10 Ways To Use Essential Oils for Spring Cleaning

lt always feels so good to spring clean after a long winter season. It's that time in our house when we de clutter, toss all the things that don't spark joy (thank you Marie Kondo) and scrub the house down to start fresh. A few years ago I would have busted out my windex, lysol and all those other chemical cleaners to get the job done but not anymore. My eyes have been opened and I will absolutely never go back to using toxins in my home and on my body. I know it can be over whelming with all the info out their today, so here is why I green clean and my top 10 ways to use essential oils to clean my home.

Why Green Clean?

• Safe for you and your family

• Easy on the pocket

• Highly effective

• Environmentally friendly

• Many household cleaners contain toxic chemicals. These chemicals may cause short-term and long-term health problems when you use them.1

• Children are often more vulnerable to chemical exposure during developmental stages, and certain chemicals may interfere with the development of their neurological, endocrine, and immune systems.2 Main routes of exposure: eating, drinking, breathing, and touching.

• Younger children have higher respiratory rates than adults, therefore they absorb more air contaminants per unit of weight, meaning they experience a higher inhaled dose.

• According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the air inside a typical home is 200–500 percent more polluted than the air outside mainly due to toxic household cleaning products. YIKES!

Best Essential Oils for Spring Cleaning

• Lemon

• Lime

• Wild Orange

• Douglas Fir

• Eucalyptus

• Melaleuca (Tea Tree)

• Purify Cleansing Blend

• Thyme

• Peppermint

• doTERRA On Guard® Protective Blend

• doTERRA On Guard Cleaner Concentrate

Tip: Replace toxic air fresheners with a diffuser.

Here are my top 10 ways to clean with essential oils:

1. Microwave - Microwaves are notorious for being tough to clean, especially after mishaps involving spaghetti sauce or tomato soup. To ease the pain of cleaning, simply microwave a cup filled with water and a few drops of Lemon, then wipe clean!

2. Dishwasher - Pour distilled vinegar into a dish and add 5–10 drops of Lemon oil. Place this dish in your empty dishwasher and run on high.

3. Stove Top - Lemon oil makes cleaning one of the dirtiest areas of the kitchen easy. Add vinegar and Lemon to a spray bottle, and watch the grime disappear!

4. Appliances - From dust to greasy food spills, appliances collect more dirt than you might think. A simple solution of Lemon oil, water, and vinegar will help you clean toasters, refrigerators, mixers, and more.

5. Countertops - Fill a spray bottle with water and add doTERRA On Guard® to clean all countertops and surfaces. (Make sure each time you use it that you shake it well before spraying!)

6. Toilet Bowl - To make your toilets sparkle, put ½ cup of baking soda, 10 drops of Melaleuca, and ¼ cup of white vinegar directly into the bowl. Scrub as the vinegar and baking soda react.

7. Linen and Air Spray - Mix together 2 cups of distilled water, 2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol, and 15 drops Lavender. Spray your linens and even the air wherever you want a refreshing scent in your home

8. Trash Cans - Regularly cleaning out trash cans can eliminate odour. For indoor trash cans, spray the inside and outside of each can with a mixture of water, Lemon oil, and vinegar, then scrub with a sponge. Add 1-2 drops of purify blend before putting the bag in to keep things fresh.

9. Windows and Windowsills - The same mixture of Lemon oil, water, and vinegar in a spray bottle that you’ve been using all around the house will do wonders for your windows and windowsills. Simply spray glass and wipe with a clean cloth or paper towel, then move onto ledges and sills with a toothbrush or damp sponge.

10. Tub and Tile - Combine 1 cup white vinegar, 4 teaspoons Castile soap, and 10 drops each of Melaleuca and Eucalyptus in a glass spray bottle. Shake well, and spray generously on tub and tile. Allow to sit for 5–10 minutes and wipe clean.