The nose is susceptible to dryness in both summer and winter weather. Both seasons, although they are literally hot and cold, can have severe dry weather, which is not kind on your nose. The lack of humidity, which is more common in dry, desert areas in summer, can dehydrate the mucous membranes in the nostrils. Indoor, air-conditioned spaces can also cause dryness.

Ever notice that you feel congested after being in dry heat and then transitioning to a cold indoor space? Dry air can make you feel like you have nose crustiness, or even dry boogers. Mucus plays an integral role in the body, protecting it from viruses and bacteria. Mucus is sticky, which helps to trap foreign particles, which the body then removes. Additionally, mucus contains antibacterial properties that help fight infection. 

Beyond dry weather, vaping, smoking, and certain medications may cause nasal dryness. As if there weren’t enough reasons to quit smoking! Now, we’ll explain a variety of remedies that may help prevent your nose from drying out. 

Don’t Forget To Hydrate

Drinking water throughout the day can help you avoid dehydration, which is especially important in the summer heat. Keep a reusable water bottle on hand and don’t forget to keep filling it up. In addition to hydrating your organs and systems, water also helps to keep the nostrils moist. Aim to drink half your body weight in ounces of water each day to optimally hydrate. If you weigh 180 pounds and divide that by two to get 90, aim to drink 90 ounces of water per day. 

Take A Hot Shower Or Bath

A steamy hot shower or bath in the middle of summer may not sound like the most appetizing activity, but it may help relieve nasal dryness. The steam may temporarily relieve a dry or itchy nose. You can even use homemade shower melts to help relieve congestion. Consider adding a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil to your bath to help you breathe better. 

Use A Humidifier

Some people have a humidifier installed in their home, so they can monitor humidity levels at all times. You can also use a portable humidifier to introduce moisture into a room in your home. This is especially beneficial if you tend to experience a dry nose at night. That may help you avoid allergies, illness, or overall stuffiness while you sleep. If you are traveling, humidify the space by hanging wet towels in various places around the room. 

Try Saline Sprays

A nasal saline spray can help keep your nostrils nice and moist. How often you’ll need to use one of these sprays will depend on the person, and the level of nasal dryness. Usually, you use a spray twice a day, or once every four to six hours. If you find that you have to use nasal sprays all the time, consider a gel, which lasts longer. A saline gel is preferable to olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil, or petroleum jelly, which some people try with cotton swabs. You don’t want to inhale those home-based remedies into your lungs, though. 

Experiment With Damp Cloths Or Wipes

Sometimes, all you need is to apply a warm, wet washcloth to your face to help moisten the nasal passageways. You can do this several times a day to provide relief, according to the National Library of Medicine. You can even use a wet wipe or baby wipe to help moisten the inside of your nose. 

Use A Nasal Rinse

You may be familiar with a Neti pot if you have a cold and want to get rid of congestion. This form of nasal irrigation may also help relieve a dry nose. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Neti pots use a saline solution to moisten the nasal passages, which are exposed to dry air. Make sure to read the instructions before you rinse out your nostrils. Neti pot sells its own saline solution, but you can also make your own with distilled water, baking soda, and salt.

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As a child, your parents tell you to clean your room or take care of other household chores. When you graduate to adulthood, the cleaning doesn’t stop. The only difference is that you don’t have someone bribing you with an allowance to clean your space. If you decide to have kids of your own, you will likely find out that they aren’t so neat. The moral of the story: the cleaning cycle never ends. 

We don’t mean to sound like defeatists, but cleaning is a part of life. If you are a maker of messes, you have to know how to clean up properly. If you clean up after your kids, you may want to consider using natural cleaning products, as the harmful chemicals in commercial products may be dangerous to young ones. You can also reduce your own risk of chemical exposure by switching to all-natural cleaning products that you make yourself. 

Why Make Your Own Natural Cleaner?

First of all, it can be very difficult to create or find an all-purpose and all-natural cleaning spray. Maybe you experiment with a concoction of your own, only to find that it really doesn’t do much. The cleaning power of the all-purpose cleaner in this recipe uses essential oils, borax, vinegar, and castile soap to help remove grime, soap scum, and everyday dirt. 

Making your own cleaner takes less than a minute, and you can save money in the process. It is eco-friendly and free of the toxins found in many conventional household cleaning sprays. Plus, you can customize the surface cleaner by adding different essential oils that work for you. 

