Why You Need To Use A Homemade All Purpose Cleaner

You value organic options to keep your skin clean, but what about an organic, homemade all purpose cleaner to keep your home clean? We are all aware of the dangers of pollution on the environment, but did you know that the air inside your home can be polluted as well? Many common cleaning agents pose a threat to household air - something especially important to keep in mind if you live with pets. Read on to learn why Eminence Organics recommends a homemade all purpose cleaner that is safe for everyone and zero waste!

Reduce Indoor Pollutants

The major benefit of non-toxic cleaners is that they do not add to indoor pollution. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the most concerning indoor pollutant, and are common in commercial cleaning products. VOCs are a varied group of “organic compounds that easily become vapors or gases. Along with carbon, they contain elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, sulfur or nitrogen.” VOCs are “consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors” and can lead to both short term and long term health concerns such as eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, and liver and kidney damage.

Additionally, indoor pollutants wreak havoc on your complexion. Eminence Organics Lead Skin Care Trainer Natalie Pergar says:

“Pollution is comprised of ‘particulate matter’ which are tiny particles that float around in our environment. These particles accumulate from many sources, including car exhaust, factory emissions and even from household chemicals. These particulate matter are known to trigger multiple pathways of inflammation in our skin. Inflammation in the skin is the cause of aging, hyperpigmentation, dehydration, redness, sensitization and many other skin concerns.”

Pet Owners - Avoid These Essential Oils

To add natural fragrance and an additional boost of power, many DIY recipes for homemade all purpose cleaners contain essential oils. Lemon, lavender, orange or tea tree essential oils are some of the most common options you may have seen before. While these can be fantastic oils to include, they are not safe for pets.

Due to their heightened sense of smell, many cats and dogs are bothered by essential oils in general, but certain oils can also be incredibly harmful to their skin, internal organs and general health and well-being. Always consult your veterinarian when considering the use of essential oils at home. While they can offer wonderful benefits, here are some common oils you need to avoid when making your own all purpose cleaner.

Essential Oils That Are Harmful For Dogs

While certain essential oils - if approved by a vet - may be useful as pet therapy, do not use the following essential oils in your homemade cleaner if you own a dog:

• Tea Tree
• Cinnamon
• Citrus
• Pine
• Winter Green
• Pennyroyal

Essential Oils That Are Harmful For Cats

Cats can be even more susceptible to essential oil poisoning as they “lack an essential enzyme in their liver and … have difficulty metabolizing and eliminating certain toxins like essential oils.” If you live with a cat it is probably safest to avoid all essential oils, but absolutely avoid:

• Tea Tree
• Cinnamon
• Citrus
• Lemon
• Eucalyptus
• Lavender
• Peppermint
• Spruce

All Purpose Cleaner Recipe

With the basics of why indoor pollutants disrupt your health and skin and what essential oils you may want to exclude covered, you’re all set to make your own homemade all purpose cleaner.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup of white vinegar
• 2 cups of water
• Upcycled 16 oz. spray bottle
• Funnel

Directions

1. Ensure spray bottle is clean and dry of any residue.
2. Using funnel, pour vinegar and water into bottle.
3. Screw on spray top and gently shake to mix.

Vinegar and water is the perfect base to clean almost anything. Safe for glass, floors - and even toilet bowls - this homemade all purpose cleaner is completely non-toxic for dogs and cats. If you are not a pet owner, experiment with adding a few drops of citrus essential oils for a pleasant smell. The one thing we do not recommend this homemade vinegar solution for? Battling indoor pollution to get your skin glowing again. As we've mentioned before, homemade skin care remedies can cause more harm than good are are better avoided altogether. 

Commitment To Health

Eminence Organics is committed to finding organic, Earth-friendly solutions in every aspect of our business - right down to the cleaners we use in our processing facilities. As noted by Eminence Biochemist, Viola:

"We are regularly visited by organic certifying bodies that rigorously vet our manufacturing process and examine hundreds of sources of raw materials as well as all of our documentation. Even the sanitation of the building must use approved cleaning materials to prevent chemical contamination."

We hope this post has inspired you to clean more organically as well. If you have your own homemade all-purpose cleaner recipe, let us know in the comments below.