The average person in the United States spends about an hour and a half every day driving from place to place. That’s a long time to be seated in a small space inhaling exhaust fumes from outside, to be sure but have you ever stopped to think about the air inside the car?
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) frequently found in traditional cleaning products can pollute the air; that pollution becomes more concentrated in a small environment – so whether your individual driving patterns put you above or below that average, how you keep your vehicle’s interior clean is very important.
For 45 year old delivery driver, Ramon Caceres, the national average of hours behind the wheel doesn’t even come close to his weekly numbers. Caceres makes his living as a driver and has been driving for more than two decades on the streets of Manhattan. It wasn’t until recently that he discovered by process of elimination how his car’s environment was contributing to health issues he and his children were having.
Caceres used to clean his Toyota Camry Hybrid using products like Windex and Mr. Clean on the interior. An asthma sufferer, Caceres didn’t realize that those products could potentially be worsening his condition. During a routine drive, he admitted to a client that he and his children, who he drove to school daily; were having recurrent asthma flare-ups. That client happened to be a frequent user of natural and essential oil based products. She suggested he make the switch to all-natural products.
The suggestion was not without merit. Natural products have been found to be worthwhile and healthy alternatives to chemically based cleaners. In fact, a New York Times article in 2009 cited a study by a team of surgeons that found a solution of cinnamon oil was as effective against streptococcus and MRSA bacteria as other synthetic antiseptics used in hospital settings.
Intrigued by the suggestion and willing to make the switch, Caceres admitted to his client he was overwhelmed by the number of natural products out there and dubious of some of their claims. His client gave him a YL90 Plan brochure, entitled, Green Your Body, Green Your Home. That YL90 Plan gives guidelines about how to use the Thieves line of products made by Young Living Essential Oils over a 90 day period.
The YL90 Plan, authored by Eleina Yordan and Carrie Donegan, is a series of educational materials, business tools & live events that help essential oil users make a positive change in their health or business in 90 days.
YL90 Plan brochures cover subjects such as pain relief, dealing with allergies, the benefits of therapeutic massage, coping with depression naturally, cold and flu remedies and weight loss.
Unlike many products that employ harsh chemicals to be effective, the Thieves products outlined in the plan brochure Caceres used are composed of clove, lemon, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils and are 99.9% effective against airborne bacteria.
Caceres says it wasn’t long before he saw a difference.
“I followed the YL90 Plan brochure to the letter; using the Thieves line of products to clean my car and keep it smelling fresh. I saw a change in my overall health and that of my children in a very short time, probably less than 90 days actually.”
Mary
Mary Moscarello is a freelance writer, based in Clifton, New Jersey. She is Assistant Editor at Mindful Living NJ and writes about health, wellness, relationships and environmental issues.