Borax

You can incorporate borax into an all-purpose cleaning spray and use it on countertops, appliances, and windows. Some people find that it is highly effective at removing tough stains, dust, and food residue. You can often combine borax with water, shake it up, and pour in a spray bottle for use. In the case of this all-purpose cleaner, you combine it with other ingredients for safe and effective cleaning. If you are weary about using borax, you can always omit it from the recipe. 

Essential Oils

First of all, not all essential oils are created equal. There are many essential oils out there, but a lot of them are not pure essential oils. That means that other ingredients are added, so you won’t get the maximum benefits. When making a cleaning product, make sure to add your essential oils last to the spray bottle. Oils and water don’t mix well, so make sure to give your bottle a good shake prior to use. 

Washing Soda

Washing soda is different from baking soda. Baking soda is usually used alongside detergent to help get rid of stains or foul odors. It is usually gentler than washing soda, so it is not as efficacious. Washing soda is like a more amped-up version of baking soda that does a better job of removing stains and brightening colors when doing laundry. If used in excessive amounts and too frequently, though, it can be harsh on certain materials, specifically fabrics. 

Natural All-Purpose Cleaner

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon borax
• 1 teaspoon castile soap
• 1/2 teaspoon washing soda (not baking soda)
• 4 drops lemon essential oil
• 4 drops lavender essential oil
• 10 drops orange essential oil
• 2 cups distilled water

Instructions:

• Place the borax, castile soap, washing soda, and essential oils in an amber glass spray bottle.
• Pour in the distilled water until the glass is nearly full. Make sure to leave room for the sprayer to slide into the bottle. 
• Screw on the lid, shake well, and use as needed. It is great for bathrooms, kitchen, or even on toys.

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Do you panic when you see a spider? Maybe you do and maybe you don’t, but you probably are not a fan of the creepy crawlers. Not all spiders are scary, though. Some actually benefit your home by controlling indoor insects like fruit flies. When you see a black widow, you want it gone and you want it gone as soon as possible. 

When you want pests out of your home, you most likely reach for chemical insecticide sprays. Most household bug sprays contain plant-derived chemicals, known as pyrethrins. Interestingly enough, these chemicals were originally isolated from chrysanthemum flowers and are not harmful, generally. They can, however, cause life-threatening breathing problems if you inhale them. 

When it comes to stronger insecticides (think commercial farm-grade), they contain far more dangerous substances. Some of these chemicals include organophosphates, carbamates, and paradichlorobenzenes (mothballs). 

Spiders Dislike Peppermint Oil

Spiders do not like peppermint oil at all. Because they taste with their legs, peppermint oil is an effective way to keep them out of your home. Another theory is that essential oils contain monoterpenoids, which are fumigants. That may play a role in the insecticide properties. A 2010 thesis found that peppermint oil effectively repelled Argentine ants for up to one week after application. The study concluded that essential oils were viable alternatives to chemical repellents. There aren’t a lot of studies to back up this claim, but there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that supports the fact that peppermint oil can get rid of spiders. 

Dish Soap

Does dish soap make the surface slippery and spiders lose their balance on it when they crawl over it? No, this is 100% fiction and we hope you did not think that was the reason. Dish soap, when mixed with the distilled water and peppermint essential oil, disturbs the egg cycle of spiders. Additionally, spiders dislike strong scents, as is the case with peppermint essential oil. So a lemon- orange-scented dish soap will enhance the intensity of the aroma. This should keep spiders away!

Before you start spraying the DIY anti-spider spray all over your house, make sure to remove food sources. Spiders will not live in a place that has an inadequate amount of food. Wash your fruits and vegetables and clean up any crumbs or food bits on your counters. Wash out your trash bins, clean your stovetop, and run garbage disposals. Make sure you sweep under your tables or counters, where crumbs may hide. Do your due diligence to clean up and that will help keep spiders and other insects away. 

3-Ingredients Spider Spray

Ingredients:

• 2 cups distilled water
• 20 drops peppermint essential oil
• 1 teaspoon dish soap

Instructions:

• Pour the water, peppermint essential oil, and dish soap into a spray bottle, screw on the top, and shake well to combine. 
• Spray around window sills, crevices, and corners where spiders like to hide. You can spray these areas weekly to help repel spiders from your home. 
• If you don’t like the scent of peppermint essential oil, feel free to use eucalyptus, tea tree, or citronella essential oils instead. You can experiment with different mixtures to see which ones are the most effective.
• Because children and pets are sensitive to essential oils, be mindful of this and do your research about which ones to avoid and which ones to use.

