Have you rummaged under the sink and swapped out the cleaning chemicals lurking under there? Have you thought: "Can I really get a good clean with essential oils?"... YES! All you need is your essential oils plus a couple of extra ingredients you already have on hand! You will love how clean your house is and how wonderful it will smell! If you have kids, you can also feel great about making them help because these cleaners are safe for everyone to use - no gloves necessary!
So why swap out the cleaners that you already have? Well, honesty, because most of the cleaners available in stores - even cleaners marked as "green" or "natural" - have nasty chemicals that are harming our health. Studies show that a lot of these ingredients are known to disrupt the endocrine system, induce allergies and more.
Let’s start out with a fun one because YOU are going to customize it with your favorite cleansing oils! There are so many oils with incredible cleaning & disinfecting properties so it is really fun to customize your cleaning products to fit your mood, room or the season!
Let’s take a look at some of the properties we look for in a cleaning product and find essential oils that have those properties:
ANTIBACTERIAL - Arborvitae, Basil, Bergamot, Breathe, Cassia, Cedarwood, Cilantro, Cinnamon, Clove, Coriander, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Grapefruit, Helichrysum, Lavender, Lemon, Lemongrass, Lime, Marjoram, Melaleuca (Tea Tree), On Guard, Oregano, Peppermint, Pink Pepper, Purify, Roman Chamomile, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Thyme, Turmeric, Wild Orange, Wintergreen
ANTIVIRAL - Arborvitae, Breathe, Cassia, Cinnamon, Clove, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Grapefruit, Helichrysum, Lavender, Lemon, Lime, Melaleuca (Tea Tree), Melissa, Myrrh, On Guard, Oregano, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Thyme, Wild Orange
ANTIFUNGAL - Arborvitae, Bergamot, Cassia, Cilantro, Cinnamon, Clove, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemon, Lemongrass, Marjoram, Melaleuca (Tea Tree), Myrrh, On Guard, Oregano, Patchouli, Peppermint, Purify, Roman Chamomile, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Spikenard, Turmeric, Thyme
Ingredients: 1 cup water 1 cup vinegar 10-15 drops of your favorite cleansing essential oils
Just shake, spray and wipe!
If you are not a DIY-er or you want an “old faithful” in your cleaning cabinet, the On Guard Cleaner Concentrate is your friend! I love it because it has the power of On Guard + is super easy to make! Just a small squirt of the concentrate (for those who like to measure just 2-3 Tbs) in 24oz of water and you are all set to clean!
Let’s tackle the microwave next! I’m sure our microwave isn’t the only one that gets those gross “baked on” spatters… enter this super easy cleaning trick! Just add water + a couple drops of Lemon (or other citrus oil of choice) to a glass mug or measuring cup. Microwave it for a minute or so and the gunk wipes off without any effort + it makes your kitchen smell amazing! This also works for the dishwasher! Just add vinegar + a few drops of lemon to a cup and put it in the dishwasher (top rack) then run on the hottest setting.
This window & mirror DIY cleaner was the first one I switched to when I started getting rid of the cleaning chemicals in our home. It is so easy to make and most people have all the supplies on hand. I am STILL amazed at how well it cleans and doesn’t leave streaks behind!
Ingredients: 1 cup water 1 cup white vinegar 10 drops Wild Orange (or other citrus oil)
Shake and spray on then wipe with a microfiber towel or paper towel.
WARNING: Your windows will be so clear, your dog may try walking through the closed sliding glass door. Feel free to leave a few puppy nose prints to avoid this problem ;)
Simple is GREAT! This countertop spray is easy and gets the job done. Who would have thought that just water and On Guard could have such powerful cleaning properties?!
A couple years ago I had the pleasure of listening to Microbiologist Jennifer Eddins speak on her research studying the effects of doTERRA's On-Guard Blend vs. "superbugs".
We all know that a vast majority of microorganisms (fungi, parasites, bacteria, viruses) can survive on surfaces for quite some time - this can be most concerning during cold/flu season. Once these microorganisms come into contact with something that “feeds” them, such as our skin, they are able to quickly revitalize themselves.
Not only did spraying a mix of On-Guard and water inhibit the spread of the bacteria but it actually killed the bacteria and prevented new growth for 7 DAYS!!! Yes, you read that right - when countertops were sprayed with water + On Guard and allowed to dry, organisms that are supposed to be able to survive on dried surfaces were not able to! So can we protect our surfaces with On Guard? YES! This will be a great one to have on hand for doorknobs, hand railings, etc. during the Fall & Winter months! Ingredients:
1 cup water
5-15 drops of On Guard essential oil
*Remember to shake before spraying, as oil & water do not stay mixed.
That's an incredibly effective surface cleaner for less than $0.40 a bottle and 100% safe for humans, pets, and the environment!
Anyone else have kids, spouse, and pets that contribute to smells that are far from pleasant?
This Carpet Freshener recipe is fantastic to help get rid of odors that carpet can trap and freshen up a room. It’s also super simple, which is a bonus. I don’t do complicated. HA!
Simply combine 1 cup of baking soda and 10 drops of your favorite essential oil combo. Sprinkle over carpet and let it sit for 15 minutes. Vacuum and enjoy your fresh, not smelly carpet! ;)
Laundry day! With kids, I feel like I’m constantly doing laundry - I know I am not the only mom that has experiences the never-ending laundry cycle. Coming across stains is another regular occurrence - thank goodness for this stain stick! I haven’t found a stain, yet, that it hasn’t removed.
All you have to do is fill a 10ml roller bottle with 10 drops of Lemon oil and the rest with On Guard Laundry Detergent (I've been told that the On Guard Cleaner concentrate is a good substitute but I haven't tried it with that yet). Simply roll on stains and let them sit for 30 minutes to an hour. Some tough stains will require a little scrubbing then throw in the washer with the rest of the load and watch the magic that happens!
Another thing that we cut out years ago was our fabric sheets. Instead, we now use dryer balls + essential oils when we are washing something that needs some static help. This is another easy one… just add a few drops of your favorite EO! Feel free to experiment with different oil combos! Serenity is an incredible choice for sheets and bedding to help create that calming nighttime environment and Purify is amazing at getting gym clothes smelling fresh again.
Now that you know my stain removing trick, I want to share how I get fluffy towels and get gym clothes smelling amazing! By now you know that I like to keep things simple as much as possible, and you really cannot get any more simple than this fabric softener! My Grandma always has THE SOFTEST towels and years ago she showed me her trick… lots of fabric softener - LOL. The problem was when I started cutting out all of the toxins from our household items, I realized the fabric softener was going to have to be kicked to the curb too. I found a couple of great ways to get soft, great smelling clothes without allowing icky chemicals to be embedded in them! The trick?... white vinegar + essential oils!
Simply pour about a half a cup + several drops of your choice of essential oil (I mostly use Purify in our laundry) into the fabric softener compartment and wash as usual! Vinegar has “softening” power and the essential oils help freshen clothes and get the stink out of husband’s workout gear ;)
Are you ready to start replacing the store-bought cleaning products with a healthier (and let's face it, better smelling) alternative? Check out my special this month HERE or feel free to schedule a time to talk with me so I can help you with your family's specific needs HERE!
Other supplies I love: