I never imagined that I would be the creator of a green cleaning product. I was that kid who grew up inhaling the heady perfume of Pine-Sol. In fact, it only took one whiff of it for me to obey the olfactory command to remove my shoes, because mom had just mopped the kitchen floor. I equated this chemically complex smell with clean. The house always felt good after mom cleaned it. The smell of Pine-Sol was synonymous with feelings of happiness. I was home. Everything was in order and cared for. I felt safe.

When I was old enough to actually help her clean—and not make more of a mess—mom handed me an empty bucket, rubber gloves, a scrub brush, rags, plus a bottle of Pine-Sol and let me loose in the bathroom. The scent of Pine-Sol, along with the way it changed from an amber liquid to milky white when swished around with water, captivated me. Cleaning was magic. Not a chore. When I cleaned, I was an alchemist who had the power to turn a grimy bathtub into a sparkling porcelain pool where I would later submerge myself beneath a thick, creamy meringue of bubbles and reemerge as a mermaid. 

Fast forward many decades later, and I still love to clean. However, I  choose to use natural products that are healthy for the planet, children, and all living things. Seriously, how white do my whites really have to be? I’ll take a bit of dingy over being responsible for the birth of six legged toads. Kiss one, and I promise it won’t turn into Prince Charming. The only counter spell to the black magic created from chemical laden cleaners is not to use them.

I choose to cast a powerful spell of protection using an alchemical mix of essential oils, plant-based ingredients and reiki energy, which will transform your home into sacred space and turn the mundane chore of cleaning into a magical ritual. You have the power to make your home shimmer and vibrate with positive energy. If you have a little elbow grease and a bottle of Smudge, you too can turn the mundane into something magical.

                                    Heidi Nelson

                                    Smudge Founder, Environmental Alchemist, & Reiki Master