Cleaning more naturally

Many people are "freaking out" trying to do things the more natural and organic way. It's not always as easy as it seems, but there are few simple things you can do at home. For starters you may clean your home with essential oils instead of chemical detergents. I love essential oils, and I love the scent throughout the house after I've cleaned with them. My favourites are Lavender, Tea Tree and Eucalyptus oil. Essential oils are available at most, if not all, pharmacies. You may also get them from natural/organic markets. Some retailers and supermarkets also stock them. If you do not want to trade in your usual household detergents, you may add essential oils to your usual cleaning routine.

Note that many essential oils have different properties, but when it comes to cleaning, you want to use the anti-bacterial and anti-septic ones and add a few drops of other oils you like for scent.

When purchasing Ess. oils, they must be in dark, glass bottles: this filters out UV light. After opening and using it, make sure you close it properly and tightly, and store in a cool, dry place. Citrus ess. oils are most prone to oxidation. Also, ess. oils are flammable, so store them safely away from your oven and candle-light. You may refrigerate essential oils, but I prefer to store them in a box at the back of the bottom shelf either in the bathroom, or a wardrobe/closet.

Here are a few mixtures to try:

Floor Cleaner:

• add ¼ cup white vinegar to a bucket of water
• 10 drops lemon oil, lavender or eucalyptus
• 5 drops oregano oil, pine, spruce, tea tree or lemon, lavender or eucalyptus (whichever one you didn't use above)

Window cleaner:

• Mix 1 cup vinegar and water in spray bottle.
• Add 10-15 drops lemon essential oil.
• Shake and use.

Vinegar leaves windows shining. But nobody said your house needs to smell like vinegar. 

Fly Repelling Window Cleaner:

In summer, wipe down windows with a damp cloth containing fly-repelling essential oils such as lavender or lemongrass.

• For every 50 ml water, add 10 drops of lavender or lemongrass

Sounds much but you don't need much water to WIPE down your windows. 

Laundry:
Essential oils may be used to enhance the cleanliness and fragrance of your laundry. Dust mites live in your bedding and feed from the dead skin cells we constantly shed. I know it's unpleasant, I'm scratching my skin just thinking about it. Research has shown that eucalyptus oil kills dust mites. To achieve effective dust mite control, add 25 drops of eucalyptus to each washing machine load, or approximately 15ml to a bottle of liquid detergent.

You may also add several drops of essential oils to the rinse cycle, such as fir, spruce, juniper, lavender, cedarwood, wintergreen/birch, tea tree or rosewood.

Another thing you may do is make a mixture of 1 cup vodka and 20-30 drops of eucalyptus essential oil and put it into a spray bottle. Spray your pillows and bedding a couple times per week. Use the spray on upholstery and carpets as well.

When hanging up bedding after it's been washed, hang it in the sun or tumble dry it. The heat may also kill micro-organisms, and the sun has sterilizing properties.

Stain Removal:

• Use a drop or two of lemon essential oil on stains.
• Let it stand and rub off with a clean cloth or throw into laundry cycle.

In the Dryer:

• Instead of using toxic and irritating softeners in the dryer, toss in a dampened washcloth with 10 drops of lavender, lemon, tea tree, bergamot, or other oils.
• While the oils will not reduce static cling, they will leave a lovely fragrance to the clothes.

Kitchens and bathrooms:

• Mix 2 drops rosemary, 4 drops lemon, 3 drops eucalyptus, and 4 drops lavender oil in warm (not hot) water in a spray bottle
• Shake well
• Shake again before using

Dishwashing Soap:

To add fragrance or to improve the antiseptic action of your liquid soap , add several drops of essential oils such as lavender, tea tree, fir, spruce, pine, lemon, bergamot, and/or orange.

Hot tubs and saunas:

• Use 3 drops (per person) of lavender, cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, thyme, lemon, or grapefruit to disinfect and freshen the water.
• For saunas, add several drops rosemary, thyme, pine, or lavender to a spray bottle with water and spray surfaces. This water can also be used to splash onto hot sauna stones.

Deodorizing kitchens and bathrooms, etc.

The kitchen and bathroom are often a source of odors and bacteria. The following mixtures may help to freshen, deodorize, and disinfect the air, work areas, cupboards, bathroom fixtures, sinks, tiles, woodwork, and carpets. These blends are safe for the family and for the environment. They will clean the air instead of masking the odors.

Always shake well and keep on shaking the bottle as you use these mixtures, as oils may separate from water. 

• 4 cups water
• 2 drops rosemary
• 4 drops lemon
• 3 drops Eucalyptus
• 4 drops lavender
• Shake well and put in a spray bottle

OR

• 4 cups water
• 5 drops pine
• 4 drops chamomile
• 4 drops tea tree, 4 drops lemongrass, or 4 drops clove

Basic Disinfectant/ Household cleaner:

Add your favorite antiseptic, anti-bacterial essential oils. Make sure it includes lemon.

• Spray bottle with water
• A squirt of natural soap (or dishwashing liquid)
• 5 drops each of lavender, lemon, and lemongrass
• Shake well

OR

Add a drop or two of eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, pine, juniper, thyme, or rosemary to a damp cloth and wipe down the surfaces.

Note: Use natural cleaning tools (natural sponge, mop) because essential oils can react with plastic.

Happy cleaning!

Miss B