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Are you a perfume junkie? Do you enjoy spritzing body sprays and walking through them to bask in their scent? There is nothing wrong with wanting to smell pleasant or amazing. After all, it is better to smell good than to smell like dirty socks. The problem is that all of these perfumes and body sprays contain synthetic fragrances. 

Synthetic fragrances are very common in perfumes or body sprays. Because of the U.S. Fair Packaging and Label Act, manufacturers are not required to list the ingredients in those fragrances. Most of these fragrances do not contain natural products. Pyridine, methyl eugenol, benzophenone, and styrene are a few of the toxic chemicals in perfumes and synthetic fragrances. According to research, these toxins have been known to disrupt endocrine function, cause fertility and reproductive issues, and increase neurological degeneration. 

Those are just some of the chemicals. There is no way of knowing the exact ingredients in store bought perfumes and body sprays. That is why homemade body sprays are much safer and better for your health and the environment. The spray in this article, for example, is toxin-free and filled with beneficial essential oils. Do you want to know the best part? DIY body sprays are very easy to make!

DIY Body Spray Ingredients

Free of synthetic chemicals, the DIY body spray only requires a handful of ingredients. It doesn’t call for a double boiler, long infusion process, or anything of that nature. The only thing we emphasize is that you use amber glass bottles. The reason to use amber glass instead of regular glass is because they prioritize the longevity of essential oils. Amber glass essentially shields the essential oils from harmful ultraviolet (UV) light. Exposure to UV rays can cause essential oils to break down and lose potency over time. 

Distilled Water

Why should you use distilled water in place of tap water for your body spray? The minerals in tap water can clog your spray nozzle and leave residue on the surface. Since water is the base for this body spray, opt for distilled water. 

Essential Oils

These give your homemade body spray its lovely scent. You will need a few different essential oils to get the blend that you want. The recipe calls for 20-30 drops of essential oils. If you want a floral aroma, use 10 drops of bergamot essential oil, 10 drops of geranium essential oil, and five drops of ylang ylang essential oil. Prefer a citrus scent? Use 10 drops each of tangerine, lemon, and grapefruit essential oils. Finally, 10 drops of patchouli essential oil, five drops of frankincense essential oil, and five drops of cedarwood essential oil will give an earthy scent. 

Vegetable Glycerin

Vegetable glycerin aids the combination of essential oils and water. It is an optional ingredient, but it does help the scent last a lot longer. Just keep this in mind when you make the body spray. 

Witch Hazel

Similar to vegetable glycerin, witch hazel helps combine essential oils and water. If you want your scent to linger for a lot longer, this is a necessary ingredient. 

DIY Body Spray

Ingredients:

• 1/2 tablespoon unscented witch hazel
• 1/2 tablespoon vegetable glycerin (optional)
• 10 drops bergamot essential oil
• 10 drops geranium essential oil
• 5 drops ylang ylang essential oil
• Distilled water

Instructions:

• Pour the witch hazel, vegetable glycerin (optional), and the essential oils into the amber glass spray bottle. 
• Fill the rest of the spray bottle with distilled water, attach the nozzle, shake well, and spray when ready.

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The dry heat of summer can take a toll on the skin, especially if you spend the majority of your days outside. Salty beach air and sand or the chlorine in a pool can wreak havoc on the skin. While the good times may have ensued, your skin pays the price, feeling itchy and dry at the end of the day. How do you restore hydration, especially to your face, without using harmful products? 

This homemade cooling mist helps to rejuvenate the face, neck, and chest, giving your skin the hydration it needs to look the best. Should you incorporate it into your daytime routine while you’re outside, it may help to moisturize the skin. Protection is key if you don’t want your skin to dry out. You can also use it as an after-sun spray if you got a little more sun that you wanted to. Just keep a bottle with you at all times and you can treat yourself to a cooling mist whenever you want!

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil has several cosmetic benefits. It may help to stimulate blood flow near hair follicles to produce hair growth and help treat dark spots. Tea tree oil also has a moisturizing effect on the skin, helping to fight the drying effects of the sun. If you experience itching or dryness after a long summer day, tea tree oil may work to reduce irritation and itching. 

