March is a time when I start thinking about cleaning. Spring is in the air ! It's time to clean out the garden beds and wipe out all of the winter grime from the house.

You can have the healthiest diet, the best exercise regimen, and stellar methods for minimizing stress, but if you aren’t addressing the white elephant in the room—toxins—you are likely sabotaging your best efforts.

Try these shocking statistics on for size: Did you know that household cleaners account for 10% of all toxic exposures reported to US Poison Control Centers? Or that a study published in Environmental Science & Technology found 66 endocrine disrupting compounds in regular old household dust?

The good news is that by making a few tweaks to your regular cleaning routine, you can make a clean sweep in your home that will greatly impact you and your family’s health as well as deliver great savings! Here are a few “recipes” to get you started:
__________
Ultra-Pure Household Disinfectant
1 cup filtered water
¾ cup
2 teaspoons rubbing alcohol
8-10 drops essential oils of choice (thyme, tea tree, lavender, oregano, clove, rosemary)
Mix well and add to an unused spray bottle and label clearly.
__________
Gentle Oven Cleaner
2 ounces vinegar
½ teaspoon cinnamon essential oil (or citrus essential oil, such as orange or lemon)
¼ cup baking soda
Mix all ingredients into a paste. Use a scrub pad to clean the oven. Note that this recipe will foam, so mix it in a large container to allow for bubbling expansion. Use gloves to protect your hands (the oils of cinnamon, orange, and lemon not only make your kitchen smell great; they are very caustic). This does not store well, so use promptly.
__________
Non-Alcohol Window Cleaner
4 ounces white vinegar
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon liquid Castile soap (like Dr. Bronner’s)
3 cups water
Mix all ingredients together. Pour into an unused spray bottle and label clearly.
__________
To combat dust in your home, be sure to follow these best practices:

-Remove shoes upon entering. Any number of toxins can be tracked in on your soles, so it’s best to leave them at the door.
- Get rid of your feather duster; all it does is move toxins around! Instead wet dust or use a microfiber cloth, which traps dust and ensures its ultimate removal from your home.

Happy Spring and Happy Cleaning!

Special Offer: Free Initial Consultation with Maggie Brutnell, Health Coach
This free 50-minute session includes a full discussion of your Health History, personalized goal-setting to help you take charge of your health, a chance to get your questions answered about how we can best work together, and the opportunity to find out more about my personalized program completely catered toward your busy lifestyle and needs.

A Healthy Look Within