Effective Kitchen Cleaning With Essential Oils

The kitchen really is the castle itself. This is where we spend our happiest moments and this is where we find the joy in being a family.

Mario Batali

The kitchen is the heartbeat of the home.

The place many of us has fond memories of from our childhood. It was the place for the family to gather in, chat in, entertain in and eat meals in.

Have you ever noticed when throwing a party, more people seem drawn to congregating in the kitchen and chatting over their glass of plonk than moving to the living room?

Our parents were known for their yearly New Year’s Eve party. My mum would make different main courses, a range of luscious deserts and many different salads for the party which we three kids could not wait to taste. It was what we looked forward to the most. Every year 30 or so close friends would arrive and knew each year to put the date in the diary ahead for the following year. It was a tradition.

Our kitchen was not grand or big; if anything for 5 of us plus dogs it was small. Each New Year it was overflowing with guests all chatting while the two rooms set up for the party had a scattering of bodies. Why is that?

Statistics show us the kitchen is still the most popular room in the home and I would agree.

Having moved from a small kitchen in an apartment to a large country kitchen in a cottage with huge amounts of space, I am in my element. I love my new kitchen built and designed by my partner (a non cook).

The downside is keeping it clean and wanting that homely atmosphere.

It is important for me when cleaning the kitchen it have a non toxic smell but be fragrant, use less chemicals and more natural ingredients and I want it to be cost effective. Essential oils tick all my requirements perfectly and will tick yours.

Using essential oils in your cleaning products offers way more than a nice smelling home.

• They have huge mood enhancement properties. Rosemary for example has been shown to have a direct effect on memory recall and performance in exams or tests. If you or a family member is doing exams, make sure to have rosemary in cleaning products or use in an air freshener, oil burner, potpourri, a perfume or in skin products. Lavender also induces relaxation for that test or interview coming up! Lemon is invigorating, keeps you alert and feeling rejuvenated.
• They have antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and antiseptic qualities making cleaning the kitchen and home a more germ free zone.
• Derived from plants, their therapeutic qualities are not a new thing. Hundreds of years ago clove and lemon were praised for their antiseptic qualities. Some of the many therapeutic qualities that may benefit you even though they are in your kitchen cleaning are: relaxing, respiratory problems, insomnia, migraine, pms, nausea, jet lag, irritability, headache, hypertension, hypo-tension, energizing, concentration, aphrodisiac and antidepressant.
• Essential oils will not disrupt the body’s natural homeostasis due to their complex make-up. Synthetic fragrances in conventional cleaning products mimic hormones which affect our normal cell function and may lead to health problems.
• Research and studies have shown the majority of bacteria, fungus and viruses cannot live within the presence of essential oils. The best ones for cleaning are high in thymol, carvarol, phenols and terpenes all chemical compounds produced naturally in essential oils and can run into 1,000 different ones depending on the oil.

Here are the best ones for cleaning the kitchen and the home followed by a selection of easy recipes with only a few additional ingredients and you will need some empty containers or spray bottles.

This cleaner works on everything! Spray it on counter tops, cabinets, tables, interior and exterior of fridge, floors and the sink (porcelain, stainless steel).

2 tbsp white vinegar

1 tsp borax

1/2tsp liquid castile soap (peppermint, lavender or unscented)

1/2tsp L-ascorbic acid powder or crystals (or washing soda crystals)

2 cups hot distilled water

20 drops tea tree essential oil

Glass bowl

24 oz spray bottle

Spoon

Mix the borax, L-ascorbic acid, castile soap and vinegar to bowl. Gradually add the near boiling water slowly, mixing well. Allow to cool and add the tea tree oil. Do a final stir and pour into your spray bottle. Secure top and give a good shake before each use.

