For this class, we’re going to learn how to use Young Living’s Thieves brand products to replace everything cleaning-related in your home, including personal care items, without breaking the bank. Come as you are. Scroll down, return as often as you like. Glad to have you here.
Feel free to ask questions. I’ll monitor comments for any questions and get back to you as soon as possible with answers.
Relax. Enjoy. And let’s talk some Thieves!
Living with Thieves is a good thing. Really. Thieves is Young Living’s product line for cleaning and personal care products. How did they come to call it Thieves? Legend has it that 15th-century French thieves formulated and wore a special aromatic combination of clove, rosemary, and other botanicals they believed provided protection while they were doing their robbing activities (they were robbing the dead who’d died of the plague). According to legend, French authorities recognized the value of the mixture to the extent that when they captured the thieves, they received a more merciful punishment on condition they reveal the ingredients in their secret formula.
In the spirit of that legend, Young Living’s Thieves blend is found in all their Thieves products. The Thieves blend features the essential oils of Lemon, Clove, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary. Thieves has a spicy, welcoming aroma and is an important ingredient in Young Living’s home cleaning and personal care products, replacing harsh chemicals with pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils and other naturally derived ingredients.
I’m living with Thieves and loving it. You wouldn’t think that would be the case but keep reading to learn why. Thieves Vitality, on the left, is from Young Living’s dietary line for internal use. Regular Thieves Essential Oil, on the right, is for topical and aromatic use.
The next nine sections may not be of interest to you (they are labeled 2 – 2h). If you want to skip those, tune in for sections labeled 3 and beyond. The TLDR (Too Long Didn’t Read) summary: Many products contain chemicals that get into your body, stay there, and cause neurological or other problems that may or may not end well. The ingredients in household and personal care products matter — to you and those you love.
2. You may be asking yourself, “What’s wrong with what I’m using?” It depends upon what you’re using. Have you checked the ingredient list? Have you checked the warning labels? Is there a Poison Control Center number on your product or are you told to call one if it is ingested? Have you heard of a mobile app called “Think Dirty”? You can scan your favorite products in, and the app will tell you where it falls on the “Dirty Meter” — a numerical ranking from 0-10, and it will show a line graph of where the product falls with regard to carcinogenicity, developmental & reproductive toxicity, and allergies and immunotoxicities. Then it will tell you about the ingredients. There’s also a webpage called GoodGuide.com. The goal for products on that page is to rank as close to 10 as possible for a good product.
2b. Check your toothpaste. Does it have Sodium Fluoride or Triclosan as an active ingredient? Both? Does it tell you to call a Poison Control Center if more than what you’d use for brushing your teeth is swallowed? Do you think all toothpaste has that ingredient and warning label? It doesn’t. I grew up believing what I heard on TV commercials about fluoride, but as an adult, I’m less convinced fluoride is good for us.
I’d never read my toothpaste label until someone told me about the Poison Control message. I had to look for myself. I adopted Thieves Aromabright as my toothpaste of choice shortly after I joined Young Living, but I found an old tube or another commercial brand laying around the house and took this picture:
2c. Do you use laundry detergent or dishwasher detergent in pre-measured packets? Look at them closely. Do they look like candy? Might they look like candy to a three-year-old or younger child? What might happen if a young child or a pet in your care or visiting your home found one and was exposed to it? They could die, but more likely they would experience coma, seizures, pulmonary edema, respiratory arrest, corneal abrasion, or ocular burns. (http://www.aapcc.org/track/laundry-detergent-packets/) Not only do the packets look like candy but what about bottles of cleaning solution with nebulous names that come in bright red, blue, green, or other colors that appeal to kids (colors appeal to kids differently than adults — green or blue ketchup, anyone?)? They always look like Hawaiian Punch to me, and I have to give them a triple look to clarify what they are. Those bottles scare me as an adult. If I were a parent, I’d be terrified one of my kids would mistake it for snack drink.
