In the Green in 365 series, author Emily McClements showed you how avoid harsh chemicals in conventional cleaners by switching to natural cleansers. Since they aren’t loaded with harsh chemicals, natural cleaners are a safe alternative and are less likely to irritate your skin, eyes, and airways.
Essential oils are one of my favorite all natural cleansers. They are extremely effective at killing surface bacteria, and are a safe alternative to the harsh chemicals found in conventional cleaners. Essential oils also smell great, and can help improve your mood with their fresh, natural fragrance.
One of my favorite essential oils to use for cleaning is lemon essential oil. Not only is lemon an air disinfectant, but the invigorating scent will naturally improve your mood. Not only is this one of the least expensive essential oils I know of, but I always keep some on hand because it is such a versatile natural cleanser with antiseptic, antifungal, and antiviral properties.
Here are just some of the many ways you can use lemon essential oil to naturally clean your home:
Goo-Be-Gone alternative
Try using lemon essential oil to remove a stubborn sticker or old, hard to remove tape. Just rub on a few drops and the sticker, tape, or gum will easily scrape right off. This also works great to remove other sticky messes like gum
Crayon Remover
Did you kids decide to decorate your walls and hard wood furniture? Don’t fret. Just rub a few drops of lemon essential oil over the area and the crayon marks will disappear!
Wood Polish/Cleaner
In a small bottle add about 15 drops of lemon essential oil to equal parts vinegar and olive oil. Shake well and use to clean and polish wood. Need more shine? Add a little more olive oil. Not absorbing well? Increase the amount of vinegar.
Kitchen/All Purpose Cleaner
Use lemon essential to create a versatile multi-purpose cleaner, choose one of the following two recipes and combine in a spray bottle.
Basic Recipe
•2 tablespoons castile soap
•10-20 drops of lemon essential oil
•Fill the rest of the bottle with water
Grease Cutting Recipe
•Fill half of the bottle with vinegar
•Add 10-20 drops of lemon essential oil
•Fill the rest of the bottle with water
Grease Remover
Lemon essential oil is great at cutting through grease. In the photo above you can see the before and after of how I cleaned my grease spattered tea kettle with just a few drops of lemon essential oil and a dry rag.
Floor Cleaner
Try this homemade floor cleaner using just hot water, castile soap and essential oil. This cleaner can also be used to clean countertops and walls as well! Lemon essential oil also works to remove scuff marks on floors. Just rub a couple drops onto the mark until it disappears.
Carpet Cleaner
This homemade carpet cleaner not only works great to get out spots and stains on your carpet, it smells great and adds a boost of freshness to your home.
Laundry
Adding lemon essential oil to your laundry helps freshen laundry and remove any mildew or other unwelcome smells. Add a few drops to your detergent when washing or add to your homemade dryer sheets for a citrus fresh smell when drying clothes.
Air Freshener
Make a natural air freshener for your home by adding 10-15 drops of lemon essential oil to a small glass spray bottle filled with distilled water.
Dusting Spray
Last year Emily shared a homemade dusting spray using only 3 ingredients: dish soap, water, and lemon essential oil. She said it worked great and she preferred it over an alternative dusting spray using olive oil and lemon juice. I’m planning on mixing some of this up to use the next time I dust!
Reusable Disinfecting Wipes
I love the ease of disinfecting wipes for quick clean-ups and little messes. They are so much more convenient than getting out all the cleaning supplies. Emily’s reusable disinfecting wipes use lemon essential oil and are quick and easy to make and so nice to have on hand.
Spot Free Dishes
Add a couple drops of lemon essential oil to your dishwasher for spot free dishes.
Clean & Sanitize Cutting Boards
Use on wood cutting boards to kill any bacteria.
Polish Stainless Steel
Use a few drops on stainless steel appliances in the kitchen to clean and shine.
Window Cleaner
Add 5-10 drops lemon essential oil to your natural window cleaner, or make your own by combining 4 oz. white vinegar with 3 drops of lemon essential oil in a spray bottle. Shake to mix.
Lemon essential oil is a great addition to your all-natural cleaning routine. Not only is it a versatile cleanser, but its invigorating scent leaves your home smelling fresh. What else do you use lemon essential oil to clean?
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