Frankincense Essential Oil

Since ancient times, people have used frankincense essential oil for its many health benefits and beautifying properties. Dermatologists agree that frankincense oil tends to be safe for all skin types, especially mature complexions. It is a luxurious oil that may boost the skin’s radiance, especially after using a cleanser and moisturizer. After a long day, applying or misting frankincense oil onto the skin with the rest of the ingredients in this spray may restore your skin’s texture. 

Aloe Vera

Skin experts say that aloe vera has a few primary benefits for soothing the skin. It works to soothe itchiness or irritation, calming inflamed or irritated skin that may result from extended sun exposure. When you are in the sun for a long time, it’s possible for the skin to lose moisture via transepidermal water loss. This happens when the skin gets dehydrated and inflamed. The phytosterols in aloe vera may prevent transepidermal water loss, which is especially important for sunburnt skin. Finally, aloe vera works to hydrate the skin and provide a cooling effect. Plus, the polysaccharides in aloe are known for their hydrating benefits. 

Witch Hazel

Indigenous to North America, witch hazel is a tree-like plant, from which extract is derived either from the bark or leaves. The bark and leaves are distilled to bring out the plant’s active compounds. Witch hazel’s anti-inflammatory and astringent properties provide a tightening effect on the skin. This is great for soothing puffiness, redness, general irritation, and skin tone. It may also sop up excess oil via the antioxidant-rich tannins. This is why witch hazel is a common ingredient in toners. 

Homemade Cooling Summer Face Mist

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup distilled water
• 1 teaspoon coconut oil (or fractionated coconut oil)
• 1 teaspoon witch hazel
• 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
• 4 drops frankincense essential oil
• 2 drops tea tree oil
• 4-ounce glass spray bottle with mist sprayer 

Instructions:

• Pour the distilled water into the glass spray bottle. Use a funnel if you need to, or use a glass measuring cup with a pour spout. 
• Melt the coconut oil and pour it into the bottle. You can also use fractionated coconut oil so that it remains liquified. 
• Add the witch hazel, aloe vera gel, and essential oils to the glass bottle. Screw on the lid and shake well to combine. 
• Use the face mist as needed, but make sure to shake the bottle before each use.

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Have you stopped purchasing scented plug-ins, candles, and air fresheners yet? If you haven’t done so yet, then it’s time to leave them behind. Almost all of those products contain toxic chemicals, some of which are known endocrine system disruptors. The average person isn’t aware of those chemicals because manufacturers don’t have to disclose the ingredients in signature fragrances. If you see “fragrance” on the ingredient list, please understand that there are many harmful chemicals that go into making those blends. 

In case you didn’t know, some artificial fragrances disperse particles of phthalates and formaldehyde into the air. Phthalates are small particles of plastic that bind fragrance molecules together. You can easily breathe them in, whereby they get into your nose and lungs. In addition to those chemicals, the term “artificial fragrance” accounts for more than 3,000 chemicals. The reason that companies don’t have to disclose them is because they are signature, copyrighted blends. So there is no real way of knowing what is in an air freshener, unless you make your own. 

This article provides you with recipes for 10 holiday-themed air freshener sprays. You will need a good collection of essential oils in order to make them. When you purchase these essential oils, make sure to purchase 100% pure essential oils from reputable companies with good reviews. Many of the essential oils in these air freshener sprays contain properties that may help combat toxins in the air, helping to purify the space. Now, let’s get started on those recipes!

The Supplies

You will need various essential oils, dark glass spray bottles (preferably brown amber glass bottles), water, some sea salt or Epsom salt, and distilled water. In order to use these air fresheners, simply spray them into the air. If your essential oils are clear and not colored, you can spray them on linens or upholstery. 

Crisp Morning Air Spray

Start your day with the scent of a crisp winter morning. Notes of citrus grapefruit and orange evoke feelings of sunshine, while the herbaceous basil reminds you of the outdoor autumn and winter air. 

Ingredients:

• 8-ounce spray bottle
• Pinch of Epsom salt
• 15 drops each: basil, orange, and grapefruit essential oils
• Distilled water

Instructions:

• Add the Epsom salt and essential oils to the spray bottle and fill the rest with distilled water. 
• Screw on the top, shake the bottle to combine, and spray when ready. 

Holiday Wreath Special Spray

A beautiful wreath is not only a lovely holiday decoration, but it also gives off an enchanting, woodsy aroma. The aroma is clean and crisp and it helps to deodorize your space, getting rid of any stinky smells. 

