With public awareness of harmful chemicals on the rise, we know why everyone seems to be turning to natural alternative methods for preparing food, healing their bodies, and of course, cleaning their homes. The nation's populace is just doing what they can to stay safe and healthy. This is great news for the essential oil industry, as those adorable little bottles of natural remedies are skyrocketing in popularity. People are finding hundreds of problems that essential oils hold the answer to, which includes cleaning. Here are a few ways to use your favorite essential oils to clean your floors safely, naturally, and headache-free!
1) For big messes:
This particular recipe would be favored by Mary Poppins had she been introduced to essential oils because it is perfect for sticky messes made by little ones. It works on tile, linoleum, vinyl, hardwood, and ceramic. If you have an especially big or sticky mess, head straight to your cabinet for these ingredients:
1 cup of white vinegar
15 drops of essential oils
1 bucket of water
1/4 cup of baking soda
1 TB of castile soap
Mix all of the ingredients together in a bucket and mop your floor with the mixture. Finish by going over sticky spots with hot water to get rid of any remaining residue.
You can give your floor a gentler but effective cleaning by using the same mixture without the baking soda and hot water.
2) For a deep rug/carpet cleaning:
Create a peppermint lather to deep clean your carpet. You will need:
10 drops of peppermint oil
3 cups of water
3/4 cups of vegetable based liquid soap
Stir all of your ingredients together and pour over any soiled areas on your carpet. Allow your carpet shampoo to dry completely and then vacuum over the treated areas.
3) For a fresher carpet:
Rugs and carpets can be freshened up with this delightful formula that will make your house smell fantastic:
Combine 1/2 a cup of baking soda with 30 drops of eucalyptus, 30 drops of lemongrass, 30 drops of cinnamon, and 10 drops of clove bud essential oils in a jar and secure the lid. Let your concoction sit for 24 hours before sprinkling it over your carpet. Allow the scented powder to stay on your carpet for 15 minutes and then vacuum it up.
4) For like-new hardwood floors:
Hardwood floors can be a bit intimidating to clean, but never fear with this essential oil wash:
Choose between 20 drops of peppermint, cedarwood, rosemary oil for your wash, then mix it with 1 1/2 cups of water and 1 1/2 cups of white vinegar in a spray bottle. LIGHTLY spray the wash in a small area of your floor and wipe it up with a dry cloth. After going over your entire floor you can dry mop the area to finish the job.
Happy Flooring!