2d. Maybe you’re ultra careful and exposure of a child, pet, or yourself to these substances just isn’t going to happen. Check out the 2009 Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals published by the Center for Disease Control. https://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/pdf/fourthreport.pdf
Read what it has to say about DEET (in many insect repellents), disinfection by-products, fungicides, herbicides, environmental phenols (Triclosan is in this list), a scary list of pesticides and insecticides, metals (arsenic, cadmium, mercury, platinum, tungsten, etc), Phytoestrogens, and a long list of chemical compounds that you’ll see on many products you use in your home but can’t pronounce.
2e. Let’s focus on environmental chemicals. They refer to a chemical compound or chemical element present in air, water, food, soil, dust, or other environmental media (e.g., consumer products). These are the products you don’t even worry about because they’re supposed to be safe for you.
Biomonitoring is the assessment of human exposure to chemicals by measuring the chemicals in specimens of their blood or urine. Blood, serum, or urine levels reflect the amount of a chemical that actually gets into a body by all routes of exposure. The presence of a chemical does not mean a chemical causes a disease or adverse effect. Some chemicals do have a known toxicity level in humans (e.g., lead). Only you can decide if you want to contribute to increasing the chemical content in your home and body. To make an informed decision, consider browsing the linked report in the next post or a similar one.
There are three terms it’s useful to understand. Endocrine Disruptors, Carcinogens, and Bioaccumulation.
– Endocrine Disruptors are chemicals that may interfere with the body’s endocrine system and produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects in both humans and wildlife.
– Carcinogens are identified by their ability to cause cancer in exposed workers, other human populations, or in test animals.
– Bioaccumulation refers to the accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, or other chemicals in an organism.
2f. The October 15, 2003, issue of Environmental Science and Technology, reported a study by the Silent Spring Institute (http://www.silentspring.org/resear…/household-exposure-study). They identified a total of 67 endocrine disrupting compounds in the air and household dust, including flame retardants, home-use pesticides, and phthalates. The number of chemicals detected in the homes averaged 19 for air and 26 for dust. They found DDT in 65% or homes even though it was banned more than 30 years ago.
Endocrine Disruptors are also known as estrogen mimickers and produce a wide range of adverse effects in humans and animals.
Let’s go back and do a quick review of your endocrine system because I doubt most of you give it much thought. Many of you may have challenges in the system and not realize it. Our endocrine system is an intricate, interconnected system consisting of the pineal gland, the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, the thyroid gland, the thymus, adrenal glands, pancreas, and the testes/ovaries.
– The pineal gland produces melatonin and affects our sleep patterns.
– The hypothalamus controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, fatigue, and sleep.
– The pituitary gland helps control growth, blood pressure, certain functions of the sex organs, thyroid glands and metabolism, some aspects of pregnancy, childbirth, nursing, kidneys, temperature regulation, and pain relief.
– The thyroid gland controls how quickly the body uses energy, makes proteins, and controls the body’s sensitivity to other hormones.
– The thymus controls our immune system.
– The adrenal glands produce hormones, including sex hormones and cortisol which helps stress response and many functions.
– The pancreas is vital to digestion and controls blood sugar levels.
– The testes/ovaries are the male and female reproductive glands.
The endocrine system controls a lot of important body functions so you can see if this system is disrupted, your life is going to be challenging.
Next, let’s examine bioaccumulation. This is something we have a lot of control over, but most of us don’t realize it. What personal care products do you use? Have you checked the ingredients? Do you use perfume or cologne? What about makeup (eyeshadow, blush, lipstick, foundation)? Body lotion? Shampoo? Sunscreen? Deodorant? Nail Polish? Fake Tan products? If you’re like me, you eschew many of these products, but shampoo, body lotion, deodorant? Those are kind of necessary for most of us. Repeated exposure to these products results in a chemical build up in our body. Are you confident the chemicals you’re putting on your skin are something you want your body to absorb?
