I’ve decided to give up the Mr. Clean and Pine Sol for good. I ran out of the last bit of remaining cleansers and have gone organic and green to keep my home clean. Did you know there are amazing recipes for cleaning your home that cost just a few pennies? It’s good for your home, pets and the environment. For instance, I recently completed a course for an introduction to aromatherapy and we actually covered an amazing amount of material including the even more amazing uses of essential oils for cleaning and disinfecting purposes. So I put the toxic prepackaged cleaning ingredients away and have embraced the organic method. It truly is amazing what a little water and Tea Tree Oil can accomplish.
Latin name, Melaleuca alternifolia, common name, Tea Tree Oil, is quite effective as a household disinfectant. It takes as little as 1/2 t of oil to wash a full load of clothes. Can also be used for diapers-for of you out there with those precious little ones. Tea Tree Oil has long been used as a flavoring and antiseptic agent for mouthwashes and last, if you are ever in a bind, it can even be used to purify drinking water. I used less than 1/4 t added to regular tap water to clean my whole home and it smelled wonderful! Plus I realized I was really doing something good for the environment by not contributing to more toxic chemicals in the water supply. Good quality essential oils are packaged in amber colored bottles to protect them from light and can be recyled as well when empty.
Tea Tree Oil is harvested from the Medicinal tea tree or Australian tea tree. There are many other varieties including the Manuka and New Zealand Tea Tree. These have different botanical names and actually smell quite different. Most of the Melaleuca Oil is still harvested in New South Wells, Australia. Makes me want to definitely plan a trip “down under” so I can stock up on my cleaning supplies.
The medicinal properties of Tea Tree Oil was actually discovered in the 1920’s and research continued for 20 more years. A little more history – the tree was supposedly name by none other than Joseph Banks, the famous botanists that sailed with “The” Captain Cook.
There are 3 major constituents of Australian Tea Tree oil and they are:
- Terpinen - which has antibacterial, antifungal, vasocontrictive, tonic and stimulating properties
- Gamma – terpinene and alpha-terpinene and they both are anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antiviral and bactericidal
- Cineole – which provides an expectorant action. It can help reduce the swelling of mucous membranes, loosen mucas and even help with breathing. You have to be careful though, because too much of a good thing can be bad. Excessive use of cineole can actually contribute to liver damage. Also, Cineole is toxic to insects – but that is actually good news! Next time you are reading an insect repellant label, check to see if it contains Cineole.
So here’s a free tip in these interesting economic times – you can still have a clean home and save big bucks on disinfectants that are probably not good for you and your loved ones anyway. Save your cash and buy yourself a small bottle of Tea Tree Essential Oil (I paid about $4.50 for 5 ml of oil) and you’ll have enough cleaning supplies to last for months!
Keep your Tea Tree Oil away from direct sunlight and the bottle tightly closed to prevent evaporation and loss of your oil. Also, keep your oils out of the reach of children and pets. Never use Tea Tree Oil direct on skin or on animals as inappropriate high doses can cause fatal complications.
Going organic and green is fun and you’ll be amazed at how much better you feel. Enjoy!
Sincerely,
Pam Tirado, President, Product Developer, Luminoso Studios ILLUSTRE ESSENZA
