He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herbs for the service of man: that He may bring forth food out of the earth … Psalm 104:14

Hello friends! The following information was taken from a book entitled “The Naturally Clean Home” by Karyn Siegel-Maier and can be ordered online or found in most bookstores. It is relatively inexpensive and is a wealth of information featuring ingredients used for natural cleaning and recipes on how to put the herbs together. Having been a vendor at the Halifax Farmers Market helped me to realize the importance of putting information into the public’s reach concerning how to use herbs to clean and sanitize the home. This book also has resources on where to find quality essential oils for purchasing.

Nearly everyone has heard about the virtues of common items, such as baking soda and vinegar for cleaning jobs like scouring and absorbing grease. The addition of herbal materials especially essential oils to the formula serves to enhance its cleaning value with the added benefit of leaving behind a soothing, natural scent. In effect, the principles of sanitary hygiene and aromatherapy become partners.

It’s not by advertising gimmick that many commercial products contain citrus oils such as lemon or lime; they are natural de-greasers and have antimicrobial properties. In fact, citrus oils are the workhorses of the kitchen and bathroom. Many other herbs possess antibacterial and anti-fungal qualities as well.

The Benefits of Natural Cleaning

Making herbal cleaning products is not a time-consuming or expensive endeavor. In fact, quite the opposite is true. It only takes a minute or two to fill a spray bottle with vinegar and water and add a few drops of essential oil. Bingo — instant glass and appliance cleaner! There’s one less aisle to visit in the supermarket.

The majority of commercial cleaners are quite expensive. A typical spray or foam cleanser for the bathroom, for instance, can deprive you of $4 or more. An herbal alternative, on the other hand, will cost mere pennies to make. You can buy pure essential oils for an average of $3 per half fluid ounce (this depends on the supplier). Since you would only be using between five and 30 drops of the oil (depending on the particular formula), that half-ounce bottle goes a very long way indeed. Other all-natural ingredients, such as vinegar, baking soda, water and castile soap are also inexpensive.

You will also marvel at the amount of uncluttered space that becomes available in the area where you normally store cleaning supplies. Many of the herbal formulas you will be making will be multipurpose, so the number of cleaning products you store will be greatly reduced — an immense help to those of us with only a little bit of space under the sink or in a closet.

Many herbs have antibiotic, antiviral, antiseptic and anti-fungal properties. So, why use toxic cleaners?

Until next time!

Alice Russell, also known as “Me Me,” resides in the Randolph/Saxe area. She can be reached at letstalkherbs@gmail.com.