The kids are home for Spring Break and my apricot tree is blooming. It is that time of year. Springis in the air and with it an uncontrollable desire to CLEAN everything!! Do you feel like that too?
My mom found several natural cleaning recipes using essential oils in the March edition of the "All You" magazine that you can pick up at Walmart for a couple dollars.
Thought I would share a couple recipes I haven't seen before with you!
(Remember: Toxin Free, Effective, Safe for kids & pets, inexpensive)
Using funnel, pour soap, glycerin, melaleuca oil, lemon oil and water into bottle. Shake well to emulsify. Place soap beside sink and use on dishes and hands. This fragrant formula also will clean your kitchen countertops beautifully.
Automatic dishwasher detergent
(Prep: 4 min; Cost: $2.45; Yield: 32 oz or 32 loads)
2 cups washing soda
2 cups borax
25 drops grapefruit essential oil
Put on gloves. Add washing soda, borax and oil to bowl, stirring with your hands to mix and eliminate clumps. Transfer powder to plastic container. Use 2 Tbsp. detergent per wash. You also can add 1 tsp. vinegar, if desired, to the rinse cycle to prevent spots on silverware and glasses.
Toilet bowl blaster
(Prep: 2 min; Cost: 48 cents; Yield: 1 cup or 1 use)
1/2 cup baking soda
10 drops melaleuca oil
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
Pour baking soda directly into the toilet bowl, add oil, then vinegar-in that order. Let water effervesce for several minutes, then scrub bowl with brush. Flush!
High Efficiency -friendly detergent
(Prep: 15 min; Cost: $4.03; Yield: 18 oz or 12 loads)
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup borax
1 bar castile soap, grated (about 1 cup)
1/4 cup baking soda
15 drops lemon essential oil
Put on gloves. Add washing soda, borax, grated soap, baking soda and oil to lidded container. Cover and shake well. Use 3 Tbsp. detergent per load, or slightly more for very soiled clothes.
*Vinegar breaks down detergent buildup on clothes without harming them. Add 1/2 to 1 cup respectively to the rinse cycle to prevent yellowing and static cling.
Wall spritz
(Prep: 3min; Cost: 83cents; Yield: 29 oz.)
2 tbsp. borax
3 ups warm water
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
6 drops grapefruit essential oil
1 tsp. liquid castile soap
Using funnel, add borax, water, vinegar and oil t bottle. Shake well to emulsify. Add soap. Shake well. Put on gloves. Lightly spray on walls and wipe with a damp sponge,rinsing sponge as needed. (Work from the bottom up so streaks don't form.)
All-purpose grease cutter
(Prep: 5 min; Cost $1.74; yield: approx 23.5 oz.)
1 tsp. washing soda
2 tsp. borax
2 Tbsp. distilled white vinegar
2 1/2 cups hot water
5 drops lavender essential oil
7 drops lemon essential oil
1/4 cup liquid castile soap
Put on gloves. Using funnel, pour washing soda, borax, vinegar, water and oils into bottle. Shake well, add soap and shake again. Spray on walls, countertops, and other surfaces. Wipe with damp sponge.
Now some of my own little tips....
*When using the oils in bottles be sure that they are glass-especially the citrus oils!
*Sometimes cleaning can be as simple as adding lemon or On Guard essential oil to some water and just cleaning!
*Some of my favorite oils to clean with are lemon, wild orange, melaleuca, Purify, & On Guard
*If you have a vacuum with a place to add oils, do it! The oil diffuses in the air making everything feel doubly clean!
*Lemon is AWESOME for taking off Sharpie and stickers!
Found this great video on the My Oil Business tear sheet titled "Cleaning with doTERRA" Thought you might enjoy. She covers lots of this and more, including a homemade lip balm!!
I keep hearing fun rumors that maybe there will be an On Guard All-Purpose Cleaning coming out soon!! Wouldn't that be GREAT!! I will keep you all posted...until then Happy Green, Spring Cleaning!!