Today’s post is from a friend of mine, Lucia Paul, who loves to clean! She has her own blog called “Cleaning in the Cold“. I thought it would be great if she would share something, and she agreed to do so, yay! She has written a great post. Enjoy the read.

I was so happy when Heather asked me to do a guest post on her blog. She is a prime example that taking care of yourself, making smart choices and adopting a mindset of health in everything you do, makes for a beautiful woman inside and out!

My own journey with a healthier lifestyle and mindset came pretty late in my life. I will admit that I have spent most of my life with the eating habits of an eleven year-old boy. I dismissed the “what you eat affects how you feel” for a long time. But then I found that by making small changes that I could live with: Less processed foods, no “diet” anything, more water, more vegetables DID make me feel better.

I have also made sustainable changes in how I clean my home. Confession time: you know how some women feel about shoes and purses? That’s how I feel about cleaning supplies. I love them! I also love to clean. If you are shaking your head, it might help to know that when I hear people say, “I just love to run!” I have the same reaction. Cleaning is my therapy, a way to focus and honor my home and family. I truly enjoy it.

I have a blog devoted to cleaning called, Cleaning In The Cold. It’s where I get to share my favorite cleaning tools, tips and other things that set my little cleaning heart aflutter.

About five years ago, I realized how dangerous it is to clean without gloves if you are using chemical cleaning products. In fact, transplant patients, particularly liver transplant patients, are instructed to only use non-toxic cleaning products from brands like Method. I am sorry to say that I cleaned for years using bleach, harsh chemicals and no gloves. That is not good for your body (as most of you likely know). Our skin absorbs things directly into our blood stream. Apparently everyone knew that but me.

Now it’s gloves always for me when I clean. I still use some non-natural products (bleach, I cannot quit you). But I am trying to use more natural products for home cleaning: Method, Mrs. Meyers and J.R. Watkins make some of my favorites. I have started making some of my own room sprays, counter sprays and bathroom cleaners. The Internet and Pinterest are full of great ideas for how to make your own cleaning products. Here are some simple recipes that I have been using with success:

I like to make small amounts of each of these so that the essential oils and scents stay fresh.

Air Refresher Spray

Side note: we had a house on the market for over a year in 2006, I found this recipe and it all but guaranteed the smell would entice home buyers. I started spraying it before showings and we had two offers in one day and had not had a nibble in over a year. Just saying.

Fill small spray bottle with:

• 1 cup distilled water
• ½ Cup rubbing alcohol or Vodka (you can leave this out if you don’t want any alcohol)
• 5-7 drops Orange Essential Oil
• 5-7 drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil
• 5-7 drops Lavender Essential Oil

Natural All Purpose Cleaning Spray (not for granite or sealed stone):

Fill a spray bottle with:

• 1 part vinegar
• 1 part water
• 10-15 drops essential oil (I like lemon or orange for this)

Natural Bathroom Surface Spray:

• 1 cup water
• 1 Tablespoon Baking Soda
• 10 Drops Tea Tree Oil
• 10 Drops Orange Oil

(Mix above ingredients in a bowl or bucket first, then transfer to a spray bottle).

Please visit my blog if you have a chance. I’d love to have you take a look.

Keep cleaning, my friends!

Thanks to Heather for letting me be a guest blogger on Chronicles In Health.

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