According to the Good Housekeeping Institute you should wash your sheets at least once every two weeks, or once a week if you're a sweater. While the mattress doesn't need to be cleaned as frequently, you should give it a good once over about every six weeks. Pillows are another story. Consumer Reports' experts say they should fluff your pillows every day and wash them two to four times a year.
As we continue the Healthy Home Series, we’ve been going room by room giving some natural solution recipes to help you ditch the toxic and chemical filled products that you may be using and show you how easy it is to do it yourself, even if you’re not a huge fan of DIYs. Let’s utilize the power of natural and nature! This week we're moving into one of the most coveted and precious rooms in the house, the bedroom:
MATTRESS CLEANER
• 1 cup baking soda
• 5 drops Tea Tree (Melaleuca)
• 5 drops Citrus Bliss (or citrus oil of choice)
DIRECTIONS:
Mix baking soda and oils together and sprinkle onto bare mattress. Leave for 2 hours before vacuuming it up. *Yields 1 mattress.
Tip: Studies have shown that pure Tea Tree oil immobilized 100% of dust mites after 30 min and kills them after 2 hrs.
Another quick DIY to clean spots out of the mattress: add some cheap vodka to a spay bottle (1oz, you don't want to waste it, tee-hee!), add some Lemon essential oil, about 5 drops and spray lightly on desired areas and leave to air dry. If the stain is stubborn you may have to spritz again.
PILLOW & SHEET SPRAY (sweet dreams)
• Water
• 10 drops Lavender oil
• 10 drops Vetiver oil
• 10 drops Cedarwood oil
DIRECTIONS:
Add oils to a 4oz glass spray bottle and top with water. Spray pillows and sheets when you're getting ready for bed. *Shake well before each use.
CARPET CLEANER
• 2 cups Baking Soda
•10 drops Purify Cleansing Blend (or essential oil of choice)
DIRECTIONS:
Mix baking soda and Purify oil blend together. If you have time, cover and let sit overnight. Sprinkle mixture over carpet and let sit 1-2 hours. Vacuum. Store remaining mixture in an airtight container for future use.
Here's a pro tip try on removing carpet stains using natural solutions: mix 3 parts water with one part vinegar, then add 5 drops of Lemon essential oil. Shake well and spray over the stain. Next, place a damp rag over the stain and hold a hot iron on the rag for 30 seconds or less.
CLOSET REFRESHER
• 1/2 cup Baking Soda
• 5 drops Essential Oil(s) of choice
DIRECTIONS:
Mix baking soda and oil(s) together in a small mason jar. Punch holes in the lid and place in closet. Gently shake container when you want more aroma to fill the space and/or more essential oil as needed.
SHOE DEODORIZER
• 1/2 cup Rubbing Alcohol
• 20 drops each of Tea Tree (Melaleuca), Cypress and Lemon oil
DIRECTIONS:
Add rubbing alcohol and essential oils to a glass spray bottle. Close the bottle and shake to to combine. Spray desired target. If applying to shoes, remove soles and spray. Let dry before replacing soles.
Since we don't have the magic of Mary Poppins, I will leave you with some professional tips on deep cleaning the bedroom:
1) Always start with stripping your linens off the bed and getting those started in the laundry. If it's time, sprinkle your mattress cleaner and let sit.
2) Use a new cotton mop (or fresh reusable mop) to dust the walls.
3) Dust all furniture surfaces and lamps.
4) Vacuum floor, vents, corners of the room (high and low), and ceiling fan blades.
5) On your way out the door sprinkle carpet cleaner and let sit for an hour.
6) After an hour (will be close to 2 hours from cleaning the mattress) vacuum the floor, then mattress.
xoDanette