quickly dry to where you can pop out the tablets out of the ice cube trays. Let them air-dry completely before you store them in an airtight container. Use one per load of dishes. Dishwasher Rinse Aid Ingredients 1 quart white vinegar 8-10 drops lemon essential oil Directions Combine vinegar and essential oil in a quart glass canning jar with lid and shake to mix. Add to dishwasher’s rinse aide container. Oven Cleaner Recipe Ingredients Water ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 22 1 Cup Baking Soda 2-5 drops of liquid detergent Directions Sprinkle water generously over the bottom of the oven, then cover the grime with enough baking soda so the surface it totally white. Sprinkle some more water over the top. Let the mixture set overnight. You can easily wipe up the grease the next morning because the grime will have loosened. When you have cleaned up the worst of the mess, dab a bit of liquid detergent or soap on a sponge, and wash the remaining residue from the oven. If this recipe doesn't work for you it is probably because you didn't use enough baking soda and/or water. 23 THE LAUNDRY ROOM MAKEOVER Let’s face it, laundry rooms and the work of keeping up with our ever-growing mound of clothes can be overwhelming and not so pleasant. I have thoroughly enjoyed finding alternatives to the commercial soaps and fabric solutions that leave a lot of fragrance without a lot of results. These recipes I have included for making over your laundry room will bring you great results; you will save a lot of money, and have fresh smelling laundry that is truly clean. I hope you enjoy these favorite go-to recipes for your laundry room needs and that they bring you some pleasure in the midst of your pile of laundry. Laundry Liquid Soap Recipe Ingredients 3 1/2 cups of boiling water 1 1/2 cups of washing soda 1 1/2 cups of borax 1 1/2 cups of grated Castile soap (you can also use the liquid version of this soap) Directions Add the grated soap (add liquid last if using that version) into your boiling water over low heat. Melt the soap thoroughly and then add the washing soda and borax. Stir until these are dissolved completely. Place this mixture into 2 gallons of cool water and stir until mixed thoroughly. This mixture should be placed into a bucket that comes with a lid. It only takes 1/4 of this liquid to was a whole tub of clothes. ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 24 Make sure to stir this laundry soap in between uses. Add more water if it becomes thick. Laundry Powder Soap Recipe Ingredients 10 cups of borax powder 6 cups of washing soda 6 cups of fine grated Castile bar soap 6 cups of baking soda Directions Stir all the ingredients together in a bucket. Make sure the bucket has a lid that fits on it. Use about 1/8 to 1/4 cup of this powder for each load of laundry depending on the size of your washing machine. Front Load Washing Machine Rubber Ring Freshener As you know the front loading washing machines can get stinky. I love this simple spray to spritz my washing machine rubber ring and give it a fresh smell. Ingredients Water 5-10 drops of Melaleuca essential oil Directions Fill a small spray bottle with water and essential oil. Shake up the mixture in your spray bottle. (and before each use) Between washes you can spray this mixture on your rubber ring of your frontloading washing machine. Leave the door open and allow the mixture to air dry, or wipe clean. Liquid Fabric Softener Ingredients 1 gallon of white vinegar 15-30 drops of essential oil Directions Add essential oil to gallon jug of vinegar and shake up. Add vinegar fabric softener to the fabric softener or rinse cycle vessel in washing machine. Natural Lavender Dryer Wool Balls You can save money and use this simple solution for replacing your dryer sheets. Once you purchase wool balls, you can use them for a long time, keeping cost down and giving you chemical-free laundry. Ingredients 25 Wool dryer balls.(available here) Lavender essential oil (or your favorite scent) Directions Add 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil to each of your dryer wool balls right before placing in the dryer. (you will use 2 balls per load) Oxygen Cleaner & Stain Remover Ingredients 1 cup of water (hot) 1/2 cup of baking soda 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide 5 drops of lemon essential oil Directions Mix the 1 cup of water (hot) and 1/2 cup of baking soda with a spoon. Stir together to dissolve baking soda. Let cool down for a few minutes. Once cooled down, add the 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide, and 5 drops of lemon essential oil in a spray bottle. Shake well to combine. This oxygen cleaner and stain remover is great for surface cleaning in your laundry room and home and spot removing on fabrics. Lavender Linen Spray Ingredients Water 1 Tbsp rubbing alcohol Lavender essential oil Directions Fill a small spray bottle with distilled water Add rubbing alcohol (this keeps the spray from clogging the nozzle and mixed well) Add 5-10 drops of lavender essential oil Shake linen spray mixture and use this for freshening sheets, pillowcases Lavender has a natural relaxing sleepy time effect that is sure to please the whole family. This linen spray can be used all over the home on curtains, and other blankets and linens. Just give a light mist, and you'll have an instantly fresh home. Ironing Spritzer Fill a spray bottle with a simple solution of water and a 3-5 drops of lavender essential oil. Shake to mix. When ironing linens, spritz a bit of the lavender water on before ironing it will not only help get out the wrinkles but also give a fresh clean scent. ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 26 THE BATHROOM MAKEOVER There is nothing really more unpleasant then cleaning bathrooms with harsh chemicals. I was thrilled when I could find ways to clean my bathroom with natural methods that left it sparkling and pleasant smelling. Here are my favorite bathroom cleaners. In addition to these recipes, you will find many cleaners that will work for your bathroom mirror, tile, and floor in the previous all-purpose cleaning recipe chapter. Natural Tile Grout Cleaner Most commercial grout cleaners have strong caustic ingredients in them. These are hard on the hands, eyes and even nasal passages not to mention harmful to the tile finish. Instead of using these cleaners, try the recipe below. Ingredients 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar 1/3 cup of lemon juice 2 cups of washing soda (more if needed) Directions Mix these ingredients into a paste. Add more washing soda if needed to form the paste. Use a small brush or sponge to work the paste into to the grout between the tiles. Scrub with the paste until the dirt and stains are removed. Rinse with warm water and towel dry or let air-dry. You will see how easily this mixture cleans your grout without harming you or the finish on the tiles. 27 Homemade Poo-Pourri Spray Have you discovered the ingenious Poo-Pourri spray that can make your big business in the toilet smell better? if you have not used this amazing product. well it is just that–amazing. Poo-Pourri comes in really cute packaging, and is called the “before you go” spray. The way Poo-Pourri works is it creates a oily surface (barrier) on the top of your toilet bowl water. This oily barrier keeps all poo smells from wafting into the bathroom when you go. And I am telling you it does work, thus given the appropriate name of Poo-Pourri! In my house of boys I was so happy to discover this great product. However, this little gem of a product cost around $9.00 a bottle. (for a small bottle) So why not make my own homemade Poo-Pourri Spray and save a lot of money? I thought I would try my hand at making a Poo-Pourri spray using my essential oils. I figured that if the oily film on the water was the key to the success of the no-poo smell, then this should work. I am happy to report that this homemade version is mom-approved, kid-approved, family-approved and works just as well as the store-bought version. Here is what you need to make homemade Poo-Pourri spray. Ingredients 3.5 oz. water 30 drops wild orange 30 drops lavender 30 drops lemongrass 4 oz. dark glass spray bottle Directions Put all the ingredients in your bottle and shake up. That's it. It couldn't be easier. Have fun making different combos of essential oils, and play around with the amounts of drops for different scents. I just found that you need to have the 60 drops total to make it good and effective! (Be sure to shake your bottle each time you use it, to incorporate the oils with the water.) *This spray also works for scenting your hand towel or freshening the air as well. All Natural Fizzing Toilet Cleaner This is my all-time favorite toilet cleaner, and the bonus is that my boys love to clean toilets, so they can watch the fizzing action! I love using toxic-free bathroom cleaners, and I can feel good about my kids using them as well. I hope you give this super easy toilet cleaner recipe a try. Ingredients ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 28 1/4 cup of baking soda 4 drops of melaleuca oil 1/4 cup of white vinegar Directions Add all the ingredients into the toilet bowl in the order they are listed. Let the fizzing action happen, then swish and scrub with a toilet brush making sure to get under the rim. Flush to rinse. You will be amazed at the results and the nice pleasant smell. Toilet Paper Natural Deodorizer This is the simplest bathroom deodorizer ever. Add a few drops of your favorite scent of essential oil to the inside of your toilet paper rolls. This will add some instant fresh scent to your bathroom and you can get a whiff of it every time you spin that roll! Simple, easy and smells so nice. Easy Disinfectant Spray 10-20 drops of lemon or melaleuca essential oil Add essential oils to a spray bottle of water. Shake and spray on all surfaces to disinfect. This is great for cleaning down surfaces in the bathroom, but also for kid's toys and any surfaces throughout the home. 29 THE SCENTED ROOM MAKEOVER There are many things in your house that you can use for natural air deodorizers. You