Lifestyle & Wellness
You likely choose organic products to keep your skin healthy — so why not use an organic, homemade all-purpose cleaner for your home too? While we often think about outdoor pollution, the air inside our homes can be polluted as well. Many common cleaning products release chemicals that harm indoor air quality — an important concern if you have pets. Read on to learn why Eminence Organic Skin Care suggests a safe, zero-waste homemade all-purpose cleaner.
Reduce Indoor Pollutants
One big benefit of non-toxic cleaners is they don’t add to indoor pollution. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a major indoor pollutant and are often found in store-bought cleaning products. VOCs are chemicals that easily become vapors or gases and can include elements like hydrogen, oxygen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, sulfur, or nitrogen. Indoor VOC levels can be much higher than outdoor levels — and exposure may cause short- and long-term problems such as eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, and even liver or kidney damage.
Indoor pollutants also affect your skin. Eminence Organics Lead Skin Care Trainer Natalie Pergar explains that pollution contains tiny particles called particulate matter that come from car exhaust, factory emissions and some household chemicals. These particles can trigger inflammation in the skin. That inflammation contributes to aging, uneven skin tone, dehydration, redness, sensitivity and other skin issues.
Pet Owners: Avoid These Essential Oils
Many DIY cleaner recipes add essential oils for scent and extra cleaning power. Common choices include lemon, lavender, orange and tea tree oil. While useful for people, these oils can be unsafe for pets.
Because dogs and cats have a much stronger sense of smell, essential oils can be irritating to them. Some oils can also harm their skin, organs or overall health. Always check with your veterinarian before using essential oils at home. Below are oils you should avoid in homemade cleaners if you have pets.
Essential Oils Harmful for Dogs
Do not use these oils in DIY cleaners if you have a dog (unless a vet specifically approves their use):
– Tea tree
– Cinnamon
– Citrus
– Pine
– Wintergreen
– Pennyroyal
Essential Oils Harmful for Cats
Cats are even more sensitive because they lack a liver enzyme needed to safely process certain toxins, including many essential oils. If you have a cat, it’s safest to avoid essential oils altogether — but especially avoid:
– Tea tree
– Cinnamon
– Citrus
– Lemon
– Eucalyptus
– Lavender
– Peppermint
– Spruce
All-Purpose Cleaner Recipe
With the basics covered — why indoor pollutants matter and which oils to skip — here’s a simple, pet-safe all-purpose cleaner you can make at home.
Ingredients
– 1/4 cup white vinegar
– 2 cups water
– 16 oz upcycled spray bottle
– Funnel
Directions
1. Make sure the spray bottle is clean and free of any residue.
2. Use the funnel to pour the vinegar and water into the bottle.
3. Screw on the spray top and shake gently to mix.
A mix of vinegar and water is a great, gentle cleaner for many surfaces: glass, floors and even toilet bowls. It’s non-toxic for dogs and cats. If you don’t have pets, you can add a few drops of citrus essential oil for a fresh scent. One thing to avoid using this vinegar solution for: treating skin concerns. Homemade skin-care remedies can do more harm than good and are best avoided.
Commitment to Health
Eminence Organics looks for organic, earth-friendly solutions across the business — even in the cleaners used at their facilities. As an Eminence biochemist, Viola, notes, organic certifying bodies regularly inspect their manufacturing process, raw material sources and documentation. The sanitation products used in the buildings must be approved to avoid chemical contamination.
We hope this post encourages you to clean more naturally. If you have your own homemade all-purpose cleaner recipe, share it in the comments below.