Chemical free cleaning; make your own with The Happy Soul aromatherapy cleaning set!

I really have a testimonial:

Today I decided to use up my Comet liquid cleanser before I made a batch of Happy Soul cleanser. Well, that was a mistake. As I was cleaning out the downstairs shower with the Comet, I began coughing, just like my mother coughed in the past. She was such a "clean freak", so was always cleaning with Clorox and Comet. Well, today I found out why her nose was always running and she coughed so much. It was from having a spotless house and using very harmful products. And today I sounded just like her. So, into the trash went the Comet. I will NEVER buy spray cleaners like that again. I got immediately out of that bathroom, and went upstairs to whip up some more Happy Soul cleanser. What a difference when I used it on the upstairs bathroom...no coughing, runny nose, no asthma like symptoms. No allergic reaction to it. I know this sounds like a commercial, but it isn't. It is the truth! I only wish my mother was here to learn how to make her own non-allergic cleanser. Maybe her lungs would not have been ruined, and she wouldn't have had so much trouble with asthma throughout her life.

Donna Novak, Ohio

Pet Odors

Dear Jen,

I foster animals (mostly dogs) for a no kill shelter and unfortunately get quite a few urine accidents in my carpet. Is there any effective treatment to get rid of this odor. I usually treat the accidents shortly after they have occurred, but cannot seem to get rid of the odor even after drying. Have tried just about everything on the market and even a vinegar, lavender and peppermint mix but does not seem to eliminate the odor. I have a portable carpet shampoer that I can possibly put some essential oils in so wondering if that might be a possible help. Thanks for you help. Selina.

Pet Odors

Hi!
Yes, lemongrass! It is a natural deodorizer. It's wonderful! You could use it in baking soda and sprinkle on dry carpet and vacuum, or you could dilute it in warm water when you are cleaning. A little bit seems to go a long way.
I also put about 25 drops in a 4 oz. spray bottle w/ distilled water and that is my "febreeze". It works on sofa, car, dog bed, etc.....Jen Knoth

Shingles

Hi Carla!
So sorry to hear about this; how awful. Here are some recommendations that will ease the pain and help the itching. I have heard that the trunk and the face are the regions most affected by shingles. The analgesic and anti-viral properties in certain essential oils are helpful for easing pain, soothing the irritation, combating the virus and drying out the blisters. The oils that we carry that will aid in this, are Tea Tree, Bergamot, and Lavender.
Please be sure to dilute the oils in a carrier oil, such as grapeseed, which is the one we recommend since it has antioxidants and will heal the skin. I would use the following in 4 oz. grapeseed. 20 drops Lavender, 10 drops Tea Tree, 10 drops Bergamot, .
Once the blisters are gone and you still have pain, I would recommend using Lavender with Chamomile. A dilution of 25 drops Lavender to 15 drops Chamomile in 4 oz. grapeseed.
Both of these make nice body oils too; very moisturizing and healing. A bonus, is that Bergamot is an antidepressant too! Always nice to be uplifted!
I hope you feel better soon.
Please note that we have a free shipping special on our website right now. www.thehappysoul.com
Thanks! Jen Knoth

Shingles

I was recently diagnosed with Shingles (Herpes Zoster), due to stress and a compromised immune system (extended treatment of steroids for an injury). It broke out on my face only – nose area and around the mouth (it even followed the laugh lines, so I feel like I look like Batman’s Joker!). It has a great deal of pain, itching and burning (I sometimes feel like someone put acid on my face).

Do you have any suggestions? I would prefer not to take the painkillers they prescribed, if I can find a good alternative.

Thank you –

Carla in South Carolina

Poison Ivy

Dear AromaGoddess,

While cleaning up my yard this week after a big wind storm, I managed to get poison ivy ALL OVER my face and hands. Do you have a recommendation for something to help the itch and dry this stuff up? ~ Itchy in Ohio

Dear Itchy,

Try a drop of Chamomile and a couple of drops of Tea Tree essential oils in a teaspoon of Grapeseed oil. Just put a couple of pumps of the grapeseed oil in the palm of your hand and mix it right there in your hands. The chamomile will help with inflamation and itch and the tea tree is very healing for all kinds of skin conditions, but should really help to dry the blisters. This is a great overall moisturizer, too, so if you have some left over, just rub it into your arms or legs. Good luck and let me know how it goes! ~ AromaGoddess, Jen

Disinfect your entire home

Disinfect everything with essential oils! We know that essential oils have wonderful properties such as antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal, just to name a few. So when you decide to use chemicals in your home, like room spray, or upholtstry freshener, or anti-"germ" sprays, ok, yes, Im referring to Lysol, Febreze, etc...why not use essential oils instead? Get the chemicals and toxins out of your home!! Use something pure that actually smells great, naturally!Here is a neat recipe for a disinfecting spray that I got from my dental hygienist. Oh, and be sure to try it on your cutting boards to disinfect. No need to rinse.

