As you know, I’m a big fan of making my own non-toxic versions of conventional beauty and personal care products, such as my natural whipped body butter and foaming hand soap, and this interest also extends to home cleaning products.
A big problem with conventional cleaning products is, apart from the risk of exposing your family to toxic chemicals and potential carcinogens, that manufacturers are legally not obliged to disclose their ingredients on the packaging. So, how are we to trust even the so-called ‘natural’ products on the shelf if they’re not willing to tell us what’s in them?
What we need are natural, effective and affordable alternatives to these products.
Cue essential oils!
Essential oils have been widely used in aromatherapy for decades thanks to their stress relieving properties, and many essential oils also have antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic and degreasing properties, making them perfect for your home cleaning projects!
Sophie from PerfectCleaning W4 shares with us some fantastic cleaning tips using essential oils. Not only will they save you money in the long run, but you will also be doing your health a favour as none of the following concoctions contain any harmful chemicals.
DIY cleaning solutions with essential oils
Make your own multi-purpose cleaner with a mixture of tea tree oil, lemon oil and warm water. Pour into a spray bottle, shake well and spray onto the surface you want to disinfect.
Mosquitoes can pose a huge trouble in the summer and your plans for spending the evening on the patio can be completely ruined unless you find a way to protect yourself from mosquito bites. Make a solution of eucalyptus, citronella and lemon grass oil, one tablespoon of coconut oil and apply to your skin.
Grass stains on your kids’ clothes are a cinch to remove by treating the piece of clothing with a mixture of warm water, a few drops of tea tree and lemon essential oil and four tablespoons of baking soda. Mix well so you get a thick paste.
Essential oils can also help you improve the quality of indoor air and neutralise persistent odours such as cigarette smoke. For best results, opt for cinnamon essential oil as it is well-known for its anti-bacterial properties. The most basic air deodoriser can be made by adding drops of essential oil to water in a spray bottle. The more drops you add, the stronger the scent will be.
Two more deodorising applications of essential oils are to add a few drops to the washing machine cycle or add 5 to 10 drops into the vacuum bag to freshen your clothes and home.
Having a healthy-looking tan is great, but protecting your skin from dangerous UV rays is essential. Make your own non-toxic sunscreen lotion by mixing together shea butter, coconut oil, lavender oil and helichrysum oil.
A mixture of warm water, eucalyptus oil and tea tree oil is the best home made solution against mould, and it also helps remove scum from shower curtains.
Add a few drops of tea tree oil and borax for an effective carpet cleaning powder.
Everyone knows how difficult it is to clean burnt pans, but a few drops of lemon oil dissolved in boiling water can make this task so much easier.
Decrease the strength of bad smells coming from the rubbish bin by soaking cotton balls in essential oil and placing them in the bottom of the bin.
Sometimes, washing your fruit and vegetables with water is not enough. The glossy apples in the supermarkets might look fantastic, but it does not mean they are healthy. In order to get that mouth watering look, they are covered with a type of wax, which also keeps them edible for longer. You can remove the wax coating by submerging the fruits and vegetables in warm water in which you have dissolved a few drops of lemon oil. Scrub with a soft towel and rinse under running water.
As you can see, the cleaning possibilities with essential oils are endless! Let me know what essential oils you love using for cleaning in your home.
Jem xx
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