One day Makenzie Demos quit her job, made flyers, and decided she wanted to make a difference in people's homes. Demos wanted to change how people clean their homes and the products that they use to get the job done.

She tried her hand at different job fields, but creating a serene atmosphere in a home or business is what she believes her calling is. And she believes she can fulfill that calling with her business Essential Cleaning.

"Part of my goal when cleaning a house or a business is boosting positivity," Demos said.

She said that having a clean home or workplace really makes a difference, and she sees it in her clients.

"Walking into a clean home after a long day at the office or any type of work really puts people in a great mood for the remainder of their day," Demos said.

Before she started her business, Demos worked for the Merry Maids cleaning service to gain experience in the detail and upkeep of a home.

"At the end of the day, my hands were rough and I smelled like cleaning products. It wasn't the best feeling," she said.

The alternative was essential oils that she said her sister introduced her to a while back. Essential oils are extracted from plants, wood, flowers, and roots. These oils are believed to have therapeutic benefits through the different aromas that are produced, but there isn't any clear scientific evidence to back that up just yet.

So Demos and her sister set out to research how to make simple cleaning products with essential oils that are also effective in fighting bacteria. They looked up different combinations of ingredients and recipes for cleaning all aspects of the home, from the kitchen to the bathroom.

Thus Human Kind cleaning products were brought to life. Each product has its own special blend of oils and ingredients that Demos carefully crafted.

She said she selects her oils locally from the wizard of oils himself, Nick Berry, who operates Essential Oil Wizardry in San Luis Obispo. Demos said she trusts that those essential oils are coming from an organic source.

With these oils Demos has made a multi-surface cleaner and cleaners for glass, wood floors, and tile. She's also made furniture polish and a toilet scrub. All of these products have a combination of aromas that not only clean but also send you to another place.

"My whole goal when I started my business wasn't about making money, it was about spreading awareness that what we clean with every day is harmful to ourselves and the environment," Demos said.

With the multi-surface cleaner labeled "Love," the ingredients include frankincense, rosemary, lavender, lemongrass, and distilled water.

"It has that name because you love the place you spend the most time in so take time to take care of it and yourself," she said.

Demos hopes to grow her business, but she's also happy with just spreading awareness about the alternative products out there.

"I really want to show people that we don't have to clean with things that we grew up cleaning up with," she said.

To learn more about Demos' cleaning services or her product line, visit humankindcleaning.com.

Fast facts

The Community Foundation of San Luis Obispo County awarded the Central Coast Autism Spectrum Center with a grant of $5,600 to help expand the center's arts program. The grant came after the center launched Art on the Spectrum, a five-week workshop where participants explored the works of famous artists and created their own interpretation of the work. The mission of the program is to strengthen the quality of life for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. The grant has given the Central Coast Autism Spectrum Center the ability to increase workshops and explore new partnerships with the local arts community. For more information about the Central Coast Autism Spectrum Center, visit sloautism.org. Δ

Staff Writer Karen Garcia wrote this week's Strokes and Plugs. Send tips to [email protected].