Ingredients:

• 8-ounce spray bottle
• Pinch of Epsom salt
• 18 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 12 drops rosemary essential oil
• 12 drops balsam fir essential oil
• Distilled water

Instructions:

• Add the Epsom salt and essential oils to the spray bottle and fill the rest with distilled water. 
• Screw on the top, shake well to combine the ingredients, and spray when ready. 

Spiced Chai Spray

Spiced chai may be popular in your home throughout the year, but it is extra special during the holiday season. The scent is comforting, sweet, and warm, making you want to curl up with a cup of tea on the couch. 

Ingredients:

• 8-ounce spray bottle
• Pinch of Epsom salt
• 25 drops cardamom essential oil
• 8 drops each: clove, cassia, and ginger essential oils

Instructions:

• Add the Epsom salt and essential oils to the spray bottle and fill the rest with distilled water. 
• Screw on the top, shake well to combine the ingredients, and use when ready. 

Sleeping Weather Spray

Cool fall and winter nights are perfect for getting the deepest sleep possible. This air freshener contains essential oils that help calm the mind and promote relaxation and sleep. 

Ingredients:

• 8-ounce spray bottle
• Pinch of Epsom salt
• 6 drops cedarwood essential oil
• 12 drops vetiver essential oil
• 25 drops lavender essential oil

Instructions:

• Add the Epsom salt and essential oils to the spray bottle and fill the rest with distilled water.
• Screw on the top, shake well to combine the ingredients, and spray when ready. It helps to spray this under your pillow before you go to bed. 

Crunchy Leaves Spray

When you see a pile of fallen leaves, the child inside you wants to run through it and stop on them. There is something satisfying about hearing the crunch, which then emits a woody, earthy aroma. The essential oils used to achieve that smell may help you relax and unwind for bed. 

Ingredients:

• 8-ounce spray bottle
• Pinch of Epsom salt
• 10 drops frankincense essential oil
• 5 drops myrrh essential oil
• 20 drops orange essential oil
• 15 drops cedarwood essential oil

Instructions:

• Add the Epsom salt and essential oils to the spray bottle and fill the rest with distilled water. 
• Screw on the top, shake well to combine the ingredients, and spray in your room before bed.

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Over the years, we’ve shared a handful of DIY, non-toxic cleaning products. There are many people who want to reduce the amount of harmful chemicals they spray in their homes. That’s why we continue to post recipes for all-natural cleaning products, just like the homemade grease cleaner in this article. 

Once you discover a few ingredients that can clean various areas of your house, you never want to let them go. The reason for that is because you only need a few items to clean areas of your house. When it comes to grease, though, you need the right ingredients to cut through the grime. That’s where Castile soap comes into play! You can use this oil-based, biodegradable soap in DIY beauty and cleaning products!  For the entire recipe, you’ll need:

• 1.75 cups distilled water
• 2 tablespoons Castile soap
• 20 drops orange essential oil
• Spray bottle

Making The Grease Cleaner

The great thing about this DIY recipe is that you don’t need a double boiler, stand mixer, or any fancy kitchen appliance. A funnel and spray bottle will do the trick! You simply pour the distilled water into the bottle, followed by the Castile soap and essential oil. Both the soap and the essential oil work to clean, disinfect, and degrease the surface you decide to clean. The reason that this recipe calls for distilled water is because it helps to lengthen the shelf life of homemade cleaners. 

Castile Soap For Cleaning

Because Castile soap is oil-based, it is an excellent ingredient for dissolving grease or stubborn dirt. Chemically, like dissolves like, meaning that the best way to degrease your kitchen is by using an oil-based cleaner like Castile soap. If you see light grime, a simple solution of Castile soap and water can do the trick with a wipe down. For stubborn grease, you may need to use a toothbrush and some good old fashioned elbow grease. 

Orange Essential Oil

Not only does orange essential oil leave your kitchen smelling floral and citrusy, but it also works to remove sticky residue. A lot of DIY cleaning enthusiasts prefer orange essential oil for this reason. Orange essential oil also exhibits antiseptic and anti-fungal properties, which makes it an effective cleaner. It helps to get rid of dirt, dust, and even disease causing bacteria like salmonella or E. coli. Like Castile soap, orange essential oil is both an oil and chemical-free. Like dissolves like, people! That is the point of this degreaser, which you can learn how to make below. 