Can you do better?
2g. Yes. You can. Take a few simple steps. Like anything, it’s a matter of choices and forming new habits. There are four simple steps you can take.
1. Become aware of the toxins — what are they and where are they found?
2. Stop buying harmful cleaning and personal care products. Read your labels.
3. Use natural alternatives from the kitchen to bathroom, laundry, family room, and in your personal care and cosmetic products.
4. Start in one area of your home.
Baby steps. Remember where a lot of chemicals were found? In household dust. If you have dust bunnies (I have cats — I have dust bunnies!), just pick them up and throw them away on a regular basis. Already doing this? Great!
What about plastics? Canada has declared BPA to be toxic. (http://www.cbc.ca/…/t…/bpa-declared-toxic-by-canada-1.873250) What is BPA? You’ll find it in plastics marked 3 and 7 on the little recycle indicator. BPA is Bisphenol-A and is a chemical used to make some hard plastic containers and toys. It is known to alter the epigenetic programming of genes. Health Canada declared it toxic in 2010 and banned it from baby bottles and sippy cups, it’s still found in the linings of food cans, cash register receipts, plastics, and other products. This is why you don’t want to microwave in plastic containers.
Why is this a big deal? What do BPAs do to us? Here’s a partial list:
– Structural damage to your brain
– Hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness
– Impaired learning
– Reduced quality of eggs
– Breast cancer
– Increased risk of obesity
– Altered immune function
– Diabetes
– Asthma
– Preterm birth
– Early puberty, stimulation of mammary gland development, disrupted reproductive cycles, ovarian toxicity, and infertility
– High blood pressure and heart disease
– Increased prostate size, decreased sperm production, hypospadias (penis deformation), erectile dysfunction and stimulation of prostate cancer cells
2h. I’m not trying to scare you (although I know it looks like it). I want to help you increase your awareness.
First, become aware. Focus on things you can control.
Know what ingredients to avoid.
Take action. Replace the items used more frequently with safe ones. Replace the items used on those most susceptible (infants, children, elderly, those with compromised systems).
The Thieves line and Young Living’s new Seedlings line for infants are excellent places to start. Tonight, we’re talking about Living With Thieves.
Really living.
Enough downer stuff. Let’s get started on the good news of how you can easily and inexpensively get started removing toxic products from your home.
3. Here is the exhausting list of Young Living’s Thieves-based products:
15 ml Thieves Essential Oil (for topical and aromatic use)
5 ml Thieves Vitality Essential Oil (for internal use)
Thieves Household Cleaner (14.4 ounces and a 64 oz refill bottle)
Thieves Spray
Thieves Wipes
Thieves Fruit and Veggie Spray
Thieves Fruit and Veggie Soak
Thieves Automatic Dishwasher Powder
Thieves Dish Soap
Thieves Laundry Soap
Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier
Thieves Cleansing Bar Soap
Thieves Foaming Hand Soap
Thieves Foaming Hand Soap Refill (32 oz Refill)
Thieves Mouthwash
Thieves Aromabright Toothpaste
Thieves Dentarome Ultra Toothpaste
Thieves Mints
Thieves Hard Lozenges
Thieves Cough Drops
I have all these products. I like them all. My favorites? Household Cleaner, Spray, Waterless Hand Purifier, Aromabright Toothpaste, Foaming Hand Soap, and Mints.
One strong motivator is the price. People tend to look at the cost of a bottle of Household Cleaner and shrink when they see the price. What they forget is Thieves is designed to be diluted. The product you buy in the grocery store is already diluted. Examine the photo for a more realistic cost comparison.
Thieves waterless hand purifier is a go to when you’re on the go ( 1 oz travel purse or pocket size). Or, when you’re at home or the office (7.6 oz pump or flip top — comes with both — size).
