How To Use Essential Oils Throughout The Home

Guest Author: BusyBee Cleaning Services

Essential oils may be great for aromatherapy, but can they really be used to help clean your home? In fact, lemon, tea tree, rosemary, lavender, and peppermint essential oils are all naturally antibacterial, whereas many more, like orange, pine, and eucalyptus, are often major ingredients in less-natural cleaning products. For me, the initial purchase of a bunch of essential oils was absolutely worth it; only a few drops are ever used at once, and they have plenty of uses around the home. Here are just a few of the ways you can clean and freshen your house with them.

Create Your Own, Cheaper Air Freshener

  • This is an obvious one, but it’s very useful. Pick your favorite scent and put it in a spray bottle with some distilled water. Spray as necessary. I like to spray a lavender freshener on linens.

Repel Pests

  • Put a drop of oil on a cotton ball, and scatter a bunch of these around your kitchen. Peppermint oil repels mice and spiders, while lavender, citronella, lemongrass, and rosemary oils repel flying insects.

Freshen Clothes

  • Either put a nice scent, like lavender oil, on cotton balls and put them in your dresser, or create a sachet out of rice, a few drops of oil, and spare cloth.
  • You can also put a few drops of your favorite oils onto a damp cloth and throw it in the dryer as an alternative to scented dryer sheets.

Take Deep Breaths

  • Eucalyptus oil in the shower, in your humidifier, or just in a pan of simmering water on the stove can help you breathe easier.

Kill or Prevent Mold

  • Mix tea tree oil and water and spray onto the affected area to get rid of mold and mildew. Let it sit and then wipe it away.

Deodorize Trashcans

  • Mix hot, soapy water with some eucalyptus oil and swirl it in the bottom of your trash can if it needs a freshened smell.

Repel Foot Odors

  • Use basil or lavender oil in your shoes. I like to put a cotton ball with basil oil on it in my shoe caddy.

Make Your Dishes Sparkle

  • Put a few drops of lemon oil into your dishwasher before running it.

Create a Dry Wash

  • If you have non-leather upholstery, you can freshen it with oils combined with baking soda. Dust it on and then vacuum it off. Lemon, peppermint, lavender, and ylang-ylang oils work best.
  • Combine baking soda with the powerful germicide eucalyptus to destroy dust mites on your mattress or your child’s stuffed animals.

Repel Pet Odors

  • Mop up strong pet odors with hot water, a cleanser, and either lemongrass or geranium oils.

Keep the Toilet Fresh

  • Add drops of tea tree oil to your toilet tank so every time someone flushes, it fills the bathroom with a nice scent. It also cleans the inside of the toilet.

Get Gum Off

  • Lemon and orange oils can get rid of many different sticky materials. (Launder immediately after using it on clothing to avoid stains.)

Clean Wooden Cutting Boards

  • Use the powerful thyme essential oil to destroy germs.

And there are plenty more ideas out there! I have to admit that whenever I see a new cleaning tip that includes essential oils, I get a little excited. They can make your house smell great in no time!Source: Busybee Cleaning Services


Restless Leg Blend

What is Restless Leg Syndrome?

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a condition in which you have an uncontrollable urge to move your legs, usually due to leg discomfort. It typically happens in the evenings or nights while you’re sitting or lying down. Moving eases the unpleasant feeling temporarily. (source: MayoClinic.org)

What can I do about my RLS?

Essential Oils can be used to ease the frustration experienced with RLS.  Try the Restless Leg Blend displayed below:

Restless Leg Essential Oil Blend

Blend 2 – 5 drops each of the the following oils:
Basil
Lavender
German Chamomile (blue)
Cedarwood

Massage blended oils on lower legs and feet prior to going to bed.

Update 10/19/2020:

While we are on the subject of RLS, I want to share an article about pain & sleep.  The author, Jennifer Walker-Journey, presents a very thorough article on the many conditions that cause pain and keep us from getting the rest that we really need.  Included, is a section on RLS. I recommend this article to RLS sufferers.

You can read the article on The Mattress Nerd site.

Pain and Sleep

by Jennifer Walker-Journey

If you are losing sleep due to a painful condition, you could be making your condition worse with each night that passes. In this guide, you’ll learn more about how pain & sleep are connected and find a way to get a good night’s sleep once and for all. (read more)

Excerpt: RLS and Sleep

RLS is most often classified as a neurological sensory disorder. But it is also considered a movement disorder because symptoms are relieved by moving the legs, as well as a sleep disorder since symptoms are generally worse at and can disrupt sleep.

About 7-10% of U.S. adults have RLS, and about 80% of RLS sufferers also experience periodic limb movement of sleep, or PMLS, a condition in which a person involuntarily twitch or jerk their legs or arms every 15 to 40 seconds during sleep. For some people, these movements continue throughout the night.  (Read Entire Article)

Disclaimer:

Statements concerning essential oils contained in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article and the products discussed  are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.

This article is a conversation concerning essential oils, diet options= and the author’s personal experiences.

Follow the general safety guidelines and discuss essential oil treatments with your healthcare provider prior to treating a specific disease or ailment.