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11. Using Low Quality Essential Oils
Essential oils are great for cleaning and some, such as rosemary, thyme, and lavender, not only smell heavenly, but they are powerful disinfectants. However, this is a case of you get what you pay for. Some venders try to cut corners by using toxic solvents to extract oils, or dilute the oil with a cheaper base oil. Always look for 100 percent organic essential oils that were produced through steam distillation. You will pay a couple bucks more, but it is so worth it!
12. Believing Natural Products Can’t Hurt You
Just because it’s natural does not mean it can’t cause bodily harm. Even arsenic is natural but you won’t see anyone saying that it’s harmless! Natural or nontoxic compounds can burn the eyes, damage skin, and irritate lungs and nasal passages. Wear gloves and be sure the room is well-ventilated.
13. Using Chlorine Bleach
Many people think that it isn’t clean unless it smells like bleach. Although bleach might mean super clean as it does kill germs, but it also kills just about anything else it touches. It can burn your skin, your mucus membranes, and your plants! Bleach can form dangerous gasses when mixed with certain other substances. Just don’t use it, to be safe. Vinegar will kill just as many germs without harming anyone.
14. Not Cleaning Your Humidifier
If you forget to clean your humidifier, or if you don’t clean it regularly, you are asking for mold, viruses, and bacteria to get spewed out all over your home. Yuck! Change the water every single day and scrub out the holding tank at least twice a week.
SEE ALSO: 5 Fantastic Non-Toxic Cleaners that Should be in Your Home
15. Failure to Store Products Properly
Do you tend to store your homemade cleaning products in that plastic spray bottle? Don’t! Essential oils actually break down plastic over time. Put your cleaners in glass jars or bottles (especially dark colored ones if you can find them) and then put only what you are going to use that day in the plastic spray bottle. Keep everything in a cool, dark place where children can’t get to them. Read about storage ideas without toxic plastic.
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