Topical application and inhalation are the most common ways of using essential oils. There are other ways to incorporate essential oils into your life than just applying them on the body or inhaling the oils.
Here are some more tips so you quickly can get into the habit of using the essential oils in your daily life.
Cleaning and disinfectingAdd a few drops of oil to the dishwasher to help disinfect and purify. Essential oils can also be added to the sponge or the cloth for extra freshness. Common oils to use are fir, lavender, Melaleuca Alternifolia, pine, spruce, bergamot, orange and lemon.
Dishwashing SoapAdd several drops of essential oils like orange, tangerine, pine, lemon, and peppermint to a bottle of liquid soap. Use un-scented or natural soap if possible. Liquid castile soap can be used too.
LaundryYou can add essential oils to enhance the cleanliness and fragrance of the laundry. Recent research shows that eucalyptus oils kills dust mites. Add 25 drops of eucalyptus oil to each load for an effective dust mite control. You can also add 1 tablespoon to a bottle of liquid laundry detergent.
A few drops of oils like spruce, lavender, fir, juniper, rosewood, wintergreen/birch, cedarwood and juniper can also be added to the rinse cycle.
Use a dampened wash cloth with 10 drops of lavender, bergamot, lemon, or melaleuca instead of a softening agent in the dryer.
Carpets and floorsMake your own non-toxic aromatic and cleaning products for the carpet and floors.
Non-carpet floorsAdd 1/4 cup of white vinegar to a bucket of water.Add 5-10 drops of pine, spruce, melaleuca, or lemon.Add several drops of dishwashing soap if the floor is especially dirty.
Carpet floorsAdd 16-20 drops of essential oils 1 cup of baking sodaMix well and put in a covered container overnight. Sprinkle over the carpet and then vaccum the powder.
Room deodorizerMake a room spray to deodorize, freshen, and disinfect the bathrooms, work areas, sinks, tiles, woodwork, carpets, cupboards etc.
Mix:Rosemary CT cineol 2 dropsLemon 4 dropsEucalyptus globulus 3 dropsLavender 4 drops1 cup of water
Add it to a spray bottle and shake well since essential oils separate easily from water.
For more natural cleaning recipes and tips check out my post, Cleaning with Essential Oils
Spiders, fleas, dust mites, ticks, ants and moreRepel these nasty little bugs with natural essential oils instead of with toxic chemicals.
Peppermint, lemon, lavender Eucalyptus globulus, citronella, basil, thyme,cinnamon, cypress, and lemongrass are insect repellents.
For moth repellents for your linens and woolens use essential oils like citronella, lemongrass, lavender instead of toxic moth balls. Rosemary and Red Cedar may also be effective. Make a sachet by placing essential oil drops on a cotton ball. Wrap and tie this in a small handkerchief or similar. Hang in storage areas or add to the linens.
The sachet can also be put in the drawers. Switch out the essential oils for something pleasing like lavender or rose.
Roman chamomile is very soothing and relaxing for children's sleepwear. Add a scented cotton ball to an envelop to scent stationary.
Hot Tubs and Saunas
Jacuzzis, saunas and hot tubs are favorite spots for germs. You can disinfect the water using essential oils like cinnamon, lavender, clove, lemon, thyme, grapefruit or Eucalyptus globulus. Use 3 drops per person.
Add several drops of thyme, pine, rosemary or lavender to a spray bottle with water and spray down the surfaces in the sauna. You can also use scented water to splash down the hot sauna stones.
Some oils may damage plastic sauna/spa filters or hoses.
Painting
Add 1 teaspoon of your favorite essential oil to one gallon of paint. Mix well. The oil will counteract the unpleasant smell of the paint. The essential oils ware not fatty oils so there is no need to worry about leaving spots on the wall.
Before you leave:
Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:
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Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives.
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