DIY Orange-Scented Grease Cleaner

Ingredients:

• 1.75 cups distilled water
• 2 tablespoons Castile soap
• 20 drops orange essential oil

Instructions:

• Place a funnel in the top of a spray bottle and pour in the distilled water. Next, add the Castile soap.
• Pour in the orange essential oil and then screw on the spray top. Shake well to combine and it is ready to use. 

How To Use:

• Make sure to shake well before each use. There are no chemicals or binders in this recipe, so the ingredients may separate while it sits. 
• Spray the surface you want to clean liberally and then wipe away with sponge or cloth. You won’t believe how well this works!

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Who wants to save money and apply natural ingredients to the face in order to remove eye makeup? Everyone, we assume, because looking your best has a lot to do with what you put on your skin. The skin around the eyes is very sensitive, which is why you want to avoid harsh ingredients. It may not seem like natural ingredients can wipe away eye makeup, but they can and they will. 

In the beginning, you will have to spend more than the average price of eye makeup remover. Unfortunately, the ingredients you need are not free, but they aren’t insanely expensive either. Plus, once you have them, you can make this recipe over and over again, instead of buying new eye makeup remover bottles. Let’s take a look at the three ingredients you will need for this recipe. 

Distilled Water

When it comes to applying water to the skin, especially to the face, you want to use the cleanest water possible. Distilled water is free of toxins that may be present in regular tap water, or even certain bottled waters. If you have sensitive skin, distilled water is a great option to include in any face wash or makeup remover. It works to dissolve the impurities on the skin and may help unclog pores, leaving your skin clean and refreshed. 

Baby Unscented Pure Castile Soap

The reason that you should opt for unscented soap is because most of the oils and other ingredients are safe for use around the eyes, in addition to other sensitive areas. If you know of a natural tear-free baby soap, you can opt to use that in place of this ingredient. When you combine Castile soap with a carrier oil, like the almond oil in this recipe, it has an easier time removing makeup. Always apply the Castile solution to a washcloth or cotton pad and then wipe the makeup away. The great thing about using Castile soap with a carrier oil to remove makeup is that it helps to cleanse your skin, not strip it of its natural oils. 

Almond Oil

The only reason to avoid almond oil is if you have a nut allergy; otherwise, this carrier oil is effective at removing makeup. It is naturally rich in vitamin E and other healthy fats, which is where most of its benefits come from. Beauty experts give almond oil a comedogenic rating of 2, meaning that it will unlikely clog your pores. For the most part, you can use this oil to help safely remove water-resistant makeup. Lastly, almond oil is naturally rich in antioxidants that help protect your skin from oxidative stress, premature aging, and sun damage. 

Homemade Eye Makeup Remover

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup distilled water
• 1 teaspoon baby unscented pure Castile soap
• 1 teaspoon almond oil

Instructions:

• Pour all of the ingredients into a glass bottle and stir to combine. Store in a cool dry place. 
• When ready to use, moisten a cotton round or ball with a small amount of the eye makeup remover. 
• Gently rub over your eyes to remove makeup. 

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Next time you walk down the cleaning product aisle at a hardware or grocery store, carefully inspect the ingredient lists on the various products. Whether you look at a disinfectant, floor cleaner, or bathroom spray, you’ll find that many of the labels contain chemicals that are quite harmful to the human body.

Cleaning product companies tell you that their products are necessary for keeping the home free of bacteria and germs. Sprays, wipes, powders, liquids, and more promise to improve your home and health by removing grime and dirt. Many of these products, including Pine-Sol, exhibit fresh or clean scents that smell similar to lemon or pine. What these companies don’t tell you is that their products can contain toxic chemicals. Well, they may explain this, but in the fine print on the label, which people seldom read thoroughly.

How Do Cleaning Products Affect Your Health?

Popular cleaning product manufacturers include chemicals in their products that may negatively impact your health. For example, it’s possible for these products to cause endocrine disruption, pregnancy complications, allergies, birth defects, and cancer. Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE) published a report that commissioned an independent laboratory to test 20 popular cleaning products. The results indicated that the toxic chemicals they detected were not disclosed on product labels.

The reality is that manufactures do not always have to disclose the ingredients in their fragrance blends in cleaning products. These signature scents are often copyrighted, meaning that disclosing them would allow other people or companies to produce the same sense. The same applies for perfumes and other products where “fragrance blend” is on the label. Many known allergens are often included in these fragrance blends, but also in products marketed as “fragrance-free.” This is to say that harmful chemicals may hide in your cleaning products.

