Adding pure essential oils to your cleaning routine will boost your natural cleaners’ effectiveness and leave your home smelling as good as it looks! Just a few drops to your homemade solutions will leave behind a clean, natural scent – without leaving dangerous chemicals in their wake. Whether you love soothing lavender, invigorating peppermint, or prefer another scent, here are some simple ways to freshen your home naturally.
- Refresh your laundry. If your towels are smelly or mildewed, add 1 cup of vinegar, ½ cup of baking soda, and 10 drops of essential oil to your washing machine and wash on hot. You can also create reusable dryer sheets with some fabric scraps or baby washcloths, vinegar, and your favorite oils.
- Scrap the scrubbing. Scrubbing powders can be harsh on your fixtures and your hands. Instead of a chemical-based solution, mix together ½ cup baking soda, ½ cup Himalayan sea salt, and 40 drops of essential oil in a wide glass jar. Sprinkle all over your bathtub and bathroom counters, let sit, and then wipe away.
- Cleanse your carpet. Add a few drops of essential oil to a box of baking soda and then sprinkle on your carpets (lavender is perfect in bedrooms and living rooms where you want to relax!). Let the combination sit for an hour, and then vacuum up. It will snatch the smell and dirt from your most highly trafficked carpets.
- Mix up an all-purpose cleaner. Forget buying different cleaning products for every room in your house. Just combine one-part vinegar to 10 parts water in a spray bottle and add a few drops of grapefruit, tea tree, or eucalyptus essential oil.
- Remove the ring. Toilet bowl rings usually require harmful chemicals and lots of elbow grease. Instead, add ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide to the bowl, sprinkle in 1 cup of baking soda, and top off with five to seven drops of essential oil (consider clove and cinnamon!). Let sit for 15 minutes, scrub, and then flush away safely.
- Revive your fabrics. Many of us use odor eliminator sprays on our mattresses and couches. Why not whip up your own signature scent? Choose oils that offer a relaxing aroma as well as germ-fighting powers, such as rosemary. Add a few drops to some water in a bottle and spray those smells away! Just be sure to test the solution on an inconspicuous spot on your furniture first.
- Shine up your tables. Speaking of furniture, create an all-natural polish that adds shine and protects your wood. Combine 1-ounce solid coconut oil with 12 drops of jojoba carrier oil, and seven drops of essential oil. Use a microfiber cloth to add a small amount to your tables and shelves and buff until it has absorbed into the wood.
Many of those used for cleaning, like lemon and lavender, are ideal for personal use as well.
Read up on safety before using any essential oils, especially if you have children or pets in your home or are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking prescription medications. Always purchase 100% pure oils with no additives or adulterants.
As a green cleaning company in the Metro East, Annointed Hands uses our own combination of essential oils, not only for their pleasant smell, but for their anti-bacterial properties. That means we leave your home fresher and healthier every time we clean! To learn more about our services, contact Annointed Hands today for your no-obligation quote.