In a large spray bottle, gently swirl to mix:

8 drops Lavender essential oil

4 drops Bergamotessential oil

4 drops Clove essential oil

2 drops Peppermint essential oil

1/2 c. vodka (you can use the cheap grocery store stuff for this, don't dip into your Grey Goose!)

1/2c. distilled water

Stinky Things

OK, so my cat's litter box is in the first floor laundry room, right off the main hallway in my house. We do a good bit of scooping, but sometimes the litter box and the trashcan in that room take on an aroma that you could hardly call "therapy". I've discovered that the best "pleasant" aroma for eliminating the cat box smell is lemongrass essential oil. I drop about 20 drops of lemongrass EO in a 16 oz spray bottle with distilled water and a 1/4 C distilled white vinegar. Every time I change the litter box or take out the trash I spray them down with this concoction and it completely eliminates the odor! I use it in all of my trash cans when I empty them as a matter of fact.

A drop or 2 of straight lemongrass EO in the potty before (or after) "going" will completely eliminate people odors too!! ...just might save your marriage ;)

Problems with limp hair? Add vivaciousness to any hair type!

I was recently asked how to use essential oils to deal with the issue of limp hair duldrums. Much to my surprise, a friend just called and gave me a really cool recipe that helps to eliminate the residue and chemicals that build up in our hair from products. It's easy too! You use this as a rinse after you have washed and conditioned your hair. (preferrably with Happy Soul Pure Bath Shampoo and Conditioner!) Take 1 c. warm water, 3 T. cider vinegar and 4 drops of Lavender essential oil. Pour it over your hair and comb through. You will notice instant shine and bounciness to that limp hair just by getting rid of the build-up. Try it! Let us know your results.

Fruit Fly Dilema?

With all the fresh fruit in abundance right now, those pesky fruit flies are bugging us! Take action and arm yourself with an all natural room spray that deters those little, annoying bugs. Add 30 drops of lemongrass essenital oil to 4 oz. distilled water; shake gently and spray. This also makes a great trash can deodorizer!

Dishwashing Soap

So many people have asked me how to make soap to clean their dishes. I have finally come across the best unscented, biodegradable liquid soap, called Planet. You can find it at Kroger for about $3, and Im sure other grocery stores carry it as well. It is in a white bottle with a picture of the earth on the front. Anyways, I add lavender essential oil , about 20 drops and mix well. Now I have an antibacterial soap that is good for me and good for the planet. It smells great too! You can also add about 5 drops of sweet orange essential oil for better grease cutting properties. My kitchen always smells fresh and clean!

Monster Repellent

Well, so far this blog has been all about repellent. First bugs, then bunnies, now monsters! This also is in the form of a spray. A new consultant from Columbus let me know that she has been mixing lavender essential oil in a spray bottle with distilled water for about a year now. She started by heavily spraying the closet area and under the bed and of course all over the pillowcase of her young daughter's room. Now she effectively repels all monsters with a single spray above her son's and daughter's heads. They hide under the covers while Mom administers the spray. Then they can fall asleep safe and sound in the knowlege that no monsters will be visiting! Kat reported that her shampoo is scented with lavender and any time her kids smell anything with lavender they say it smells like monster spray. Isn't that cute?!?!

Bunnies Stay Out!

Someone asked me just the other day... how can I keep bunnies out of my garden?

Well, I've never personally tried this, but peppermint essential oil can repel all kinds of critters, including ants and other insects as well as small rodents such as mice. Try mixing 40 drops of peppermint essential oil in a small spray bottle with distilled water and spray on your garden plants. This works great on indoor houseplant pests. If it doesn't seem strong enough to ward off bunnies, you may want to drip peppermint essential oil directly into the soil at the edge of the garden. Let me know if this works!

AromaGoddess

Safe Natural Bug Repellent

Dear AromaGoddess,
Is there any aromatherapy solution you could recommend for insect repellent? I hate using all those dangerous, smelly chemicals on my kids when they play outside.
Denice in Springfield

Dear Denice,
You are so right! Deet and other chemicals found in commercial insect repellents can be so harmful and toxic. Here is a recipe for a spray that works great!

Bug Repellent
4 oz spray bottle filled half with distilled water, half vodka (any cheap grocery store vodka will do, or you can make this with just distilled water)
13 drops Eucalyptus essential oil
12 drops Geranium essential oil
6 Lemongrass essential oil
5 Thyme essential oil (Lavender can be used in place of Thyme. Both are powerful against mosquitos.)

AromaGoddess