Another of my favorite Thieves companions is Thieves Foaming Hand Soap. I have a funny story about this one. I got a Thieves Essential Rewards Kit and let this sit in the box for about six months before I finally got it out. When I did, I opened it, installed the foaming pump, washed my hands and so loved the smell that came out of the bottle, I’ve regretted waiting so long to start using it. I share to remind you not to wait to put these products to use. I’m so fond of this now, I got a 2 oz foaming travel size bottle and took this on vacation with me.
Thieves Household Cleaner — kind of the leader of the Brand of Thieves. It took me about a year to use my first bottle of this. I put a capful into two spray bottles and added water. I put one spray bottle in the kitchen and the other upstairs in the bathroom. I primarily use it to clean surfaces, but once I began using it for other things, the bottle got used up a little faster. That spray bottle in the kitchen is used to spot clean laundry before it goes in the washer. I now keep the bottle on top of the dryer and use half a capful in heavily soiled laundry to help my Thieves laundry soap do it’s job better (less is better for that, too). I also use it in the Jet Dry dispenser on my dishwasher.
I use Thieves Spray or my 16 oz blend of Thieves Household Cleaner as a laundry pre-treat.
Depending upon the stain — including blood, a capful of undiluted Thieves Household Cleaner, perhaps blended with Lemon Essential Oil poured onto the stain and allowed to soak for 10 minutes has done the trick for some people. (It’s a good idea to check a smaller amount in an out of the way area of the fabric to make sure it doesn’t cause any problems.) I tend to use the Spray or half a capful to a capful in the washer.
I have an amazing use for Thieves Spray. Most of us have keyboards. Some of us have noticed our keyboards get dirty, and if we’re honest with ourselves, they can get downright nasty. Here’s an easy fix for that.
I recently cleaned my computer keyboard with Thieves spray and cotton swabs. I took the cap off the Thieves spray and directed the spray nozzle into the cap, squirting twice. I dipped the cotton swab into the cap and cleaned my key caps. My keyboard was embarrassingly dirty, so I had to do this about four or five times. I won’t let the keyboard get so dirty next time because this was very easy to do. It worked better than alcohol wipes and smelled better.
Thieves Fresh Essence Mouthwash. I’ll bet you didn’t know you could get Thieves Dental Floss, did you?
Thieves Aromabright Toothpaste. I buy this in the 2 oz travel size. It comes with 5 2 oz tubes (it’s a little cheaper per ounce than the 4 oz tube and, for me, easier to use). For a long time, I’d had a sensitive tooth. My dentist could find nothing wrong with it, but it was sensitive not only to cold but other things as well. A month or so after I started using Thieves Aromabright, I noticed that I hadn’t noticed my tooth in quite some time. Now, after more than a year, I have trouble remembering which tooth was sensitive. Was it the toothpaste that took care of the sensitivity? I couldn’t prove it either way, but I think so.
There’s also Thieves Dentarome Ultra Toothpaste. You have choices. There are two other types of toothpaste not in the Thieves line for you to choose, including one designed for kids.
Thieves Laundry Soap. When I first got this, I was using too much (about half a capful, and I don’t have an HE machine). Both my husband and I noticed an irritating itch like something was biting our ankle. It was the same place on both of us. I quit using the laundry soap for a little while. Then I decided to try using LESS. Now I pour just enough to cover the bottom of the cap, and that works just fine. Neither of us experiences any problems with it now. As I mentioned above, if I have a load of clothes with a little more soil than usual, I add half a cap of Thieves Household Cleaner. Most of the time, I also add 4-5 drops of Lemon essential oil for a fresh, clean scent.
Thieves Dishwasher Powder. This was greeted with a lot of enthusiasm when it was released at the 2016 Grand International Convention.
Thieves Wipes. A pack of 30 to wipe down surfaces while on the move or even at home. I took these on my cruise and wiped down all the surfaces when I got to my room.
Thieves Fruit & Veggie Spray and Thieves Fruit & Veggie Soak. You know your fruits and veggies come coated with something as a preservative right? These products are designed to help you remove that coating before you consume them.
