5 reasons a plant based cleaner is better.

There is a common misconception that cleaners need to be rather harsh to be able to actually get things clean and disinfected. I imagine we have learnt this from our upbringing, what we see on TV and essentially what's for sale in the local shops.

Here are a few reasons to pause before you make your next purchase of whatever plethora of cleaners you are already buying.

1. Air quality: When we breathe, we inhale the air—as well as whatever is in the air. Did you know that indoor air is 5–7 times more polluted than outdoor air? Most shelf cleaning products contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which have been associated with many health problems, including damage to the liver, kidneys, and the central nervous system. They have also been shown to harm our lungs and cause throat irritations and headaches. VOC's are released when products are used and can linger in the air long after we clean.

2. Safety: Have you read the label on the back of a commercial cleaner? Warning! Flammable! Do not ingest! Keep out of reach of children! Or the worst - POISON! We have been trained to think we NEED harsh chemicals to get things 'properly clean'. Many chemicals used in common household cleaners have not been tested for safety. Household cleaning supplies are one of the top five substance classes accounting for calls to the National Poison Control Center. Many commercial cleaners contain ingredients that are endocrine disrupting chemicals, carcinogens, or neurotoxins. Kids, babies, and pets are even more vulnerable to chemical exposure because they are smaller and cannot get rid of toxins as easily as adults. It is definitely worth ditching harsh chemicals for a cleaner with plant- and mineral-based ingredients. It is the simplest and easiest low tox switch you will make by far.

3. Impact on the planet: Harsh chemicals found in cleaners are not only harmful to our bodies, but they also have a major impact on the environment and are huge contributors to environmental pollution. Some conventional cleaning products contain ingredients that are toxic, non-biodegradable, and from non-renewable resources like petroleum, so they harm the Earth's ecosystems. Some ingredients have even been linked to the killing of reproductive cells within wildlife. Harsh chemicals may contaminate the water through rivers, streams, lakes, which then affect the wildlife living within those ecosystems. Then who follows on after that? Us! We eat the plants, the animals and drink the water - its a cycle that needs to end - starting with what is used in the plain and simple home cleaner.

4. Convenience: It's much easier to clean with a few products that take care of all your cleaning needs, rather than a having whole arsenal of toxic products under your sink and in your bathrooms. With Thieves® Household Cleaner, you can tackle multiple cleaning jobs in your home without switching products as you clean! It cleans countertops, windows, mirrors, floors, toilets, showers, and pretty much everything else. Plus, you don't have to worry about getting bleach stains on your clothes or accidentally mixing dangerous chemicals together. It’s worth a try for the convenience alone.

5. Cost: The cost of buying cleaners is expensive, especially if you have to buy multiple different cleaners. Thieves Household Cleaner is very cost effective, and it comes in a concentrated form. There are approximately 60 capfuls of the cleaner in a 14.4-ounce bottle. Using the medium degreasing ratio, you can get about 29 16-ounce cleaners. That’s less than $1 a bottle!

If you are given an option to make your life simpler, help do your part for the environment which we all need to accept, help keep your expenses down then why wouldn't you try it?! Be empowered, be the gatekeeper of your home and stop allowing harmful ingredients to sneak into your families health and wellbeing. Know better, do better!