Effective Bathroom Cleaning With Essential Oils

Non-ionic Surfactants,Polycarbxylate, Perfume, Limonene,Benzisothiazolinone.

Do you know what’s in your bathroom cleaning products? The above were a list in a CIF bathroom cleaner we have.

The one thing I found most alarming was the wording “contains amongst other ingredients” preceding the list.

What are the other ingredients they conveniently do not list? How many do they not include on the packaging?

Having recently prepared my apartment for the rental market I wanted to give the entire place a serious facelift including cleaning it from top to bottom and in-between every nook and cranny.

I have been changing to a more natural approach to cleaning and wanted to share some recipes with you.

One third of the substances used in fragrance products are toxic

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

While we want our cleaning products to clean, they can harbor health hazards of varying degrees.

One of the most dangerous types is acidic toilet bowl cleaners.

Chlorine bleach and ammonia are two highly toxic ingredients which omit gases that are extremely irritating to eyes, throat, nose and lungs.

Knowing what is in our products and being more aware is in our and our families’ best interest.

By eliminating the commercial brands we are unsure about is keeping us healthy.

A strange statement perhaps but can we really afford not to question more and demand full disclosure on products?

When Europe has banned many ingredients use for years, why are they are still permitted in America and deemed okay Surely if an ingredient is shown to be harmful then it is, no matter where you live?

Essential oils combined with a few different basic ingredients are all that you need to clean the entire house.

Replacing all those branded cleaners with a selection of essential oils, some recycled spray containers and a few choice basics your bathtub, toilet bowl, shower, floor, toothbrush holder and faucets will all be gleaming and sterile.

You will have a beautiful naturally fragranced safe bathroom. Here are my suggested oils for the smallest room of the house followed by some cool cleaners.

1 cup distilled water

1 cup baking soda

1/2cup liquid castile soap (unscented or lavender scented)

1/4cup white vinegar

1 tsp lavender essential oil

1 tsp tea tree essential oil

Recycled plastic spray bottle

Bowl

Mixing spoon

Add all the ingredients into the bowl.

Watch out for the whole bowl fizzing up when the vinegar is added. I recommend you leave it to the end just before the essential oils.

Pour into the spray bottle and use in the toilet bowl, on the rim and over the seat.

Apply a drop of any essential oil in the list provided onto a wet cloth.

Wipe the sink and surrounding counter. Squeeze the cloth and allow the watery infusion travel down the drain as a disinfectant. Rinse with cold tap running for a minute.

Hairbrush & Comb Cleaner ~

11/2cups distilled water

1 cup vinegar

10 drops lavender essential oil

10 drops eucalyptus essential oil

Container

Let hairbrush or comb steep in container for 15-20 minutes.

Rinse well under cold water.

Allow to air-dry before using or storing. You may dry with a hairdryer for quicker drying.

1 cup white vinegar

½ cup distilled water

4 drops grapefruit essential oil

4 drops bergamot essential oil

2 drops tea tree essential oil

Recycled plastic spray bottle

Add ingredients into the spray bottle secure top and shake well to combine ingredients before use.

Spray area where mould is present and leave it for 2-3 hours.

Spray again and leave it. Do not rinse off.

Tile and Grout Cleaner ~

1 cup table salt

1 cup borax

1 cup baking soda

15 drops lavender essential oil

15 drops tea tree essential oil

Recycle plastic container with lid

Bowl

Natural bristle brush

Add the ingredients into the bowl and mix well.

Pour cleaner into your container and secure with lid.

When using apply with natural bristle brush to scrub tiles and grout.

11/2 cups white vinegar

½ cup distilled water

8-10 drops lemon, lime, grapefruit or orange essential oil

Recycled plastic spray bottle

Add all ingredients to the spray bottle and shake well before each use.

Spray on glass and use a dry soft cloth to wipe clean.

Toothbrush Holder ~

For a freestanding holder fill with water and 3-4 drops tea tree, peppermint or eucalyptus essential oil. Leave it for about 20 minutes and rinse well.

Faucets ~

Apply a few drops of any citrus essential oil to the dirt or grime around the taps and plug holes. Leave for about 5 minutes and scrub with an old toothbrush. Watch the dirt disappear.

Mats and Rugs ~

To keep your bathroom set fresh and fragrant daily mix 1 cup baking soda with 16-20 drops of whatever essential oil you like or combination.

Pop the powder into a container, preferably with a shaker style top such as recycled salt shaker, loose face powder container or dried herb container. Shake powder onto the mats and leave 10-15 minutes before vacuuming.

Scented Drain Cleaner ~

Instead of using those toxic drain cleaners use 8-10 drops of lemon essential oil down the drain of the bath, shower and sink.

Pour down a few cups of boiling water 5 minutes later.

8 oz distilled water

30 drops eucalyptus essential oil

44 drops lavender essential oil

36 drops lemon essential oil

33 drops rosemary essential oil

8oz spray bottle

Add the water and the essential oils to your spray bottle. Secure top and shake well to mix ingredients.

Use this on anything that breeds germs for example floors, toys, counters . . . everywhere. Feel calm, clean effectively and fight off those cold bugs all at the one time.

Aromatic Room Spray ~

4 oz distilled water

20 drops lavender essential oil

14 drops eucalyptus essential oil

12 drops lemongrass

4 oz fine mist spray bottle

Mix all the ingredients together in the spray bottle. Secure top and give a good shake. Spray bathroom or any room in the house that needs a lift or to remove any cigarette smoke, stale odors or cooking odors. Re-spray the room every few hours.

Many of these recipes will do for other rooms in the home and you may interchange the oils at your discretion.

Always label cleaning products to make for easy identification.

Use recycled containers whenever possible, cut down on the expenses. Inexpensive empty containers may be purchased in dollar stores, discount supermarkets, euro stores, garden centers and hairdresser suppliers. Don't forget any local bakeries, cafes, ice-cream parlors and local restaurants for all the catering size tubs and plastic containers they chuck out. Apart from useful cleaning containers they make great gardening containers for plants.

Keep them out of reach and hidden from children and pets as essential oils are not designed to be ingested and are extremely potent.

Keep a recipe card file box for cleaning products and write down your quantities as you may want to adjust or change them.

Food for Thought . . . .

Essential oils have far more uses than those used in aromatherapy. From beneficial skincare to household cleaners, these potent oils extracted from a variety of plants are here to stay. They should be treated with respect and used in appropriate quantities. Household cleaners of all types may carry a range of environmental and health hazards including irritated itchy eyes, burns to the skin, throat and lungs and weakening our immune system. Awareness gives us the options to take on board or dismiss the information as we see fit. I know where my vote goes, how about you?

"Creating health awareness through homemade beauty solutions"

Information on the author, her bio and full body of works available @ Suzie HQ

All dividers used in this hub are used with permission granted on hub, Creating Dividers to Use on Your Hubs