We have the elusive Thieves Home Cleaning Kit. I joke that Samantha has snatched them all up for her home cleaning business because they are frequently out of stock. It’s a new item, and it appears to be more popular than Young Living expected. I’ll be getting it soon.
This cleaning kit, complete with stainless steel bucket, has everything you need to clean your home. It contains:
– 5 ml bottles of Citrus Fresh, Lemon, Pine, and Purification Essential Oils
– 14.4 oz bottle of Thieves Household Cleaner
– Carrying Case
– Stainless Steel Bucket
– 16 oz Amber Glass Spray Bottle
– Cleaning Cloth
– Cleaning Recipe Booklet
If you’re not sure how to use each component, the recipe booklet will help you. The amber 16 oz glass spray bottle is a critical piece. A capful of Thieves Household Cleaner in the spray bottle and tap water added to fill the bottle is all you need to make a powerful cleaning solution (well, maybe a few drops of Lemon oil, too). Spray and use the cleaning cloth to wipe the surface — your countertops, cupboards, light switch covers, table top — any surface in your kitchen or other areas of your home that need cleaning.
Have a larger cleaning job? Your stainless steel bucket is ready for you. The carrying case clips onto the bucket handle to keep everything together for you.
Here are a couple recipes from the booklet to intrigue you:
Laundry Freshener
4-5 drops of two different essential oils
Wool dryer ball or damp washcloth
Directions:
1. Add essential oils to wool dryer ball or damp washcloth
2. Place dryer ball or washcloth in dryer with clothes to freshen laundry
Suggested Essential Oil Combinations:
Thieves + Peppermint
Lemon + Purification
Lemon + Grapefruit
Lavender + Stress Away
Lime + Jade Lemon
I use Abundance + Joy
For your hard surface floors:
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 bucket of hot water (distilled recommended)
1-2 caps full of Thieves Household Cleaner
5-10 drops of Lemon, Tea Tree, or Purification
Directions:
1. Combine in bucket and use a mop to clean floors
2. Let air dry or mop up excess moisture.
Natural Carpet Powder
1/2 cup baking soda
20-25 drops of essential oil
Directions:
1. Combine ingredients and store in a salt shaker or powdered sugar dispenser or make your own shaker with a glass jar covered with cheesecloth and secured tightly at the top with a rubber band.
2. As needed, sprinkle the powder on the carpet, let sit for 10-20 minutes, and then vacuum.
Suggested essential oils:
Thieves, Citrus Fresh, Lavender, Lemon, Stress Away, Jasmine, Peace & Calming, Peace & Calming II, or Christmas Spirit.
Do It Yourself (DIY) Thieves Soft Scrub is a personal favorite. Here’s the recipe:
3 c. Baking soda
3/4 c. Thieves Household Cleaner
1T. Distilled vinegar
30 drops Lemon Essential Oil
I mix this in a mixing bowl and store it in a repurposed 24 oz pickle jar. You can use whatever works for you. I transfer some to smaller jars to store where I use it around the house. I have one in each bathroom and one in the kitchen. I use this scrub to clean and polish the sinks, the tub, the stove top, the refrigerator, and other similar surfaces.
I put the recipe on an address label to make it easier to make the next batch. Some people do fancy labels, but I tend to be more utilitarian. Do what works for you.
Can you eat Thieves? You sure can. You can get three consumable Thieves products. Thieves Hard Lozenges, Thieves Mints, and Thieves Essential Oil Infused Cough Drops.
That’s all I have for now. Did I miss anything? Please let me know in comments, and I’ll do my best to cover it for you.
To Live with Thieves, you need to Get You Some Thieves. How?
You don’t want to pick up just any thieves off the street. To make sure you bring safe, wholesome Thieves into your home, get with the person who brought you here and ask them, “What next?”
If it was me, message me or leave a comment below. I’ll be happy to explain your options.
Thank you for checking out the class!