Cleaning with Essential Oils

Here are some important things to remember:

• When making essential oils cleaning sprays, use distilled or filtered water because the chlorine in tap water will deteriorate essential oils over time. Label the bottle, so you know what it is later. Also, shake well before each use to thoroughly mix the water and oils.
  
  
• Baking soda and vinegar are old standbys for green cleaning, and you can add an essential oil of your choice to cut the odor of the vinegar.
  
  
• If you are unsure about using an essential oil blend on a surface, spot test first.
  
  
• Just as with other cleaning products, keep essential oil cleaning products away from young children and pets.
  
  
• For best results, use only pure, high-quality essential oils for cleaning.

Kitchen Deodorizer

In a spray bottle, combine 4 ounces of water with 20 drops lime essential oil, 10 drops cedarwood essential oil, and 5 drops eucalyptus essential oil.

Kitchen Surface Cleaner

For a final rinse, combine 2 pints water with 5 drops bergamot essential oil, 3 drops essential oil, 1 drop eucalyptus essential oil, and 1 drop thyme essential oil.

Kitchen Floor Cleaner

For a final rinse, combine 2 pints water with 4 drops pine essential oil, 3 drops lemon essential oil, and 2 drops niaouli essential oil.

Wiping Down Surfaces

Add a few drops of lemon essential oil to your sponge or cloth.

Clean your fridge with one drop of orange, mandarin, mint, lavender, or lemon oil added to the final rinse water.

Oven Cleaner

1. Combine 1/2 cup salt, 1/4 cup borax, and 16 ounces baking soda with enough water to make a paste.

2. Remove racks from oven and preheat to 250 degrees. Turn off the oven and spread the paste on the oven walls with a sponge or cloth and let it set for 20 to 30 minutes.

3. Combine 3/4 cup white vinegar, 10 drops thyme essential oil, and 10 drops lemon essential oil in a spray bottle and shake well. Spray the oven walls and wipe clean. May require some elbow grease.

The problem with many scented air fresheners on the market is that they use inferior grade scents or essential oils. The easiest way to freshen the air is to use a diffuser to diffuse the essential oil(s) of your choice.

You can also easily make your own aromatherapy air freshener sprays.

Room Cleansing Spray

In a spray bottle, combine 1/2 cup water, 30 drops bergamot, 25 drops lemon, and 5 drops peppermint. Shake well before each use to thoroughly mix the water and oils.

Antimicrobial Room Spray

In a spray bottle, combine 1/2 cup water, 30 drops lemon, 20 drops thyme, and 10 drops eucalyptus. Shake well before each use to thoroughly mix the water and oils.

For general air freshening, you can use whatever essential oils you enjoy, although here are a couple of suggestions:

• In a spray bottle, combine four ounces of water with 20 drops grapefruit essential oil, 15 drops geranium essential oil, and 10 drops pine essential oil.
  
  
• In a spray bottle, combine four ounces of water with 20 drops lime essential oil, 20 drops lemon essential oil, and 10 drops juniper essential oil.

Sources: Pure Scents for Well Being and Pure Scents for Vitality.

Thieves Household Cleaner from Young Living Essential Oils is a natural, all-purpose concentrate that you can use in every room in your home. You can dilute it in a spray bottle or bucket, or use straight for extra strength. For your convenience, dilution ratios are listed on the label.

This essential oils cleaning product is based on a proprietary Thieves essential oil blend that includes the following essential oils:

Clove oil is nature's richest source of eugenol and the highest-scoring single ingredient tested for its antioxidant capacity on the ORAC scale. Clove is also known for its immune-enhancing properties.*

Lemon oil contains 68 percent d-limonene and is a powerful antioxidant known for its ability to act as a natural solvent and cleanser.

Cinnamon bark is high in antioxidants and has a reputation for relieving discomfort during the winter season and supporting the digestive system.*

Eucalyptus radiata is one of the most versatile of the eucalyptus oils and has many health-promoting properties. This powerful essential oil contains eucalyptol as one if its major elements, which in laboratory tests has been reported as being effective against bacteria in topical applications.(1)

Rosemary oil is naturally energizing and may be beneficial for helping restore mental alertness when experiencing fatigue.

This Thieves blend has been university tested and found to be highly effective against airborne bacteria.(2)

Click here to download a booklet about all Thieves products (PDF).

1. Sue Chao, Craig J. Oberg, D. Gary Young, "Effect of a Diffused Essential Oil Blend on Bacterial Bioaerosols," J. Essent. Oil Res. 10, 517-53 (Sep/Oct 1998).

2. Sushil K. Shahi, A. C. Sukla, et al., "Broad Spectrum Herbal Therapy against Superficial Fungal Infections," Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol. 000; 13:60-64.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

To get rid of stale tobacco or cooking smells use cinnamon, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, orange, tea tree, rosemary, or lime. Saturate cotton balls and place in the corners of a room, in cupboards, or in out-of-the-way places.

Add a few drops of your favorite oil to your garbage can, laundry, drain, vacuum bag filter, or on a tissue in your drawers.

For more natural cleaning recipes, including essential oils cleaning formulas, see The Naturally Clean Home.

Buy essential oils for cleaning.