The next room we are visiting in our Makeover Your Home series is the bedroom.
I’ve always loved making my bedroom feel comfortable and relaxing. In the past, that involved lots of scented candles, spraying my bed linens with Febreze, sprinkling my carpets with scented powders...anything that would make it smell good.
But, it never increased how well I slept. In fact, I was restless throughout the night and would wake up in the morning with a headache. But of course, I blamed my mattress for all of that(which may be partly true).
Here’s the truth, I didn’t know that all the great smelly stuff I was using, was actually toxic and wreaking havoc in my body and causing those darn headaches! Even after getting a new mattress, my sleep & headaches didn’t improve until after I started to rid all of those toxins from my bedroom.
According to the CDC(1), 35% of adults in the United States do not regularly get adequate sleep. The reality is that many of us may spend nearly half of our lives tossing and turning rather than getting the recommended 7-9 hours(2) of uninterrupted sleep each night. It makes your attention falter, your memory is impaired, your ability to think through problems is challenged, you are prone to eating more, and your insulin that helps regulate your metabolism is turned upside down so you’re more likely to gain weight from what you eat. And if that weren’t enough, it’s actually toxic to the connections in your cells.
Plus, the mattresses you and your family sleep on are sprayed with toxic chemicals during manufacturing. These chemicals include formaldehyde, boric acid, polyurethane foam, antimony and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE). These toxins seep out, filling our homes with noxious fumes. Not only that, but researchers now believe that these chemicals can be absorbed through our skin, as PBDE has been found in the breast milk.
The chemicals applied to mattresses have been linked to asthma, allergies, neurological disorders, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), reproductive problems, thyroid disruption and various forms of cancer.
Ahh, make it stop!
Here are some easy DIYs to rid your bedroom of toxins:
MATTRESS CLEANING POWDER
Shopping List:
½ C Baking Soda
5 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
Directions:
Mix ingredients together and sprinkle on the mattress. Leave for 1-2 hours. Vacuum off mattress. (this is enough for a twin size mattress, adjust as needed)
MATTRESS FRESHENING SPRAY
Shopping List:
3 drops Lemon Essential Oil
3 drops Lavender Essential Oil
3 drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil
3 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
½ tsp Witch Hazel
Water
Directions:
Add essential oils & witch hazel to a 2oz glass spray bottle, fill with water. Spray over bed linens, shaking well before each use.
CLOSET REFRESHER
Shopping List:
½ C Baking Soda
5 drops Lavender Essential Oil (or your oil of choice)
Directions:
Combine ingredients in a small mason jar and punch holes in the lid. Place in the closet and gently shake when you need aromatics to fill the space.
SWEET DREAMS LINEN SPRAY
Shopping List:
10 drops Lavender Essential Oil
10 drops Vetiver Essential Oil
10 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
Water
Directions:
Add oils to 4 oz. glass spray bottle and top off with water. Spray on pillows and bed linens while you are getting ready for bed. Shake well before each use.
Do you want to learn about more ways you can rid your home of those harsh chemicals? Download our free list of seven easy swaps you can make for a toxic free home.
https://sleepfoundation.org/press-release/national-sleep-foundation-recommends-new-sleep-times