Cleansing your home of toxins can be beneficial for your health and well-being. Removing hazardous materials and chemicals from your residence can reduce the risk of certain diseases.
- Breathing issues: Toxic materials may inflame the respiratory tract, causing coughing, wheezing, and difficulty in respiration.
- Allergic reactions: Some toxic substances may lead to allergic outbreaks such as rashes, hives, or asthma.
- Skin troubles: Some toxins result in skin sensitivity, such as redness, itching, or dryness.
- Headaches: Ingestion or inhalation of certain toxins can bring about headaches.
- Nausea and vomiting: Consuming or breathing in toxic elements can lead to nausea and vomiting.
- Neurological issues: Exposure to certain toxic substances can produce neurological difficulties like shakes, memory loss, and difficulty in focus.
- Cancer: Long-term exposure to specific toxins has been linked to a heightened risk of certain cancers.
Herbs to Detox Your Home
Herbs have been used for centuries to purify and cleanse the body and home. They’re natural, safe, and effective in reducing toxins and promoting good health. Here are some herbs you can use to detoxify your home and bring in more wellness:
- Citronella: This herb is a must-have to clear the air and keep insects away.
- Eucalyptus: Helps break down dirt and grime, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms.
- Frankincense: This one is primarily used in body care products but can be added to any cleaning concoction to purify the living spaces.
- Lavender: This is a very versatile herb, helping clean dirt and grime and providing a relaxing atmosphere when used as a room fresher.
- Lemon: This herb has powerful aromatics, which make it the perfect choice for clearing up dirt, greases, and odors.
- Lemongrass: Lemongrass is the ideal herb to use if you want to remove bad smells while repelling pests.
- Orange: This will make your home sparkle with cleanliness while making you feel much better with its positive energy! It can help eliminate odors as well as grease and grime.
- Peppermint: This herbal remedy has a stimulating scent and is excellent for purifying the air and getting rid of toxins inside your home.
- Pine: Pine is excellent for freshening up the air and banishing any unpleasant smells.
- Sage: An ancient way of purifying the air is through burning sage. You can also add it to your cleaning products or use its coarsely ground leaves to scrub sinks.
- Rosemary: Effective for purifying the air and tackling toxins, this one is also great for adding to cleaning solutions or grinding down into a coarse powder for scrubbing sinks.
- Tea Tree: This is the go-to herb for mold or mildew. It’s ideal for adding to any non-toxic cleaning mixture you may already have.
Use the Herbs to Detox Your Home
If I want a more aromatic scent, I have found it more economical to infuse white vinegar with my herb of choice and then add the infusion to the cleaning solution than it is to add essential oils.
Orange- or Lemon-Infused Vinegar
Mason jar – 1 quart
White vinegar – to fill jar up to neck
Citrus slices – 1 orange slice or 2–3 lemon slices
Lavender buds – enough to fill 1/4 of the jar
Instructions:
- Fill the jar to the neck with the white vinegar and add citrus slices or lavender buds.
- Cover with parchment paper and put the lid on.
- Place in a dark spot for 1–2 weeks, depending on how warm it is outside.
- Strain off the citrus slices or lavender buds and put the infused vinegar back in the jar.
All-Purpose Cleaning Spray
Spray bottle – 1 bottle
Liquid soap – 1–2 drops of Castile or liquid dish soap
Essential oil – 10 drops (optional)
Infused vinegar of your choice
Water
Instructions:
- Fill the spray bottle with 50% infused vinegar.
- Add several drops of liquid soap and essential oil.
- Fill the rest with water.
- Shake gently before using.
Mold and Mildew Remover
Mix one cup of white vinegar and twenty drops of tea tree oil.
Herbal Scrubber
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 1/2 cup dried sage leaves coarsely crumbled
- 1/4 cup dried rosemary coarsely chopped
- Combine half a cup of baking soda, half a cup of crumbled, coarsely cut sage leaves, and a quarter cup of coarsely chopped rosemary in an air-tight container.
- Note: Do not use herbs found in the spice section of the grocery store. They are too fine.
Other steps to help detox your home include removing traditional cleaning products with chemicals and replacing them with natural ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, borax, Castile soap, and essential oils. Additionally, open windows for several minutes daily to help ventilate the space and bring in the fresh air. With these tips and consistency, you can effectively detox your home and provide a safe living space for your family.
Mold and Mildew Remover recipe credit:
Essential Oils for a Clean and Healthy Home, by Kasey Schwartz
Herbal Scrubber recipe credit:
The Naturally Clean Home, by Karyn Siegel-Maier
Brenda Sullivan is the proprietor of Thompson Street Farm and Farm to Bath and is an avid herbalist. Her garden, where she grows medicinal flowers and herbs for her bath and body products, is a source of endless joy and knowledge. Using herbs has given Brenda and her family an improved quality of life. Brenda loves sharing her herbal insights on her podcast and YouTube channel, Living and Lovin Herbs.
Websites:
https://www.farmtobath.com/
www.livingandlovinherbs.com