will avoid any harsh chemicals when you make your own air fresheners from things you happen to have in your cabinets. With some natural herbs, spices, and citrus peels you can create a fresh smelling home. You will be surprised how you can grab kitchen cupboard items combined with essential oils to fill your home with pleasant smells. Simple Citrus Peels The outside peel of oranges and lemons is called the zest. This zest is used to add flavor to many food dishes. However, did you know that you could freshen and deodorize your home with this zest? Place the zest of your choice into boiling water and then turn the water to simmer. The fragrance from the zest will fill the air and deodorize it. Spices and Herbs Similar to the citrus peels you can simmer a mix of spices and herbs in water. Cinnamon, cloves, rosemary, peppermint, and lavender are just some of the spices and herbs that you can use to refresh the air. Just make sure not to let the water totally evaporate from the spices and herbs. ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 30 Dried Aromatic Herbs Dried aromatic herbs can be place into small containers and placed throughout the house. This will subtly refresh the air. You will not have to worry about stalesmelling air. Diffusing Essential Oils Placing some essential oils into a diffuser is an awesome way to clean and freshen the air in your home. Many essential oils have antiviral, antifungal, or antibacterial qualities that will clean the air as well as freshen it. Lemon, eucalyptus, basil, cinnamon or peppermint essential oils are just some of the choices. Use these and you will be sold on their effectiveness. I personally don’t use many candles for home fragrance items anymore. After using the natural stovetop recipes, a cool air diffuser and essential oils, I have all the home fragrance I need. Why Should We Diffuse? Essential oils are widely used in aromatherapy applications. Certain essential oils, when diffused in the air, can be very stimulating while others can be calming and soothing. Beyond emotional benefits, diffusing essential oils can purify air of unwanted odors and some airborne pathogens. Also, when diffusing therapeutic grade essential oils they can have healing properties to the body for wellness. Diffused essential oils have been found to reduce the amount of airborne chemicals and to help create a soothing and pleasant home environment. Types Of Diffusers There are different kinds of diffusers, so be sure to only use low or no-heat essential oil diffusers are recommended, as heat can change the chemical structure of the oil being diffused. You will not want to use a heat humidifier or vaporizer with essential oils. Cool Air Nebulizing Diffuser – Uses room-temperature air to break the oils into a micro-fine mist that is then dispersed into the air, covering hundreds of sq ft in seconds. The easiest and simplest way of putting a fine mist of the whole oil into the air for inhalation is to use a nebulizing diffuser. Ultrasonic Diffuser – Uses ultrasonic vibrations to convert oil mixed with water into a fine water vapor. When diffused in this manner, the oils, with their oxygenating molecules, will then remain suspended several hours to freshen and improve the quality of air. * A quick fact about diffusing lemon essential oil Did you know that diffusing lemon essential oil can rid your home of airborne germs? Diffusing lemon can kill Meningococcus in 15 minutes. Typhus in under an hour. Staph A in two hours, and Pneumococcus bacteria within three. It is even 31 known that a 2 percent solution of lemon essential oil can stop tuberculosis bacteria. (See Jean Valnet, M.D. The practice of Aromatherapy, 1980) Stove Top Natural Scent Recipes Here are some simple stovetop recipes you can throw together in minutes and give your home a natural scent just using ingredients from your kitchen. Add these ingredients to a simmering pot of water. You can also put them in a small slow cooker and let it add a homey fresh scent to the air. Have fun trying different combinations of fruits and spices to find your personal favorites. Cinnamon Apple Spice 2 Cinnamon sticks Apple peel Orange peel 1 tbsp whole cloves Savory Lemon 4 slices of lemon 3 sprigs of rosemary 1 tsp of vanilla Spicy Citrus lemon peel orange peel 2 bay leaves 2 cinnamon sticks 1 tbsp whole cloves Minty Lime 4 lime slices 3 sprigs of thyme 3 springs of mint 1 tsp vanilla Sweet Orange Ginger orange peels or slices 1 cinnamon stick fresh grated or powdered ginger 2-3 drops of almond extract Cinnamon Vanilla Orange 2 cinnamon sticks 3-4 drops of vanilla orange peels ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 32 Orange Cranberry Spice Orange peelings ¼ cup cranberries 1 tablespoon of whole cloves 1-2 cinnamon sticks Cleaning The Air With Houseplants Adding green houseplants to your home help to clean the air naturally. Not only do they clean the air, they provide natural beauty, and a calming effect while making our homes look pretty. The best part is houseplants are easy to care for and are a cheap decorating