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Adding a few drops of orange, cedar or lavender essential oils to your house cleaning solutions will gently permeate the environment with pleasant smells. But essential oils, which are plant-based, are packed with potent capabilities beyond their aromatherapeutic appeal. Some possess powerful antibacterial qualities; they're not simply for masking odors.
When I was cleaning for a living I seldom used conventional brand name cleaners, and sometimes my clients were surprised that I could make their houses sparkle (and smell pleasant) in spite of that.
Many people are aware of the benefits but don't realize how easy it is to make their own cleaning solutions with essential oils. All of the oils mentioned here are generally available at your local health food store. You'll probably have the other ingredients in your pantry already.
Here are six simple ways to use essential oils for common (and uncommon) cleaning challenges:
Scrub away mold or mildew with this natural alternative to ammonia:
Mix 10 drops tea tree, patchouli or cinnamon essential oil into half cup vinegar.
2. Grout
Make a paste with baking soda, a few drops of tea tree oil and water. Apply paste to grout, and allow it to sit overnight. Scrub with a stiff brush dipped in white vinegar, then rinse with white vinegar. The resulting suds are a powerful cleansing reaction.
3. Bathroom rugs
Between washings, sprinkle bath rugs with half a cup of baking soda premixed with 10 drops of peppermint essential oil, brush the mixture lightly into the rug then vacuum.
In a microwave-safe bowl, combine:
- 10 drops lemon essential oil
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 4 oz water
Place bowl inside microwave, then run it on high for 4 minutes. Wipe off the walls with a paper towel.
5. Laundry
For pretreating a stained garment, combine:
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 5 drops of tea tree essential oil
Add these ingredients to a wash tub of warm water, then place clothes in the solution and soak for an hour before washing.
6. Wood Furniture and Floors
To clean scuff marks or spots, apply a drop of lemon essential oil to a damp cloth and scrub. Also try using one drop of lavender oil mixed with a drop of lemon juice.
Alternatives to toxic solvents and cleaning solutions are better for us and better for the earth. I'm impressed by the number of people who are genuinely interested in weaning themselves off products that are potentially harmful to the environment and to themselves. Essential oils have become, well, essential in my cleaning caddy.
Suzanne Arthur ©2006
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position or perspective of Housekeeping Channel LLC.
