Cleaning with essential oils is becoming an increasingly popular way to keep your home clean and healthy. With their powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties, essential oils are the ideal choice when it comes to tackling those hard-to-clean areas.
If you’re looking for an effective yet simple cleaning method that doesn’t require any harsh chemicals or toxins, then this guide will help get you off on the right foot.
What Are Essential Oils?
Essential oils have been used for centuries, with records of their use throughout ancient Chinese, Indian, Egyptian, and Greek civilizations. Essential oils are highly concentrated compounds extracted from plants like flowers, citrus fruits, herbs, and spices.
The extraction process can occur via steam distillation or cold pressing to capture the fragrant essence of the plant in its purest form. Each oil has its own unique chemical composition and aroma - ranging from woody and earthy scents such as cedarwood to sweet and floral aromas like lavender.
These natural substances are known for their therapeutic properties that promote physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. They have a wide range of applications, including aromatherapy, massage therapy, skin care products and home cleaning supplies. Essential oils can also act as an effective natural insect repellent when applied topically or diffused into the air.
With proper usage, these oils can provide a safe, non-toxic alternative to mainstream synthetic chemicals for many aspects of our lives.
Why Use Essential Oils To Clean Your Home?
Essential oils offer a natural, eco-friendly solution to cleaning your home. They are a cost-effective and versatile way to make sure your environment is safe, healthy, and free of harsh chemicals that can be linked to various health issues.
Essential oils provide an array of benefits for the home environment, from the therapeutic scent they bring with them to their naturally occurring antibacterial properties that are perfect for kitchen or bathroom cleaning. The essential oils used in traditional cleaning products are derived from plants that have been used in many cultures for thousands of years, so you can rest assured knowing that these products are rooted in centuries of knowledge and experience.
Not only do essential oils offer a chemical-free option when it comes to cleaning, but they can also be used as aromatherapy agents or even as a way to help boost your immune system. With the power of nature on your side, essential oil cleaners allow you to cleanse your home while giving yourself a major health benefit at the same time.
The Benefits of Essential Oils
Essential oils provide many unique and practical benefits for those looking to clean their home. Their powerful antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties make them ideal for disinfecting surfaces, killing germs, and eliminating odors. In addition to these health benefits, essential oils can also be used to help remove sticky residue from surfaces such as countertops or shelves.
For those who want an uplifting or calming atmosphere in their home, certain essential oils are perfect for creating a relaxed or refreshed mood. Essential oils are also known to alleviate headaches that may come from the strong scents of chemical-based cleaning products.
With a wide range of scents available, you can use essential oils to customize your cleaning routine while enjoying the many additional benefits they offer. Additionally, with their natural ingredients, essential oils are far more eco-friendly than many other chemical-based cleaning solutions available on the market - saving you money as well as helping keep your home clean and safe!
Best Essential Oils for Cleaning
Lemon Essential Oil
Lemon oil is one of the most versatile essential oils around due its antibacterial, antiviral, and cleaning properties. Not only does it smell great, but its cleaning power can really help keep your home clean. It can be used in DIY cleaners to freshen up kitchens, bathrooms and other counters.
But it also has other useful purposes such as being able to remove sticky residue from items such as stickers that just won’t come off all the way or sap from climbing trees. It can even be used for shining wood floors and furniture.
All you have to do is add a few drops of lemon oil to your homemade cleaner or directly on an area where sticky residue or sap needs removing. Working with lemon oil might take a bit more elbow grease than expected compared to conventional cleaners but the end result will be worth it!
And not only will your home smell incredibly fresh and look sparkling clean, but it will also benefit from the naturally occurring antiseptic properties that come with using this amazing essential oil!
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea tree oil is a powerful and effective essential oil that has been used for centuries to keep homes clean, hygienic and safe. It is known for its ability to fight bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other harmful organisms.
Studies have shown that it not only effectively prevents influenza and norovirus but also effectively fights off other nasty germs that can cause respiratory illnesses and intestinal infections. In addition to fighting off germs, tea tree oil can also be used to remove mildew odors and musty smells in home.
Using tea tree oil as part of your regular cleaning routine can be extremely beneficial for keeping the home free of illness-causing bacteria and viruses. You can put a few drops into your trashcan, bathroom sink or garbage disposal unit to help keep them smelling fresh. You can also add it to mop water when mopping floors or use it as an all-purpose cleaner when wiping down counters.
Surprisingly, you can even add it to your laundry machine with detergent when washing clothes or towels in order to give them a lasting fresh scent. In addition, you can opt for diffusing tea tree oil in the room as well – this will help purify the air in your home naturally while making it smell pleasantly refreshing at the same time.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus oil is one of the most versatile essential oils for cleaning, as it has powerful antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. This makes it a great choice for eliminating germs that can cause diseases such as the flu, pneumonia, strep throat and staph infections.
As if that wasn’t enough, eucalyptus oil can also help alleviate seasonal allergies. On top of its many health benefits, this essential oil makes a great all-purpose cleaner when you want to repel rats or get rid of tough odors like those found in cloth baby diapers. Just add a few drops to your diaper pail and watch the odors disappear.
For mold and mildew issues around the home, try spraying a mixture of eucalyptus oil and water in the affected areas. The oil will penetrate deep into cracks and crevices, killing the spores on contact while leaving a refreshing scent behind.
You can even use eucalyptus to create household cleaning products such as all-purpose cleaners or air fresheners with just a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice.
Orange Essential Oil
Orange oil is more than just a pleasant-smelling citrus oil; it has powerful cleansing and antibacterial properties. It’s derived from the peeling of oranges, which contain natural enzymes that eat bacteria and prevent them from growing back. This makes it a great choice for an all-purpose cleaner or for cleaning grease or cutting boards where you don’t want to leave an unpleasant odor.
Orange oil can also be used in aromatherapy to help refresh your space, clear away negative energy, and lift your spirits. Its sweet aroma is calming and soothing, providing an enjoyable experience when used in scent diffusers or candles. With its many uses, orange oil is a wonderful addition to any home!