Post by contributor, Dea’ Daniels.

Once upon a time, I lived and worked on pristine mountain ranch. The property was breath-taking, the work was challenging, and the houses could have graced the cover of any high-end home magazine. It was nice!

One of my responsibilities was to tend The Big House (we lived in “The Cabin”). I scrubbed the floors with blends of natural soaps and oils. I kept the windows clear with vinegar. I sanitized with mint and citrus and tea tree. I freshened rooms with lavender. It was the perfect venue to hone my natural cleaning skills in a variety of spaces. 

The cleaning days were fresh and fun…until I came to the {beautiful and expensive!} leather furniture. These pieces were a deep burgundy nail-head collection. Gorgeous! They were also in a high traffic area with guests, pets, food, and frolic. The answer? A matching high-end, highly-toxic, furniture cleansing and conditioning kit. 

Each month’s deep cleaning session found me carefully cleaning and conditioning the gorgeous natural fiber. I tried not to think of the petro-chemicals seeping into my skin or the synthetic fragrance hovering in the air. The furniture needed to look good, and look good it did.

But was it actually good?

Good in the sense that I was alright with my baby’s bare skin on the newly cleaned couch?
Good in the sense that it was safe for a guest to nap with their face on the newly cleaned arm rest?

Nope!

Most furniture cleaning products, although created for natural fibers, are neither good nor safe for living skin. Sure, it made dead-cow-skin furniture look healthy, but I valued my true health more than the dead cow I was sitting on. 

The solution?

A beautifully simple, surprisingly affordable, and incredibly effective furniture conditioner!

Bonus? It not only conditions and protects leather, it also does amazing things for wood {cutting boards, counter tops, chairs…}, and is shockingly lovely on cuticles, feet, and even wounds! It’s pretty much the ultimate multi-purpose home balm your home can have in stock.

Spero Naturals’ All-Over Home Balm

Ingredients:
3 weighed ounces bees wax (If possible, use the real stuff; raw hunks of wax that actually smell like honey. Check your local honey farm! Grate it, or chop it into small chunks for easier melting)
12 weighed ounces liquid oil (as simple as olive oil or grapeseed. Liquid. Organic if possible. )
10 drops pure essential oil, depending on primary purpose
{If using for wood or leather, or just keeping one main jar for everyone, I recommend lemon or sweet orange. If making a batch for skin and wellness, try a bit of rosemary, lavender, and tea tree. If making for the mister’s rough work hands, try some pine. Your lips? A bit of spearmint is fun!}

Directions:
– Heat the oil on the stove pot
– Add grated beeswax
– Keep on stove top until incorporated fully, stirring occasionally
(do not simply melt the beeswax and pour into unheated oil. The beeswax will solidify immediately and you’ll have a lumpy concoction. Also, stir with a wooden stick or something disposable like a shish-kabob branch is handy as you can toss it when you’re done.)
– Remove from heat. Add essential oils. Stir thoroughly.
– Pour directly into wide mouth jar, or several smaller jars (This should make about two or more cups.)
– Let cool.
– Keep in a central part of your home for regular use by all family members!

Notes for Use:

Use directly on all natural fibers…including your skin!

Leather

Clean surfaces first with warm water and a bit of natural soap and vinegar. Follow with the Balm, applying somewhat heavily. Allow to absorb. Buff with clean dry cloth. Use monthly and enjoy the soft natural fragrance and gorgeous sheen! (Always do a test patch first, just to be sure)

Raw wood

Apply heavily. Allow to absorb for two hours or overnight. Re-apply. Buff with clean dry cloth. Food safe! Excellent on cutting boards, salad bowls, counter tops…. Best if re-applied at the start of every season or after heavy use.

Skin

Apply as needed to dry, cracked areas in need of care and hydration.

I would LOVE to hear how this works for you and your home! Enjoy!

If you’re making a dandelion infused oil as your base, consider saving some of your harvest to make these dandelion fritters! 

{One final note: I am inviting you to use and share this original Spero recipe! I’m not currently selling this balm but do ask that you make note of Dea’ of Spero Naturals if you choose to share the recipe. Sharing and loving—beautifully alive!}

Dea’ Daniels is a mom, wife, student, freelancer, and Seeker way out in Three Hills Alberta. Her days are filled with the color and energy of her three wildling boys, her pre-midwifery studies, and her paramedic husband. Dea’ writes weekly  Life reflections at wholedei.com, as well as sharing research and information on natural living atsperonaturals.wordpress.com.