With cold and flu season in full swing, some are turning to natural and non-chemical alternatives to harsh cleansers and synthetic detergents.

“There are synthetic chemicals in air fresheners, cleaning products, in candles, all of that stuff,” said parent and nurse Nicole Pisani, who now turns to essential oils for cleaning, aromatherapy and nutritional support. “I finally said, ‘I’m done, I’m going to start just using oils.’ I got rid of all the other stuff.”

Pisani said she shies away from store-bought products, partly because she’s surrounded by harsh chemicals at work.

“I myself am more sensitive to synthetic fragrances now,” she said. “We were just down in Chicago and we Ubered and the driver had like two air fresheners in his vent and within five minutes my head was just pounding. I’m sure it was because of all that synthetic fragrance, it was overwhelming in the car.”

Essential oilsPisani favors doTerra brand products and encourages others to give them a try. She recently started hosting oil classes throughout Kenosha County.

“I use oils for cleaning, to support our immune system, to support our health and wellness in general,” she said. “It works, but the most important thing is to educate yourself about it and buy high-quality oils. Not all oils are equal.”

The essential oil industry is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, along with vitamins and supplements. Pisani recommends people only buy oil tested and verified by established third-party groups and sold by reputable dealers.

Greg Richards, assistant professor in the University of Wisconsin-Parkside’s Biological Sciences Department, agreed. He said the quality of essential oils matters.

“It depends on the product, but some of the natural cleaners and oils are very effective,” he said. “With citrus ones, they have citric acid, which is a known germ-killing compound. That’s naturally found in citrus fruits, but if you have a higher concentration in some oils, it can be a good anti-microbial. It is natural and is not toxic to people.”

Richards said many parents are shying away from harsh, synthetic cleansers because they fear young children will be exposed to it.

“The big push right now is to have things that are good at getting rid of germs but are still safe for people,” he said. Still, he recommends people investigate the claims and ingredients used in products not regulated by the FDA before using.

Growing demandDr. Erin Merritt, owner and pharmacist of Modern Apothecary, 4924 Seventh Ave., said she has noticed a steady increase in sales of high-quality, essential oils over the past few years. The downtown store is filled with diffusers, providing a subtle-yet-calming aroma.

“I had no idea it was going to be this big of a draw, or that we would have 100-plus oils,” said Merritt, who sells doTerra and Young Living oil and accessaries, and now offers classes.

“It’s a more natural alternative to all of the chemicals, and they do have some health benefits and anti-bacterial properties, which is why they are also popular for cleaning,” she said.

Some purchase oils to aid digestion (peppermint, lemon) or aromatherapy (lavender, eucalyptus), but most are used topically for massaging or cleaning.

“They do have a lot of other benefits besides just smelling nice,” she said.

She recommends people interested in using them educate themselves about best practices. For example, some highly concentrated oils (clove, oregano, black pepper) need to be diluted in a “carrier” oil such as coconut or olive before application to the body.

For cleaning kitchen counters, Merritt suggests combining lemon oil and water, with maybe a touch of vinegar, in a spray bottle for easy application.

Never store concentrated oil in plastic containers, she cautioned.

Avoiding antibacterial soapsAurora Health Care’s Dr. Cynthia Abban, who specializes in adult and pediatric dermatology and microbiology, also recommends people shy away from hand soaps with antibacterial agents in favor of non-medicated cleansers that lather with warm water.

“We don’t know the long-term side-effects of chemicals as antimicrobial agents, especially when you’re using them with kids,” she said. Abban said there is still not enough evidence proving essential oils will prevent illness during cold or flu season, even though oils have been proven to be effective germ-killers on surfaces.

“This is a question we really need to look at to see (oils’) effects against what we used traditionally,” she said. “Essential oils for relaxation and for the anti-bacterial effects may be more effective in small concentrations.”

The silver liningNorwex towels and washcloths have also become more common in recent years. These products are lined with silver particles that kill bacteria.

“Historically, people used to put silver coins in water to keep it from having contaminating microbes grow in the water,” Richards said. “Silver can work.”

Mandy Christol sells Norwex products throughout southeastern Wisconsin and business is booming.

“I sell it because it makes my cleaning a lot easier and reduces the number of chemicals I use in my house,” Christol said. “I haven’t bought a bottle of Windex in three years. It’s money-saving and it’s nice to know I’m not having my kids ingesting all that. They can even help clean.”

She said the shift is a result of an over-reliance on antibiotics and cheap artificial products, which concerns young parents and millenials.

“We’ve probably been sick less since we’ve been cleaning this way,” she said.