Essential oils are amazing for so many things, but do they work well to clean with?
The answer is yes! They’re great for cleaning. But not just any essential oil will do. You need the right one.
We have a list of the best essential oils that you can use for cleaning around your home or office
There is nothing like coming home to a clean house after a long day. But, the problem with cleaning your house is that it takes time and effort.
You can make this process much easier by using homemade eco-friendly cleaning products that include essential oils for cleaning!
In this article, we will discuss ways you can do to use homemade cleaners with essential oils in place of store-bought cleaners.
Uses include
– Cleaning mirrors
– Disinfectant
– Deodorizer
– Stain Remover
– Air Freshener
– Laundry Booster
What are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are highly concentrated scent molecules found in the seeds, bark, roots, and flowers of plants.
They can be extracted by methods such as steam distillation or cold pressing.
These molecules contain a variety of chemical compounds that give them their unique scent and other benefits.
Essential oils are used in perfumes, making incense, flavorings, and in cosmetics.
Essential oils are a popular ingredient in homemade cleaning products. Where they add a pleasant smell that lingers.
Are Essential Oils Safe?
Essential oils are safe to use diluted in homemade cleaners. However, you never take them internally or apply them neat to the skin. They must be kept away from small children.
It’s important that people who use essential oils understand the risks and potential reactions.
They are very concentrated and must be not be used neat instead they are combined with a carrier oil such as olive oil, or diluted in liquid when making homemade cleaning products.
Are Essentail Oils Effective?
Adding essential oils alone will not completely clean and disinfect our homes because they provide only localized antimicrobial action on the hard surfaces where they are applied.
However, they do provide a level of cleaning that is adequate for most parts of the home. Except for toilets and areas in the kitchen where you deal with raw foods.
Uses of Essential Oils for Cleaning
Tea Tree Oil Uses
Tea Tree Oil is one of the most widely used essential oils in household cleaners.
This oil is extracted from the Melaleuca tree, which grows in Australia, but can also be found in other regions. Tea Tree oil has a variety of applications:
Related: How to Use Tea Tree Oil for Cleaning: Tips and Hacks
• During the cold and flu season, add tea tree oil to water to use as a cleaning, disinfectant, and purifier.
• To help clean and disinfect cloth diapers, add a few drops to every wash.
• To clean and disinfect your floors, toilets, and other parts of your kitchen, use diluted with water.
Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus is another important oil with disinfecting qualities, that is a popular ingredient in homemade cleaners.
I adore the scent of Eucalyptus because it reminds me of when I was a kid and used to rub Victor vaporub on my chest when I had colds or coughs.
Eucalyptus has antibacterial properties that you can use as a spray in distilled water throughout your home. It’s nice when combined with lemon oil.
Citrus Oils Like Lemon, Grapefruit and Orange
Citrus essential oils from the peels of ripe oranges may be utilized in a variety of ways in your house.
I love the smell of orange essential oil, so I use it regularly in an all-purpose cleaner.
• Orange or lemon essential oil is excellent for cleaning your wooden cutting board when used in a carrier oil like olive oil.
• It’s also a deodorizer. After you’re done using it for the season, place a few drops of the essential oil on a cotton ball and leave it in your cooler.
When you open it the following season, you’ll be greeted by a pleasant orange scent in place of a musty odor.
• Furniture polish that contains natural oils, such as orange oil, may be used to clean, polish, improve, and protect wood without leaving a wax build-up.
Lavender Oil
A versatile oil that can be used for cleaning all around the house is lavender. It not only helps to clean your home, but it also has a lovely scent and may be used to help you unwind.
• You could make a laundry softener that will beat anything you can purchase at the store.
Over a sink, carefully mix 32 ounces of white vinegar with 32 ounces of baking soda: careful the mixture will bubble. Add 64 ounces of distilled or purified water and a half-ounce of lavender essential oil. Add one-quarter cup to each load of laundry. Rinse as usual and hang to dry.
• If you add a few droplets of lavender essential oil to your dishwashing liquid, not only will it give the aroma but it will also improve the antiseptic quality of the soap.
Conclusion
Essential oils are not only great for relaxation or aromatherapy but can also be used to clean your home with other natural ingredients.
Essential oils contain anti-bacterial properties that help kill germs and bacteria in the air around you.
They’re all-natural so when diluted they are safe to use on hard surfaces like countertops, sinks, floors, tables, walls pretty much anywhere around the home!
With a little bit of time and patience, you can create some really effective sweet-smelling homemade cleaners with essential oils.
Further Reading
- Ways to use essential oils for cleaning
- Homemade cleaning products
- Are bought cleaning products toxic?
Other Cleaning Articles to Enjoy
- Eco Friendly Bathroom Cleaner Recipes
- How to Clean your House with Vinegar: Tips and Hacks
- 10 Baking Soda Cleaning Tricks and Hacks for the Home
- What is Washing Soda and its Uses?
- What are the Benefits of Steam Cleaning?
