Does clean have a smell?

The answer is that CLEAN should have NO SMELL AT ALL. That’s right.  It just smells CLEAN. Smelling nothing at all is the actual smell of CLEAN. No residues have been left behind. It means that the dirt, grease, grime and odors have been REMOVED instead of covered up by chemical cleaner scents (read that: potentially-harmful chemical fragrances!)

What’s the harm in a little good smell?

The “fragrances” that we’ve come to associate with “Clean” are actually residues left behind in our clothes & on the surfaces that we’ve “cleaned”. This means that we are breathing in tiny molecules of the fragrance that we are interpreting to mean “clean”. We are soaking in those cleaner residues into our skin every time we rest our hand on a counter that has recently been wiped with a disinfectant wipe or our favorite cleaner.

I was raised in a home where my wonderful mother loved everything to smell GOOD!  The more the better! (Love you & miss you so much, Mom!) I had a certain smell associated with “clean clothes”, another smell associated with a “clean bathroom”, “clean kitchen”, “clean floors”… you get the idea. (Just for the record, Mom became a huge advocate for healthier homes when she began to learn that not all things that *smell* good ARE good. We had the opportunity of sharing Norwex together for almost 10 years! Such a blessing!)

The power of smell is something that chemical cleaning companies are fully aware of. They have found that when someone associates a certain smell, it brings them back to purchase more of that smell. Follow the money train of fragrance. It’s a very interesting journey. It took me a bit of time to adjust to the idea that clean does NOT have a smell, but it really was my personal research into fragrances that convinced me that they didn’t smelly nearly so good anymore. With so many health conditions on the rise, I am passionate about creating the safest home possible for me and my family. And when we know better, we can do better.

A surface that is truly clean means there is no residue or fragrance left behind. It is just CLEAN.  Now that I have gotten rid of so many of the “good-smelling” but not-so-good-for-me products, my body can finally recognize the toxicity of many of the standard cleaners. I can now realize how strong all the fragrances actually are. I now get overwhelmed by the fragrances when I walk past the cleaning aisle! (Thank goodness for Norwex that I don’t have to walk *down* the cleaning aisle anymore!!) As with all of your life choices, I encourage you to do your research on the reality of many of the fragrances used in products. Watch the documentary “Stink“. As you do your research, you’ll likely find out that companies are not required to disclose what is in their “fragrance”. This means it can be a hiding place for many toxic chemicals. Among those chemicals are Phthalates. These are what allow many synthetic fragrances to really linger. In your research, you may find that they’ve been linked to liver and kidney damage, and also are believed to have an impact on the reproductive system. www.EWG.org is another good place to begin your research. Some chemicals have been shown to mimic key hormones, like estrogen, as well as taking a toll on thyroid health. Another thing I learned in my research is that our body tries to protect us from these potentially-toxic chemicals by tucking them away in our fat cells. This means when we are trying to eat healthy and exercise and shed a few pounds, our body is very slow to release fat because it knows that with fat release, comes the release of many chemicals that it has tried to keep tucked away. For me personally, I found as we detoxed our home, my body was more able to finally release those unwanted 10 pounds.

Where would I find toxic fragrances lurking?

Here’s a quick list to get you started in evaluating your home:

• Any fragrance-emitting devices plugged into outlets around your home?
• Room sprays?
• Disinfectant sprays?
• Cleaning chemicals?
• Personal care products- facial creams, shampoos, conditioners, cosmetics, feminine care items?
• Laundry products?
• Little fragrance trees hanging in your vehicle?
• Fragrance added to certain brands of clothing?
• Perfume? (Yes, for real. Many of these are NOT helping your health!)

OK, I’ve done my research. So what’s the alternative??

Thankfully, there are EASY, AFFORDABLE and TIME-SAVING alternatives. MECHANICALLY CLEANING with Norwex BacLock Microfiber is a perfect way to leave your surfaces truly CLEAN without the potentially-harmful chemicals. The Norwex Safe Haven 5 Set is a perfect place to start. As for making your home smell clean and fresh without harmful chemicals, read on! I’ve got you covered!

Wait a second- explain Mechanical Cleaning.

Sure! I did an in-depth explanation of the difference between Mechanical Cleaning and more main-stream Chemical Cleaning in this article. I hope it helps you better understand how Mechanical Cleaning works in your home, helping to create a much healthier home for you and your family without all of the not-so-good-for-us chemical residues!

What if I want my house to smell GOOD? Is there a safer way?

Valid question. Is it possible? Yes. Just choose wisely. Some of my favorites for keeping homes smelling fresh are the Norwex Enzyme Line. The Norwex Odour Eliminator and Mattress Cleaner are two of my faves for ELIMINATING ODOR and stink instead of trying to mask and cover it up! The Odor Eliminator is VERY concentrated, so a little goes a long way! Dilute it 1:7 with water in a spray bottle and use as a room spray. The Mattress Cleaner works amazing for freshening up pet beds, couches and other upholstery, drapes, mattresses and pillows, stuffed animals and more! These things can hold on to a LOT of odor, so the Mattress Cleaner will go a long way in creating a fresher smelling home.

If you’d like to ADD some nice fragrance, definitely look to essential oils. You can easily and affordably diffuse these in your home for that natural scent. (Be sure to purchase excellent quality oils, though, or you could be right back to inhaling potentially harmful molecules into your lungs!! Not all essential oils are created equal!!)

What about pet smells?

For those of you with pets at your house, know that our fur babies are often even more sensitive to these fragrances. Have you noticed what is happening to the rate of cancer in pets? By creating a home without chemical residues and fragrance molecules permeating, you can also help support your pets health! Several years ago, one of my customers shared something that has really stayed with me. She told me how her dog was having some serious health problems, losing fur and having respiratory issues. One of the first questions her vet asked was if she had fragrance plug ins in her home. She confirmed that she did. He told her to remove them immediately. She shared that this one change caused a marked improvement for her pooch. Applied knowledge is power.

By switching your cleaning to using Norwex microfiber cloths and mops, leaving no cleaner residue behind (think about how they soak those residues into their paws or lick them off as they are cleaning themselves), helps us create a safer environment for them. But what about the pet odors that can happen? As I mentioned above, the Norwex Enzyme Line has been AMAZING for this! (Check out the Norwex Enzyme Carpet Stain Remover for any pet stains- it’s INCREDIBLE at removing pet stains and odors!!) Enzymes work to actually eliminate the odors rather than simply trying to cover them up! Another great thing is to open up your windows periodically to allow fresh air in! Sunshine is also a master freshener, so don’t hesitate to set your pet’s bed out in the sun from time to time.

When we know better, we can do better.

Seek companies who disclose their ingredients and are aligned with creating safer products. Read labels. Don’t assume that because something is sold at your local grocery store that it is safe. Fragrance is not monitored or regulated. All the best as you continue your journey of creating a healthier home for you and your loved ones!