element. You can read all about how I like decorating with plants for beauty and the health benefits in my home. Essentially Scented House Paint Did you know you can add some drops of essential oil to your interior toxic-free paint? This will give a fresh scent to your paint and provide some aromatherapy as you roll on the paint! Add some drops of lavender, orange, lemon, or peppermint to freshen up your room as you makeover your walls. You can pick your favorite scent and have fun freshening up your home in more ways than one. 33 THE FARM & GARDEN MAKEOVER Getting rid of all the critters, weeds, and pesky things in our home and garden can be a real chore. I always hated filling my home with the scent of Raid or spraying my weeds with Round Up knowing they were full of harsh toxic chemicals. I went on a mission to find natural solutions for our bug and pest problems. Here is a great collection of natural solutions for your home and garden. Eco Ant Killer A combination of peppermint oil, apple cider vinegar, and water is a great natural ant deterrent for inside the house. Mix one cup of apple cider vinegar, one cup of water, and 5 drops of pure peppermint oil in a spray bottle. Spray down your countertops and other surfaces where you have noticed ants. Do this as often as needed to scare off ants. Planting tansy in your garden will deter ants from coming around. Ants also do not like peppermint, but plant this in a contained area as it can grow out of control at times. Spider Ridder Mix 4 cups of water with 6 drops each of Castile soap and peppermint or lemon essential oil. Stir well to combine and pour into a clean spray bottle. You can spray on and around your plants, windows, and overhangs to deter spiders from setting up house. Be careful with this mixture inside the house only because it could stain the walls or fabrics. You can place this mixture in dishes or on cotton balls to ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 34 prevent spiders from crawling through the house. Peppermint and lemon essential oil by itself will repel spiders and this is easy to sprinkle on cotton balls without mixing soap with it. The soap does allow the mixture to stay on surfaces outside the house though, so use the whole recipe for the garden. Gnat No More Essential oils are great natural gnat deterrents. My favorite is peppermint essential oil. Inside the house, place the peppermint oil in dishes or on cottons balls. You can place the cotton balls on plastic trays to keep the oil from staining fabrics or the walls. You can plant peppermint in your garden to keep gnats from being attracted to your garden. You can even add 4 drops of peppermint oil to one teaspoon of jojoba oil and apply it to your skin to keep the gnats away from you as you work in the garden. Flea Spray Mix together 1 cup of apple cider vinegar, 4 cups of water, and 3 drops of cedar oil. Stir well to combine and place the mixture into a spray bottle. Spray your dog with this spray as needed to keep the fleas away. Be careful not to get the mixture into your pet's eyes. (use caution with essential oils around cats as they can be rather toxic to them) Mice Be Gone Mice hate peppermint! Place drops of peppermint essential oil on cotton balls and tuck in corners and crevices where mice want to creep. They will run the other way! The peppermint is toxic to them, and this is a really easy way to get them out for good. Bug Off Spray This is a multi-use natural bug spray that you can use inside and outside the house to keep all sorts of bugs away. Mix together 1 cup of distilled water, 1 cup of witch hazel, 5 drops of lavender essential oil, 5 drops of cinnamon essential oil, 5 drops of clove essential oil, and 1 teaspoon of vegetable glycerin. (You can create any combination of essential oils you prefer.) *I also like to use doTERRA’s essential oil blend Terra Shield, which was created as a natural bug repellant. You can apply the oil blend directly to the skin, or add 20 drops of it to a spray bottle with water. Just shake and spritz on yourself, kids, and even your farm animals. Gardener’s Hand Scrub Recipe Ingredients 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup olive oil 4 drops of rosemary essential oil 4 drops of lemon essential oil 35 Directions Stir together oil and sugar in a glass bowl until well incorporated. Then add drops of essential oils. You can adjust the drops of oil for the amount of scent you want. Stir together well, and place in a jar with a lid. This makes a great scrub to put by the sink when you come in from working outside in the garden. Natural Weed Killer This is my favorite weed spray to replace Round-Up, and it works really well. Ingredients One gallon of white vinegar 1/2 c table salt, 2 Tbsp of liquid detergent Instructions Shake and mix ingredients together and pour into a spray bottle or weed spray dispenser. Spray vinegar mixture on weeds making sure to avoid your grass. For best results spray when there is no rain coming within 12 hours of applying. You can use essential oils for treating your animals. You can make natural flea sprays and ointments. For tips on using essential oils with your pets and farm animals, I recommend Holistic Aromatherapy For Animals. ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 36 SKIN & BODY CARE MAKEOVER Converting to chemical-free skin and body care is an important place to do some makeover work. Our skin is considered the largest organ of the body, it can be a place where a lot of toxins are absorbed. I have felt so much better since I have changed over many of my body care products to natural homemade alternatives that are free of harmful chemicals. You will see very fast how you can save a lot of money making your own simple home recipes, while pampering and taking care of your body at the same time. DIY Makeup Remover Recipe Ingredients 2 oz. Jojoba oil 1 vitamin E capsule 37 3 drops of soothing essential oil such as, geranium is very good for the skin, or lavender would be wonderful too. Directions Combine ingredients and store in a dark glass bottle, preferably with a dropper for application. Gently apply the makeup remover to your face. Rub around gently and rinse off. Clay Face Wash Ingredients 1/2 cup Redmond clay powder 5 drops of lavender, geranium or roman chamomile essential oil Directions Combine clay powder and essential oils together and place in a small airtight glass jar. When ready to use, combine a small portion of clay powder with some water to make a paste type consistency. Rub all over face gently, let sit for several minutes for a cleansing mask. Rinse with warm water and pat dry. Honey Face Wash Ingredients 1/2 cup raw honey 10 drops of geranium or lavender essential oil Directions Combine honey and essential oil and place in a small jar or bottle with a lid for storage. Apply a thin layer of the honey mixture to your face, avoiding the eyes. Rub gently all around the face. Let sit for a few minutes on your face. Rinse off with warm water. Natural Skin Toner Ingredients 2 tbsp organic apple cider vinegar 4 tbsp water 8 drops lavender or roman chamomile essential oil Directions Combine vinegar, water and essential oils and place in a small glass spray bottle. Shake mixture well before each use. After cleansing skin, spray your skin with a misting of the toner to freshen you skin. Simple Skin Moisturizer Ingredients ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 38 1/4 cup olive oil 4 drops of lavender essential oil Directions Add ingredients to a dark glass bottle. Apply to clean damp skin (This moisturizer is wonderful for using on a baby or small child’s skin as well) Baby Bottom Spray Ingredients 2 tbsp fractionated coconut oil 2 drops each of melaleuca, roman chamomile, lavender 1 tsp of unscented liquid soap (such as Castile) Distilled water Directions Add first three ingredients to an 8-12 oz spray bottle then fill the bottle with distilled water. Shake to mix. This spray can be used to wash baby’s bottom, then wipe with a soft cotton washcloth. Simple Detox Foot Bath There are so many benefits to taking detoxification baths. You can take a full bath, and I highly recommend that if you are fighting off flus, colds and infections in the body. If a full bath is not what you are up for you can do a simple detox foot bath. Your feet have the largest pours in the body, so soaking the feet is a great way to go. By soaking the feet you can remove impurities and toxins out of the body, in a soothing natural way. I love to do these at least once a week. You will love the way you feel when you are finished. So relaxed and invigorated at the same time. Ingredients 1/4 cup Epsom salt 1/4 cup of baking soda 3-6 drops of essential oils. I like to use lavender for a calming effect. I also love using Frankincense for its healing properties. You can use different combinations of oils that you like. Directions Stir your essential oils into the baking soda and salts first so that they get incorporated and don’t just float on the top of the water. Fill a store-bought foot spa tub or any plastic tub with the warmest water you can stand, as it cools off quickly. Add your salt/baking soda mixture as the water is running and make sure it gets dissolved. 39 Sit back watch a movie, read a book, and relax as your feet get pampered and you get rejuvenated. Drink some water after taking any detoxification bath to replenish your fluids. Pregnancy Moisturizing Butter This is a great butter for that itchy belly, stretch marks, and for general moisturizing. Ingredients 1/2 cup unrefined coconut oil 1/4 cup cocoa butter 1/4 cup shea butter 20 drops of sandalwood essential oil 15 drops of lavender essential oil 15 drops of geranium essential oil Directions Melt the coconut oil, cocoa butter, and shea butter over low heat. Stir and allow to cool down slightly. When mixture is still warm add essential oils. Pour mixture into a jar with lid. Apply liberally to belly, legs, and breasts as needed. Hand Sanitizer Recipe Ingredients 2 tbsp of water 6 drops of melaleuca essential oil 1/2 tsp witch hazel Directions Place ingredients in small spray bottle. Shake before each use. You might