How to Create an Essential Oil Cleaning Kit

Many people think of essential oils as being useful only for air fresheners, but these oils have antibacterial and antifungal properties that make them great home cleaning products. Not only do they create a pleasing aroma, but they contain no harsh chemicals or artificial additives like commercial disinfectants. Essential oils are multipurpose, friendly to the environment, and safe for your family and pets. With a few essential oils, you can create a home cleaning kit to use in every room, or to give as a gift.

Getting Started

If you have never worked with essential oils before, using them as cleaning products is a great introduction to their many benefits. In fact, many of these oils, listed below, are scents you are already familiar with in traditional cleaners:
- Lavender
- Lime
- Pine
- Lemon
- Grapefruit
- Eucalyptus
- Orange

These scents are already found in artificial forms in dishwashing liquid, surface sprays, and air fresheners, so why not use the real thing?

A note on purchasing essential oils: Some oils, such as those found in bath and candle shops, are not quality medicinal-grade oils. You can find "real" essential oils in most health food shops -- look for variations in price, as the price is based on the raw ingredients of the oils. Bottles of different oils that all cost the same should be a red flag that the product is artificial or diluted.

The above list are just a few basic oils; I will include others specific to certain areas and types of cleaning. After reading all the sections, you can decide which are right for your home. Besides these oils, all you will need are a few cloths or sponges, a spray bottle, a bowl, and warm water.

Kitchen and Bathroom Surfaces

The majority of essential oils have antibacterial and antiseptic properties, and the oils listed below are antiviral and antifungal as well:
- Lavender
- Thyme
- Eucalyptus Lemon
- Tea Tree

Other oils for fighting bacteria

- Cinnamon, Clove (kitchen)
- Pine, Lime, Grapfruit (bathroom)

Cabinets: When moving to a new home or apartment, you can eliminate germs and musty odors from the insides of your kitchen and bathroom cabinets with any of the oils listed above. I prefer to use Lavender, because it also has insect-repelling properties (see next section). Wash with pure soap to remove any dirt or large particles (if needed), then place two or three drops of oil on a clean, damp sponge or cloth and wipe thoroughly.

Fridge, Freezer, and Oven: After removing food and grease, add two or three drops of a citrus oil to a bowl of warm water and use a cloth or sponge to wipe surfaces. This both disinfects and deodorizes. Some suggested oils: Lime, Grapefruit, Orange, and Lemon.

Dishwashing Liquid: Add 10 drops of any oil or combination of oils to your existing liquid and shake well. Use citrus scents to give you a burst of energy, Lavender or Geranium for a calm feeling, or Bergamot -- which has been shown to have antidepressant properties (if doing the dishes is not your ideal way to spend the afternoon).

Bathroom and Kitchen Surfaces: Using any of the antibacterial oils listed above, place seven drops in a bowl of warm water, and use a clean cloth or sponge to wipe counter tops, tile, and fixtures. Then place two or three drops of Lavender, Thyme, Eucalyptus Lemon, or Tea Tree oil on a separate cloth and wipe doorknobs, faucet handle, microwave handles, etc. -- these antiviral oils prevent the spread of disease, especially during flu season.

Insect Repellent

Everyone at some point has to deal with creepy-crawlies in their home: You come into the kitchen in the morning to find that a colony of ants has discovered that bit of spilled dog food, or you realize too late that you have built your new home in the path of the annual willowfly migration. Instead of launching a wide-scale biological attack on everything with more than four legs, why not use essential oils to deter the pests from entering in the first place? Below is a list of common invaders and the oils that deter them:
- Ants: Spearmint, Peppermint, Citronella
- Fleas: Lavender, Lemongrass, Citronella
- Flies: Rue, Lavender, Citronella, Peppermint
- Lice: Spearmint, Pennyroyal, Peppermint
- Mosquitoes: Lavender, Citronella, Pennyroyal, Lemongrass
- Moths: Spearmint, Lavender, Citronella, Peppermint
- Ticks: Citronella, Lemongrass, Thyme, Pennyroyal

As you can see, a few of these, such as Lavender, Citronella, and Lemongrass are useful against many types of insects, and can be used both in the home and on the body - no need to buy multiple products for different places and different bugs!

To use around the home, place a drop of essential oil on a strip of paper towel or cloth and hang above the window or place in the sill. You can even use pretty colored ribbons for a decorative effect. Put a a few drops of Spearmint, Lavender, Citronella, or Peppermint on a couple of cotton balls to place in the closet in order to protect your clothes from moths.

For outdoor parties or picnics, add one to two drops of citronella to a candle (after the wax has begun to melt). If the problem is indoors, you can use a room diffuser as well.

Air Cleansers
Unlike air fresheners which merely mask offensive odors, essential oils surround food and bacteria molecules in the air and neutralize them -- and of course, they contain no chloroflourocarbons. You can make any essential oil an air cleanser by using the following methods:

Room Spray: Add four or five drops of the chosen oil to a cup of warm water and pour into a spray bottle. Shake well, and spray in air, or on carpets, furniture, or curtains. If in doubt about delicate fabrics, or materials that might be sensitive to water or oil, use caution or spray a small, hidden area first.

Diffusers: An essential oil diffuser is made of clay, glass or metal which is heated by a lamp or candle, thus heating the oil in the diffuser and dispersing it into the air. Any oil of your choice can be used with one.

Boiling Water: Placing a few drops of oil in a pot of boiling water removes grease and fat particles from the air in your kitchen, as well as eliminates cooking smells.

Oil Burner: Great alternative to scented candles, Oil burners diffuse mood-altering fragrances throughout the room.

Best of all, most of these oils are relatively inexpensive -- around seven to ten dollars per bottle. This may seem like a lot for such a small amount, but remember, you are only using a few drops at a time. Hope you get a chance to try some of these recipes.