By Guest Contributor Cleaning Tips • Tips and Tricks 1 Comment

The Best Essential Oils to Use for Green Cleaning

Essential oils are great for cleaning. They can be used as an additive along with non-scented green cleaning products or they can be used to create your own green cleaning products

Not only do these oils help you clean, their aromatherapy properties help you in other ways. From elevating your mood to enhancing your breathing. Take this from someone who uses them on a regular basis, essential oils are wondrous.

Below are some of my favorite oils to clean with. You can grab an empty spray bottle, fill it with water, and add about five drops of the oil you want to use to create your own cleaner. Or you can add two to three drops of oil to an existing green cleaner. 

Tea Tree

Tea tree oil is one of the most powerful essential oils on the market. Scientific studies have shown the oils antibacterial actions and its ability to inhibiting certain bacteria including flu viruses, combating Staph infections, and even treating the herpes simplex virus. It’s also known to help treat respiratory conditions, such as asthma, coughing, and sinusitis.

When it comes to cleaning, tea tree is often combined with lemon, orange, or lavender oil to create the ultimate green cleaner. You can use it on any household tasks. But be advised that since this is one of the strongest essential oils you’ll want to use with caution.

Sweet Orange

Studies show that sweet orange oil inhibits the growth of E. Coli and Salmonella from refrigerated beef. So aside from it being uplifting and mood elevating, orange essential oil makes a great kitchen cleaner. Use it to clean out the fridge, wipe down countertops, clean cutting boards, and wash pots and pans.

Lavender 

Cleaning with lavender helps to relieve a stressful day. Aside from its relaxing qualities, it’s also an antiseptic, antiviral, bactericidal, and a fungicidal oil. These properties not only make it an effective cleaner, they make it effective for evening cleaning.

Using this oil to clean the house after a get-together, a birthday party, or a shower will help relax everyone in your home. A study done in 2005 revealed that lavender essential oil does indeed have a relaxing effect on the nervous system allowing you and your family a more restful nights sleep.

Lemon

Similar to orange oil, lemon essential oil has been proven to elevate your mood. But that’s not all it’s good for. Lemon oil is also great for cutting through grease, killing odor and bacteria, and prohibiting the growth of mold.

This oil is great to use in the kitchen and bathrooms where there is potential for various odors and smells. Use it on countertops, in the kitchen sink, and when cleaning the toilet.

Pro Tip: Adding a drop of lemon oil to your hand soap will help eliminate strong smells such as onions.

Peppermint

Due to its antiseptic properties, peppermint oil is another powerful essential oil to use as a homemade green cleaner. When combined with tea tree, lemon, or lavender oil peppermint oil makes a wonderful multi-surface cleaner. Use it around the house for a great clean and to increase alertness or enhance your performance.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit oil is similar to tea tree oil in the sense that it is very strong and should be used with precaution. When combined with tea tree, grapefruit oil has been known to balance out the strong smell while enhancing the antibacterial properties for a better clean.

1 Comment

  • Moksha Essentials

    Essential oils have different uses. How beautifully you explained in your blogs. Thank you for this one amazing informative blog.

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