also enjoy these recipes and tips Homemade Lavender Sugar Scrub Homemade Citrus Bath Salts Coconut Oil Sugar Scrub Simple Pedicures At Home 9 Natural Skin Solutions Using Witch Hazel Benefits of Oil Pulling for Oral Health ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 40 THE MEDICINE CABINET MAKEOVER I didn’t want to write this book without addressing our physical bodies as part of the home makeover. You and your family’s health are the most important part of any toxic-free transformation. This is actually one of the first places to start, and you won’t believe the difference in how you feel. I can’t tell you what a thrill it is for us to be able to use natural alternatives as much as possible in our home. We save so much money on trips to urgent care and doctor appointments, not to mention all the over-the-counter products we have replaced. You can do the same. Our Personal Health Makeover When our family started our medicine cabinet makeover, our cabinet looked like any average bathroom cupboard. It was chock full of over-the-counter medications. We knew nothing different. Once we were introduced to the doTERRA essential oils, a rapid change began. My kids were coming to me asking for oils for their cut or bee sting. My husband was finding oil remedies for his digestive issues, and I was getting immediate relief for my seasonal allergies; all without nasty side effects. It was so liberating. We were able to stop buying Prilosec, Claritin D, Pepto-Bismol, Tums, and loads of cold and cough medications. Talk about saving money! 41 Here is a before and after image that is very similar to the medicine cabinet makeover that took place in our home. You can see the money saved is significant by switching from over-the-counter medications to essential oils and natural remedies. It’s truly worth the time and effort. The list of ways we use essential oils is very significant. Here are ways we have used doTERRA essential oils for our family. Cuts Bruises, Bee Stings, and Skin Conditions Seasonal Allergy Relief Tummy Aches Headaches Digestive health Hyperactivity Attention issues Concentration Anxiety Hormone Control Feelings of Depression Mood control Homemade Cleaning Recipes Homemade Beauty Recipes Warts ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 42 Nail Fungus Detoxification Conjunctivitis Breathing Issues Sleeping Aid Flus, Coughs & Colds Fever Reducing Animal Care Home Maintenance Laundry Flavoring Foods In the essential oil world you will hear people say, “There’s an oil for that!” I hope you can see after reading my list above, why we make this statement. In most circumstances there is an oil that we can use to treat any ailment that we have. Please understand that we use common sense and go to the doctor when we feel it is necessary. We don’t know what life was like before doTERRA essential oils in our family. It’s now a natural habit to grab for an essential oil and to look up a remedy in our Modern Essentials Book for the particular ailment in which we are struggling with. It’s truly a blessing. I do want to say that we don’t only rely on essential oils for all our health needs. We look at health from a holistic approach. As a family we also take nutritional supplements, try to get the rest we need, exercise, and eat a whole foods diet. We believe in all good things coming into balance to have optimum wellness. 43 GETTING STARTED WITH ESSENTIAL OILS If you are interested in using essential oils as a viable health remedy, as I mentioned earlier, it is very important to only use high-quality oils on your skin or inside your body. Safety Precautions With Essential Oils Please use common sense when using the oils for your body. Do not put them in your eyes or inner ears, and use a carrier oil if you are using them on children or on someone with sensitive skin. There are certain oils that are considered to be “hot” oils and should always be applied with a carrier oil for proper dilution. It is of upmost importance that you use caution with essential oils and use them safely. Read here about Essential Oil Safety. You can also read this excellent guide to proper care in using essential oils. How To Apply Essential Oils Aromatically This is a simple way to get the health benefits of essential oils. By diffusing oils into the air you can reap the benefits and create a wonderful toxic-free environment. There are a variety of diffusers on the market. Be sure to read more about diffusing oils in The Scented Room Makeover chapter. ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 44 Topically Essential oils are easily absorbed by the skin and can be safely applied topically. Application of essential oils can have immediate, localized benefit to the target area of application. They have restorative and calming properties and can be used effectively with massage and beauty therapy. They are also natural disinfectants and can be anti-viral. The chemical structure of essential oils also allows them to be absorbed into the bloodstream via the skin for internal benefit throughout the body. How do I apply topically? 1. Rub the oil onto the souls of the feet – The feet are the second fastest area of the body to absorb oils because of the large pores. This is a great way to apply oils to children. 2. Quick-absorbing areas include behind the ears, the wrists, and at the base of the back of the neck. 3. Rub onto specific area of concern. (Example, bug bites, chest, temples, etc.) *Before applying essential oil topically, you must read the directions that come with the essential oils. Some oils need a carrier oil to be applied topically. To get optimum health benefits you can also refer to reflexology charts to apply oils in targeted areas for specific ailments. Internally You can take some essential oils internally as a dietary supplement (by placing in a capsule) This is why I chose doTERRA. It is important to never ingest an oil unless it is specifically labeled as being therapeutic-grade AND safe for ingestion. What Is A Carrier Oil? Carrier oil, also known as base oil or vegetable oil, is used to dilute essential oils and absolutes before they are applied to the skin in massage and aromatherapy. They are so named because they carry the essential oil onto the skin. Carrier oils do not contain a concentrated aroma. They are used because most essential oils are too concentrated to apply directly to the skin. The carrier oils used should be as natural and unadulterated as possible. Types of Carrier Oils Coconut Oil (Fractionated) Grapeseed Oil Jojoba Oil Sweet Almond Oil *To learn more about carrier oils, visit here. Always use a carrier oil with small children, babies, and those with sensitive skin. 45 The Top 10 Oils To Get You Started So where to get started? If you are interested in starting to explore the essential oil world, I thought I would go over 10 most popular essential oils and blends that doTERRA offers and are a great place to begin. ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 46 These 10 oils and blends are just a small sampling of all the essential oils available, and are what our family started with. Be sure to refer to my resource list in the next chapter to further your knowledge about essential oils, and as always be sure to visit my blog for on-going essential oil posts. Here is a list of some essential oil posts you might enjoy as well. 25 Ways To Use Lavender Essential Oil 25 Ways To Use Peppermint Essential Oil 25 Ways To Use Lemon Essential Oil 25 Ways To Use Melaleuca 25 Ways To Use Orange Essential Oil 25 Ways To Use Frankincense Essential Oil 25 Ways To Uses Oregano Essential Oil Ways To Use Lemongrass Essential Oil Ways To Use On Guard Essential Oil Blend Ways To Use DigestZen Essential Oil Blend Ways To Use Breathe Essential Oil Blend How To Treat Seasonal Allergies Naturally 47 RESOURCE LIST I know this makeover book has a lot of information and a big variety of things for you to read through and process. Here is a resource list of helpful books and links to explore as you embark on your own natural home makeover. Modern Essentials : A Contemporary Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Essential Oils (The NEW 5th Edition) by Aroma Tools This is what we like to call the essential oil bible. You won’t want to be without it when you use doTERRA oils. You can look up any condition or ailment and it will give you specific instructions on what oil to use and how to apply it. (I give this book free to anyone who orders an oil kit through my blog) http://www.everythingessential.me/ - A comprehensive go-to website to look up all uses for doTERRA essential oils for specific health issues. The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy – by Valerie Ann Worwood Over 600 Natural, Non-Toxic and Fragrant Recipes to Create Health — Beauty — a Safe Home Environment The Naturally Clean Home: 150 Super-Easy Herbal Formulas for Green Cleaning by Karyn Siegel-Maier Essential Oils for Pregnancy, Birth, and Babies– by Stephanie Fritz Essential Oils for Pregnancy, Birth & Babies is a reference guide written for pregnant women or anyone assisting them, including midwives and doulas. Holistic Aromatherapy For Animals – by Kristen Leigh Bell A Comprehensive Guide to the Use of Essential Oils & Hydrosols with Animals More Natural Cleaning Tips and Recipes You Might Enjoy 60 Ways To use Baking Soda Uses For Vinegar 24 Ways To Use Hydrogen Peroxide 10 Household Uses For Salt Ways To Clean With Lemons Ways To Use Castile Soap HOW TO PURCHASE ESSENTIAL OILS ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 48 If you are interested in purchasing essential oils through me, there are several ways to do so. 1. Retail: You can purchase them directly from my online store for full retail price. 2. Preferred Member: You can sign up as a Preferred Member. Preferred Members pay only $10 for a lifetime membership, which enables them to receive a 20% discount on everything they purchase. 