DIY Kitchen Wipes Cleaner ~

1 cup distilled water

1 oz liquid castile soap

7 drops essential oil of choice

Recycled square container with lid (large ice-cream tubs or large margarine tubs are good)

Add the ingredients to the tub and give a light stir.Cut the cloths or sponges to size if needed. Add in multiple cellulose sponges or cotton cloths and close the lid tightly. Whenever you need one, open, rinse excess and use. After using give it a rinse and pop back in. Keep tightly sealed in-between use.

Use on fridge, microwave, and oven tops, other appliances and counter tops.

1 tsp liquid castile soap (unscented or peppermint)

1 tsp borax

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/8 cup white vinegar

2 cups distilled water

6 drops citrus seed extract

2 drops lime essential oil

2 drops lemon essential oil

Recycled spray bottle

Combine all the ingredients in the spray bottle and give a good shake. You can use any citrus essential oils. if you wish use 4 different ones at a drop each or use single oil. Use on fridge, microwave, and oven tops, other appliances and counter tops. Spray the surface liberally and wipe with a damp cloth or sponge. Wipe it dry with a soft cloth or towel.

Fridge Odor Buster ~

Take a sheet of newspaper and sprinkle with 15 drops of essential oil. Choose any of the citrus scents (orange, grapefruit, lime, lemon or bergamot or a mix of them. Place it on the bottom shelf of the fridge and leave for 2-3 days.

Another way is to put a slice of bread on a plate add a few drops of a citrus essential oil and leave it to absorb the odors.

Oven Grease ~

For any fresh grease spills inside the oven sprinkle on salt or baking soda and leave until oven has cooled. Wipe off with a cloth.

Something very useful is to line the bottom of the oven with tin foil to cut down on spillage.

Ideal for that baked on or burnt food which has been left on a pot.

1 cup distilled water

3 tbsp baking soda

5 drops lemon essential oil (cedarwood is another good one to use)

Add ingredients directly into the pot or pan and boil on the top of the stove Allow cleaner to settle and cool. Leave until the offending baked goods can be removed easily.

Sink Stain Remover ~

3/4 cup white vinegar

1/4 cup baking soda

1/4 cup borax

8-10 drops tea tree, rosemary or eucalyptus essential oil

Recycled container with lid

Sponge

Add the borax, baking soda and essential oil to your container. Secure lid tightly and give a good shake to blend ingredients. Leave it for 24 hours. Sprinkle powder on the stains in the sink and scrub well with a damp sponge. Pour the vinegar over the stain and sink. Run the hot water tap for 5 minutes to rinse.

Use this disinfectant spray to freshen and clean the air and to wipe down counter tops.

4 fl oz distilled water

35 drops bergamot

45 drops lemon

70 drops clove bud

4oz fine mist spray bottle

Add all the ingredients and give a good shake to combine ingredients.

Spray a fine mist into the air or clean down countertops. Remember to give a shake each time you use it.

1 gallon hot water

2 tbsp liquid castile soap

8 drops pine essential oil

4 drops cypress essential oil

4 drops spruce essential oil

Add all the ingredients into your bucket and wipe the floor with your mop. You can mix and match different scents if you wish for variety from the list above. For an extra kick if floor is unusually stained or has grease, add 1/4 cup washing soda and a cup of white vinegar to your mix.

Spot Cleaner ~

For bad marks or scuff marks on the floor apply a few drops of essential oil direct to the mark. Wipe away with a cloth and then apply a drop of vinegar to rinse off.

Have you ever considered how much we spend on cleaning products in order to maintain a germ free, clean and safe environment for us to live in? It runs into hundreds of dollars annually for the average home. The use of essential oils is not a new concept but it is one of the great examples of when we lived a simple lifestyle hundreds of years ago.

The oils have been used throughout history from cleaning to treating skin conditions. These little bottles are packed with qualities we look for in our chemical laden cleaning products, are healthier, more effective and definitely more cost effective. Step back in time and avail of these versatile oils once used by our ancestors and enjoy their simple but effective benefits.

"Creating health awareness through homemade beauty solutions"

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