NOW THE GOOD NEWS! WHY VINEGAR & OTHER NEEDFUL THINGS PART 3--WRAPPING IT UP!
SHORT AND SWEET!
RECAP--ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE:
1) Whatever is used to clean and deodorize the home environment, you inhale, eat, and have molecules attach to your skin which can enter your bloodstream and organs.
2) Data shows that overuse and higher concentrations of regular disinfectants and pharmaceuticals stimulate bacteria and viruses to mutate into resistant “super-bacteria” and ‘super-viruses.” This does not occur with the labratory, tested complete essential oils.
3) Many non-natural cleaning disinfectants contain “Endocrine Disruptors” and “Hormone Imitators” that send false signals to the body which may lead to mental/physical developmental, emotional, and reproductive, dysfunction in children and adults
4) Studies show Vinegar combined with Essential Oils, unlike non-natural based cleaning products, performs as an effective antibacterial and antiviral cleaner AND is not carcinogenic...
let’s look at the Positives. If you want more, the work of wading through extraneous information has been done. The reference links which will be on www.needfulthingsaromatherapy are efficient.
HOW IS CLEANING WITH ESSENTIAL OIL UPGRADED VINEGAR MORE BENEFICIAL THAN NON-NATURAL CHEMICAL PRODUCTS?
Remember PART II’S statement:
‘These isolated compounds are reproduced then combined with highly concentrated petro-chemical surfactants… to boost the…(ISIBLE cleaning…’
Chemical product’s surfactants break through grease and scum on contact because they are concentrated “gens” and “hydes” (see Part I). They remove what you see but do not generally kill micro-organisms you cannot see on contact. People who have a Food Handlers license can tell you that WET CONTACT TIME is what kills bacteria when using these products. Bleach, "pine cleaners" and alcohol based disinfectants must sit wet on the surface for up to 30 minutes to kill bacteria and viruses. For example, if you use disinfecting wipes to clean your countertops you could go through a lot of them to actually do more than move bacteria around. You must keep the surface wet, changing used wipes out for fresh wipes over the course of 10-20 minutes depending on the brand. Note—the longer wipes are exposed to air, their bactericidal affect is weakened. Also, refer to ‘Super-Virus Recap #2’—more solution in stronger concentrations, is not better!
Now: Why vinegar? Specifically, why essential oil, citrus fortified aka Cleopatra’s Mystery All-purpose Cleaning Vinegar, for daily cleaning instead of commercial bleach or non-natural disinfectants?
Envision a line of dominos to picture the antimicrobial efficacy of Essential Oils and Vinegar. Once they make contact, a process begins that is not reversed nor counteracted by bacteria and viruses. The outer protective layer is destroyed (gram-positive) or penetrated (gram-negative) and the essential oil constituents attach to and work to kill from inside the bacterial cell including the DNA structure. There is an excellent diagram below from Pharmaceuticals 2013, 6, 1451-1474; doi:10.3390/ph6121451 which shows the process that I cannot resist sharing. It is fascinating! It demonstrates what still remains a mystery to scientists today. Essential oils only work consistently when used in their complete plant essence form. Studies have yet to crack the code for why the isolated plant essences synthetically produced or seperated and extracted from essential oils, then added to petro-chemical based disinfectants are not equally effective. In fact, studies have shown that in this form, the isolated plant compound becomes a potential severe, allergic reaction causing agent.
Therefore, what is essential to this process is three-fold:
1) The correct, specific selection of essential oils used in natural, antimicrobial cleaning products;
2) The correct concentration of essential oils and vinegar;
3) And, most important—selecting a transparent, reputable, knowledgeable, Aromatherapist/Apothecary. At Needful Things Natural Home & Body Care I am all three!
The entire three-part article will be available on my website including a complete reference list. I welcome questions and feedback. Email me at: needfulthingsnatural@yahoo.com