Spring comes with the thought and feeling of a fresh start. As you welcome new leaves and blooms outdoors, you also bid goodbye to the dust, grime, and clutter that has accumulated in your home during winter. While spring cleaning is never easy, products like essential oils can make the task more bearable.
What is an Essential Oil?
Also known as ethereal oil, an essential oil is derived from a plant through processes such as distillation and solvent extraction. The oil is extracted from different parts of the plant such as flowers, leaves, fruits, roots, beans, seeds, stalks and barks.
More often than not, essential oils are associated with personal care and cosmetic products. They are used as ingredients to give such products their floral, fruity, sweet and spicy notes. After all, before the oils are extracted from plant parts, they provide unique essences of fruits, flowers, herbs and spices. They even determine the flavor of certain herbs and spices.
Aside from personal care, such oils are also used for their medicinal properties. Depending on their plant sources, they may be sought to get rid of flu, relieve pain, enhance digestion, and ease your mind. Try aromatherapy if you need further proof about the efficiency of oils’ medicinal properties.
The uses of ethereal oils don’t stop there. These oils can be utilized for much-needed upkeep especially during spring.
Why Use an Essential Oil for Cleaning
Opening your windows for the first time after winter is one of the most satisfying moments during spring. Doing so allows more fresh air to enter and brightens your room; both of the said benefits may also improve your mood before you clean. If you prefer to stay in a good mood from the start to finish, cleaning products that contain essential oils will help because some have a refreshing scent.
In addition to cleaning products, essential oils may be used to make air fresheners. Spray these naturally-scented deodorizers in your kitchen, bathrooms and basement before you tidy up to make the said rooms feel less daunting to clean. You may also pour a little bit of an essential oil onto an air freshener strip. Aside from your home, you may use it for your car’s interior as well.
Plenty of cleaning products out there are made using harsh chemicals. While many of them are indeed effective, the harsh chemicals in them can damage surfaces. Additionally, these can impose health risks to you, your kids and your pets. In contrast, many of the ethereal oils used for cleaning are safe to touch and pleasant to inhale. Depending on the concoction, essential oil-made cleaners could be as efficient as products manufactured solely from synthetic ingredients. Ethereal oils are more eco-friendly then synthetic ingredients as well.
But most importantly, ethereal oils are great disinfectants. Getting rid of disease-causing microorganisms and their potential habitats is the main reason behind your need to cleanup. It is only right to choose cleaning solutions that will help you deal with such task.
Best Essential Oils for Spring Cleaning
For your homemade cleaning solutions, you don’t have to buy expensive oils such as Bulgarian rose oil, jasmine oil and orris (essential oil taken from iris bulbs). Your best options, in terms of price and efficiency, are as follows.
- Citrus Oils
Lemon oil is a well-known ingredient to all-around homemade cleaning products. However, it’s not the only member of the citrus oil that is beneficial for spring cleaning. Oils from lime, bergamot, grapefruit and sweet orange are ideal as well. Aside from their mood-enhancing scent, citrus oils are efficient in removing grease buildup, water stains and disease-causing microorganisms.
- Mint (Lamiaceae) Oils
Like the citrus family, the mint family has species that complement your spring cleaning needs. These species include lavender, rosemary and peppermint.
Mint oils are among the most fragrant ones. Add any of them to your toilet cleaner concoction to leave a pleasant smell after you clean. To make your own air freshener, fill a one-ounce spray bottle with water and five to eight drops of any mint oil. Peppermint oil’s mild insect-repelling properties are also worth noting. You may mix two or more mint oils if you want a more potent grime remover.
- Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil (also called Melaleuca oil) helps eliminate mold, mildew and pungent smells. However, the most noteworthy benefit of this essential oil is its antibacterial and antiviral properties. Studies suggest that it prevents further growth of pathogens and fights Staph infections. It also shows a great potential in treating herpes infection.
- Lemongrass Oil
Best known for its citrusy scent, lemongrass oil can be used to wipe glass surfaces. Mix this essential oil with water and vinegar to create your own window cleaner. You can use the mixture for the glasses and doors of your cabinets and appliances.
Welcome the spring with a tidier and more refreshing home thanks to essential oils. With the help of these oils, your annual general cleaning wouldn’t feel like you’re missing out on enjoying the outdoors.
If you are looking for a great place to buy spray bottles and other containers for use with all of your essential oil needs, look no further! Got Oil Supplies has spray bottles, roller bottles, inhalers, soap pumps, hand sanitizer bottles and more. Worth the visit to their website for sure!