Does DIY Pine Oil Cleaner Work?

Many people love Pine-Sol for its ability to clean the home. Unfortunately, it contains known endocrine disruptors and other toxic chemicals that increase the risk of birth defects and cancer. Switching to the natural alternative in this article is not only more beneficial for your health, but also for the surfaces you clean. The pine cleaner in this article is effective on tile floors and wood furniture. The biggest plus to this cleaner, besides the effectiveness, is that you can clean your home without plaguing it with cancer-causing chemicals. Continue reading to learn how to make the pine cleaner.

DIY Pine Cleaner Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 gallon distilled water
• 1/4 cup unscented Castile soap
• 15-20 drops pine essential oil
• 5-10 drops lemon essential oil

Instructions:

• In a large glass container, mix the water with the Castile soap. The water may turn cloudy, but this is completely normal.
• Add the essential oils into the container, screw on the lid, and swish it around to thoroughly combine the ingredients. It is ready to use.

How To Use:

• Apply the solution with a sponge or cleaning rag to the area you want to clean.
• Rinse the area and dry with a cloth or towel. The solution stores best in a glass container.

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Nobody wants ants in their home, but everyone deals with them at some point. The summer heat is essentially a giant invitation for ants to come inside the home. That doesn’t mean your home is filthy; rather, it just proves that ants have a willpower to survive. Typically, people use chemical ant treatments to get rid of these pests, but spraying them increases the presence of harmful pesticides and chemicals in the home. Fortunately, there is another way to get rid of ants. 

Before you reach for the natural alternative to chemical sprays and traps, you have to make the home unappealing to ants. Check kitchen cabinets and pantry shelves for crumbs or open food sources and seal them up if they aren’t infested. Keep the sink and food preparation areas clean and free of food scraps or waste. Check the baseboards, windows, and doors and seal them up with the appropriate caulk. Lastly, wash the insides of garbage bins or recycling containers and keep pet bowls free of food. 

Essential Oils Repel Ants

Believe it or not, essential oils help repel ants because they have powerful aromas. The strong fragrances are pungent and ants don’t like them because they interfere with pheromones that ants use for coordination. Essential oils basically mask pheromone trails, and that deters ants from entering the home. You cannot just use any essential oil, though. There are specific essential oils that are more effective than others. Some of the most effective ones are detailed below. 

Peppermint Essential Oil

Peppermint essential oil is high in menthol, which is beneficial for sore throats, headaches, and clogged nasal passageways. It is also an effective ant eliminator because they dislike the minty aroma. Some studies found that it also repels lice, mosquitos, fleas, moths, and spiders. 

Citronella Essential Oil

Mosquitos, spiders, and ants all hate citronella. The aroma confuses their navigation, making it impossible for ants to coordinate. Laboratory tests found that citronella essential oil effectively killed 50% of the ants within 30 minutes after they encountered it. Furthermore, it killed 100% of the ants after 24 hours. 

Clove Essential Oil

You have to be careful when using clove essential oil because too much can harm human senses. This is why you must properly dilute it before using it in the home. Similar to peppermint essential oil, clove essential oil interferes with pheromone trails that ants use to coordinate their movements. Several studies found that it is also effective at killing ants when sprayed on them.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Eucalyptus essential oil is very similar to citronella, which is effective against mosquitos and ants. According to anecdotal reports, it also works to repel ants. It’s also included in various insect-repelling candles, which confirms its efficacy against ants. Apply this to an area that ants have infested and they’ll be out of there or dead within a day. 

Tea Tree Oil

Last, but certainly not least, is tea tree oil. Not only can tea tree oil eliminate the scent of ant trails and put a halt to infestations, but the oil can also kill ants when they encounter it. The combination of tea tree oil with peppermint essential oil suppresses scents and kills ants within 24 hours. 

DIY Ant-Killing Spray

Ingredients:

• 6 drops each citronella, clove, eucalyptus, tea tree, and peppermint essential oils
• Distilled water
• 8-ounce spray bottle

Instructions:

• Remove the nozzle from the spray bottle and add six drops of each essential oil to it. 
• Fill the rest of the bottle with distilled water, screw on the top, and shake to combine.
• Make sure that you shake the bottle before each use. You can spray this near windows, doors, or any place that you see ants. 
• Spray as often as necessary. 

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