Benefits of Cleaning with Essential Oils

Essential oils have been used for thousand of years for healing and cosmetics. More recently their natural antibacterial, anti -fungal and antiviral properties are making them a favorite as a safe substitute for those concerned about exposure to chemicals in their cleaning products. Used alone or combined with baking soda and vinegar potent essential oils like Lemon, Peppermint, Eucalyptus and Tea Tree are especially good for cleaning. They will lace your home with incredible scents while picking up bacteria as good as commercial products you are using now.

Ways to Use Essential Oils

Using essential oils for cleaning your home doesn't need to be difficult and you don't need complicated recipes for homemade cleansers to get a good result. Commercial cleaning products market to make us feel we need a specialized product for every thing we clean but a few simple and safe homemade products using some natural ingredients and essential oils will clean up most of our areas without all the fuss and cost of keeping all kinds of cleaners around. Here are a couple easy ideas to get you started.

Sanitizing

Try wetting a cloth or paper towel with a little water and several drops of Lemon or Peppermint to clean and sanitize your bathroom and kitchen fixtures.

All Purpose Cleaning

For a Lavender All-Purpose Cleaner fill a squirt bottle 3/4 full with water, add 10 drops of Lavender and a tiny bit of dishwashing liquid. Or if you are ready to go the whole distance for a truly chemical free cleanser forget the dishwashing liquid and use 1/2 cup castile soap and 2/3 cup baking soda for a creamy paste you can use all around your bathroom and kitchen.

Mold and Mildew

Tea Tree essential oil is made from the Australian Melaleuca tree and possesses antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal properties. It works especially well in getting rid of mildew and mold around the house. Just mix two teaspoons Tea Tree oil with two cups water in a spray bottle. Use it on moldy or mildewed areas like bathrooms and showers. No need to rinse. Just Leave it to work on removing the mold and bacteria. You can use this spray anywhere you find a musty smell.

Don't Be Confused!

When buying your oils remember they ARE NOT the same as Fragrances. Fragrances are artificial perfumes created with chemicals and do not have any use for residential cleaning. In fact Fragrances are one of the more toxic substances we can be exposed to. Fragrances are often used for things such as perfume, candles, incents, and soaps as well as to give your chemical based cleaning products the perfumed smells you know them by. Pay attention to the ingredients even when there appear to be some essential oils in a product. Some fragrance oils have both essential oils and artificial fragrances. Know that THERE IS a difference between the two.