3. Wellness Advocate: You can sign up as a Wellness Advocate (WA). WA’s pay $35/year which enables them to: Get all products at wholesale cost (25% off retail) Have their own online store and back office Sign up others and earn commissions (optional, with no obligation to sell) As a Wellness Advocate you are under no obligations to sell to others. There are no quotas or minimums that you must meet. When I first signed up, I had no desire to sell oils to others; I simply wanted the wholesale pricing. However I’ve found that as I use the oils, I can’t help but want to share them with others. Now I am happy to say I get to share something I am passionate about and make a good income for my family. There is also a Loyalty Rewards Program that gives you credit for purchasing oils on a monthly basis, and also allows you to be eligible to receive free products. I find that this program has been a great way to build my collection and earn free stuff in the process. There are a variety of enrollment kits available. Purchasing a kit is the best way to get started and I highly recommend starting out with one, as it is a wonderful, money-saving way to start your oil journey. Be sure to head over to my blog for the step-by-step process of signing up and ordering oils one of the three ways I mentioned above. How To Purchase Essential Oils When you click over to my purchase page you can view the special kit incentives with amazing freebies that are available exclusively through me and my blog. 49 CONCLUSION I hope this Natural Home Makeover book has inspired you. My goal in writing this book was to share a bit about our family journey, and to pass on what we have learned along the way. I hope you feel equipped with some new recipes, tips, and newfound desire to expand your knowledge and understanding into living toxic free. Remember to take one day at a time, and you will be well on your way to a natural home in no time at all. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have, and frequent my blog for continuing weekly posts. Can You Do Me A Favor? If you enjoyed this book or like to read my blog, would you tell a friend? If you know someone who would like to receive my free blog updates or would benefit from this complimentary book, please send them over to subscribe so they can receive their free copy as well. Please Be Kind An Ebook is meant to be the sole property of the purchaser. You may share portions of it with a friend, but forwarding the entire book or copying portions of it to a blog or website without permission is a violation of copyright. Happy Home Makeover! ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 50 ABOUT DENISE I am thrilled to “meet” you, even if only across the pages of this little book and through my blog. I am honored that you taken the time to read what I have to share, and hope you will feel at home within the pages of my online space. My blog posts and books are a reflection of my own desire to create a home that nourishes my family’s souls and feeds their spirits with love. I am a wife and mom of three boys. Together with my family, we reside in the beautiful Pacific Northwest where we intentionally live a simple natural lifestyle. We homeschool our twin boys which fills most of our daily time with delight directed learning. Our oldest son has graduated from homeschooling and is now attending Bible college in Australia. We have the blessing of living on 10 quiet acres in a 110 year old farmhouse you see pictured above, which is always an on-going remodeling project but brings us a lot of enjoyment as well. I am the first to admit that I am not perfect and neither is my home. I get messy drawers just like everyone else, and dislike cleaning bathrooms in a house of boys! I am definitely a product of God’s grace and my life has been redeemed in more ways than one. I don’t have it all together, but I love to serve the Lord, who is the only reason I even exist. If you are new to my blog, here is what you will find: Yummy Nutritious Recipes (including gluten free & dairy free) Decorating & Natural DIY Tips Faith & Family Inspiration Health & Natural Beauty Tips Essential Oil Recipes, Tips & Uses 51 Don’t be shy and introduce yourself to me through a comment on the blog, Facebook or via email. I love to hear from my readers. Blessings to you, Denise By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Proverbs 23:3-4 NIV Where To Find Me: Contact Me: By Email Blog: http://littlehouseonthevalley.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littlehouseonvalley Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeniseLThompson Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/houseonvalley/ Medical Disclaimer: The products and statements in this book have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided in this book is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. You should not use the information in this book for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem. Some of the links contained in this book are affiliate links. That means if you click on the link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission that goes to supporting this free book and the work I do on Little House on the Valley blog. ©2014 by Denise L Thompson / Natural Home Makeover Page 52