DIY Homemade Germ Fighters (+ a Giveaway!)

By blog team member, Kiran. To learn more about Kiran, check out our team page or her blog!

The excitement of the holidays is here, but there’s also something else among us – unwelcome germs that like to rear their ugly heads! I have some germaphobe tendencies, especially this time of year. I like to keep the little buggers at bay but without the use of unwanted chemicals found in some hand sanitizers.

So I’m happy today to share a couple of germ fighter recipes from our friend and sponsor, Plant Therapy. Think of them as home remedies for staying sick-free (or trying to!) this season.

About Plant Therapy

Plant Therapy is a family-owned and family-run essential oils company who we’ve enjoyed partnering with over the last few years. They work with essential oils expert Robert Tisserand and several analytical laboratories to create their essential oil formulas. All of this has led them to develop their KidSafe oils, which are, you guessed it, safe for kids (over the age of 2)!

What you’ll notice about Plant Therapy is how good their prices are. Owners Chris and Amanda Jones aim to provide their products at affordable prices with the highest quality available so everyone can take advantage of the benefits. They offer great information as well, including the DIY remedies below. Oh, and be sure to read on for your chance to win a great essential oil set!

Germ Fighter Recipes from Plant Therapy

Homemade Counter Wipes

What you’ll need:

• 1.9 quart airtight container (like this Oxo Round Canister)
• 1 roll select-a-size paper towels
• 2 tablespoons castile soap
• Essential oils of your choice
• 2 cups warm water

What you’ll do:

1. Cut a roll of paper towels in half using an electric knife or serrated bread knife.
2. Place one of the paper towel roll halves into the container. If you have to smash it a bit to fit, that is okay. Once wet, you will take out the core.
3. In a measuring cup, combine the warm water, castile soap, and 30-40 drops of essential oils (see recipes below).
4. Pour the mixture over the paper towels and let soak.
5. Once soaked, you can easily remove the center tube.
6. Seal with a lid and use as you would any other counter wipes.

Recipe Ideas:

• Fresh Kitchen: 15 drops each lavender and lemon
• Disinfecting: 15 drops tea tree, 10 drops lemon, and 5 drops rosemary
• Fresh & Fruity: 20 drops sweet orange, 10 drops grapefruit, and 5 drops vanilla
• Or use one of Plant Therapy’s germ synergies (Germ Destroyer or Germ Fighter)

Homemade Hand Sanitizer

Who needs hand sanitizer that is full of ethyl alcohol and oftentimes even food dyes? Not to mention that they dry out your hands and are also flammable. No thanks! Here’s how to easily make your own version.

What you’ll need:

• 4 tablespoons or 2 ounces aloe gel (Plant Therapy offers plain and lavender aloe jelly)
• The following essential oils: Germ Destroyer (kid safe version), Germ Fighter (adult version), or Palmarosa & Fir Needle

What you’ll do:

1. Pour aloe gel into a flip-top bottle.
2. Add 10 drops Palmarosa and 8 drops Fir Needle or 18 drops of Germ Destroyer or Germ Fighter
3. Shake well to incorporate oils.
4. Use a dime size squirt of gel as needed on your hands and rub in.

You or your child can carry this gel with you to work or school. It’s a perfect alternative to traditional hand sanitizer. Not only will you support your immune function, but you will fight off the germs that many of us pick up every day. Keep your family healthy and happy using a homemade hand sanitizer!

Caught Something Anyway?

If sickness or sniffles are already in your home, Plant Therapy offers a DIY sore throat solution here and solutions for coughs and congestion. They all utilize essential oils to combat the ailment at hand. Obviously, the steam solution should be used with caution for children.

And now, let’s get to the good stuff – the giveaway!

Giveaway Details

There will be four winners as follows:

• 3 Winners: KidSafe Complete Wellness Set, a value of $57.49 each
• 1 Winner: Adult Complete Wellness Set, a value of $39.95

Total Giveaway Value: $212.42

To Enter (2 Ways)

• 1st entry: Please leave a comment below sharing which product on planttherapy.com you’d be most interested in checking out.
• 2nd entry: Sign up to receive email updates, specials, and more from Plant Therapy (entry form at the bottom right of the Plant Therapy website). Say “newsletter” in your 2nd comment below.

The contest is open to those in the mainland U.S. only. The contest will end at midnight EST on Monday, November 30th, 2015.

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY
Chances of winning depend on the number of entries. Entries will be chosen at random. Giveaway winner will be contacted on or around December 1st via email. The winner will have 3 days to respond before they are disqualified and a new winner is chosen. We may share your first name, last initial, and comment publicly but will not share any other information with anyone except to facilitate shipment of your prizes, which will be shipped directly from the respective vendor. 100 Days of Real Food will not use your email address for anything other than contacting you about this giveaway, however if you sign up for our partner’s newsletter, you will be agreeing to their terms regarding their use of your email address. Giveaway open to US residents only, aged 18 or over, residing within the 48 US contiguous states only. We are not liable for errors stemming from lost/delayed e-mail, posting or typographical errors, technical failures, etc. Void where prohibited by law. This giveaway is being held by Leake, LLC doing business as 100 Days of Real Food. We may be reached at info{at}100daysofrealfood{dot}com.