When you think of essential oils, you probably picture a relaxing spa setting with aromatherapy diffusers radiating soothing scents and melting all your cares away. Essential oils are ideal for promoting a peaceful environment and rejuvenating your mind, body, and spirit. Aside from their calming aromatic properties, essential oils are excellent for various applications around your house!
1. Powerful (And Pleasant) Cleaning
Are you tired of using the same expensive cleaning products? Or maybe you’re concerned about the environmental impact of conventional cleaners? Either way, you can make yourself a fantastic, natural all-purpose cleaning solution with a few household ingredients––plus your essential oils!
In a spray bottle, combine 16 ounces of warm water, 1/4 cup of white vinegar, and about 30 drops of the essential oils of your choice. Keep in mind that some essential oils have powerful cleaning properties, while others enhance the scent of the cleaning solution. Young Living Essential Oils recommends lemon, tea tree, clove, eucalyptus, and rosemary oils for a powerful clean––but you can really use any oil of your choice. After that, simply spray and wipe down your countertops, stovetop, microwave, sink, and even your floor!
If you want to really freshen the air in your home while you’re vacuuming, you can add some essential oils. Take your favorite essential oil––lavender is fabulous for this because of its relaxing properties––and put a few drops into your dust canister or vacuum bag, and that’s it. While vacuuming, you’ll release the soothing scent all over your home!
Essential oils are also a fantastic addition to homemade laundry soap. Making your own laundry soap is super simple, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. First, you’ll need to take two bars of Fels-Naptha bar soap and grate them. You can use a food processor or grate it by hand on the fine grating or zester side of a box grater. Then, add 2 cups of soap flakes, 2 cups of washing soda, and 2 cups of borax. All of these products can be found online or in the laundry section of the grocery store. Now comes the fun part, the oils! Add in 20-40 drops of your favorite essential oils. Lavender is an excellent choice for laundry because of its relaxing aroma! Tea tree, rosemary, lemon, and basil are also great choices. You can also add your oils in the dry cycle! After you put your laundry in the dryer, drop some oils of your choice onto wool dryer balls, and toss them in! They’ll fluff your clothes, eliminate static, and infuse your clothing with a gorgeous, long-lasting scent.
2. Natural Pest Control
Roaches, ants, and spiders, oh my! Even if your regularly clean your home, pesky critters can still find their way into your space. Fortunately, a few simple essential oil applications can make your home inhospitable to pests. Take a spray bottle or a bowl and combine 1/4 cup of water, 15 drops of spearmint, eucalyptus, lemon, and tea tree oil, and wipe down your kitchen surfaces with the solution. This concoction will deter pests and leave your kitchen smelling fresh. If there is a particular area where you know critters are getting in––for example, a window sash that doesn’t seal all the way when closed––put a line of undiluted peppermint oil along the area; this creates a barrier that bugs do not want to cross.
If you have a rodent problem and want an inexpensive and humane way to eliminate these unwanted guests, essential oils can be a huge help. Peppermint oil works wonders for mouse control. Put several drops on cotton balls, and place them in areas of your home where you’ve seen mouse droppings. The smell is way too strong for their tiny mouse noses, and they will find another place to seek shelter.
Do you have a pet that’s always coming in from outside covered with fleas and ticks? Conventional flea and tick treatments can be very expensive, and sometimes they can cause unwanted side effects. Essential oils present a natural and effective solution to eliminating these pesky visitors. Mix 15 ounces of water with 15 drops of lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint oils in your trusty spray bottle. Then, simply spray down your pet once a week to protect them from pests!
Essential oils are an effective, environmentally friendly, and inexpensive product to add to your home care routine. Their benefits stretch far beyond simply smelling good; they are effective cleaning agents with many uses and a great form of humane pest control. Stop overpaying for chemicals and create your own natural home solutions with essential oils!
