Springtime is always a good time to do some deep cleaning, but especially now when cleanliness is so very important. Because of that, Plant Therapy is here to help with our aromatic alternatives to your typical household cleaners. This FriYAY is all about spring cleaning with essential oils. Now is the perfect time to take care of your home, your body, and your mind.
Essential oils have been used as cleaners in soaps and cleaners for quite some time. When it comes to potential antimicrobial activity, modern science is reviewing ancient wisdom and revealing astounding results. So this FriYAY, we’ve included a few of our most renowned cleansing oils.
Lemon
With its powerful cleansing properties, Lemon Essential Oil is one of the most widely used cleaners out there. Our Lemon oil is extracted through the fruit peel using a cold-pressed extraction method. It is 100% pure with no fillers or additives.
You’ll find that a few drops of Lemon Essential Oil mixed into your favorite DIY cleaner will refresh and sanitize. This oil makes quick work of grease stains, grime, and residue. Add some baking soda to really make surfaces sparkle during your spring cleaning routine.
When you’re done tidying up, you can use a topical application of Lemon Essential Oil. To do that, mix no more than 2% with your carrier oil to help replenish your skin and support a healthy immune system. It may also help with acne, oily skin, athlete’s foot, warts, and varicose veins.
Add a few drops to your diffuser to make the fresh, zesty fragrance last even longer. You can also diffuse equal amounts of Lemon and Peppermint for an extra boost.
How to Use
Lemon Essential Oil can cause photosensitivity. To avoid this we recommend a maximum dilution of 2% in your carrier oil. Or add 2-3 drops to your diffuser to help support a healthy respiratory system.
Some Things to Know
- KidSafe: Yes
- Pregnancy & Nursing Safe: Yes
- Pup & Pony Approved: Yes
- Shelf Life: 1-2 years
Tea Tree
Just like Lemon Essential Oil, Tea Tree is one of the most highly valued essential oils for cleaning and so much more. It imparts a fresh, medicinal, woody scent and operates as a powerful surface cleaner when mixed at 2% with vinegar. It’s perfect for thorough spring cleaning.
Tea Tree Essential Oil is known for its remarkable results when used on blemishes, acne, and irritated skin. For that, dilute Tea Tree with your carrier oil up to 5% and apply it to the problem area. Mix Tea Tree Oil with your shampoo to treat dandruff and other scalp conditions. Other popular uses include supporting the immune system and soothing sunburnt skin. Create a soothing salve by blending nine drops of Tea Tree and nine drops Organic Lavender with two tablespoons of your favorite Plant Therapy carrier oil.
Diffuse Tea Tree alone or with a floral essential oil like Jasmine Absolute or Lavender to refresh a stale or musty room. It can also help ease respiratory problems.
How to Use
Dilute up to 5% in a carrier oil for small, targeted areas or dilute to 1-2% for everyday skin applications. Dilute 2% with vinegar for cleaning. Or add a few drops to your diffuser to liven up a stale room and bring about a calm, soothing atmosphere.
Some Things to Know
- KidSafe: Yes
- Pregnancy & Nursing Safe: Yes
- Pup & Pony Approved: No
- Shelf Life: 2-3 years
Blood Orange
While it lives in the same family as Sweet Orange, our Blood Orange Essential Oil has a more intense citrusy scent. Like our other essential oils, this one performs well as a cleaner and the scent truly makes rooms and surfaces smell clean.
We chose Blood Orange not only because it helps clean, but also for when you’re done cleaning up and want to reward yourself. Add a few drops of Blood Orange Essential Oil to your diffuser to create an uplifting, stimulating atmosphere. The sweet and zesty aroma can help with sadness and anxiety during stressful times. Add a few drops to your personal inhaler for a quick energizing boost throughout the day.
This oil is also well-suited for romantic encounters. For a sensual blend, add five drops Blood Orange, two drops Love Vanilla, one drop Jasmine Absolute, and one drop Vetiver Oil to one ounce of lotion or massage oil.
How to Use
To use topically, dilute 2-4% in a carrier and reap the benefits for healthier-looking skin. For a diffuser, use 3-4 drops per 100 mL of water for a sweet, zesty and sensual aroma.
Some Things to Know
- KidSafe: Yes
- Pregnancy & Nursing Safe: No
- Pup & Pony Approved: Yes
- Shelf Life: 1-2 years
Additional Reading
• Spring Cleaning With Essential Oils: A Complete Guide
All-Purpose Cleaner DIY
What you’ll need:
- 5 oz water
- 3 oz white vinegar
- 1 tsp dish soap
- 10 drops Blood Orange
- 15 drops Eucalyptus Globulus
- 20 drops Tea Tree
- 30 drops Lemon
- 8 oz spray bottle
Add all these products to your cart
What you’ll do:
Combine your essential oils with your dish soap, then add the vinegar. Shake well to mix. Add the water and shake again to make sure everything is incorporated. Spray and wipe off to clean! Be sure to wear gloves while using this all-purpose cleaner to help protect the skin.
*Due to the water content, this product should be stored in the fridge and used within a week. Otherwise, add a preservative, such as Optiphen Plus or Germall Plus.
Great Ideas! So many ideas and tips. I don’t know which to start with.
Have you ever thought of selling your own preservatives? Many of us discussed this in the SEOR FB Group 🙂
That’s an excellent idea! We’ll pass that along.
I’ve heard all the positives of how well lemon aids in cleaning – this might be the perfect time to give it a go!
How much optiphen plus would you add to the cleaning spray if not refrigerated?
Hi Jessica, we recommend following the guidelines from Optiphen Plus on the correct amount to use, which is about a 0.5%-1.5% dilution.
Had no idea lemon could be used for varicose veins. Thanks for the info
If tea tree is not safe for pups, does that mean it shouldn’t be used in diffusers or diy all-purpose cleaners in homes with pets?
Yes, it would be best avoided in any application other than personal inhalers.
That’s disappointing considering many of the diy cleaning solutions call for tea tree. Clearly many eo users have pets. What are others using for natural cleaning/disinfecting solutions that don’t include tea tree? Many diy hand santizers call for tea tree as well. Should that too be avoided in the home? I was planning on ordering the tea tree but now I’m thinking otherwise since it can be harmful to our pets. Do you have a list somewhere on your site that lists eo that are harmful to our pets? Thank you.
Hi Peggy, our aim in providing Pup & Pony information is to allow you to confidently and safely use your oils around your pets. All the other oils in the DIY are safe to use around your dog, so you could simply leave out the Tea Tree and make up the difference with the other oils. You can find a list of all the Pup & Pony Approved oils here. Many of these are fantastic in natural cleaning solutions and will make excellent substitutes for Tea Tree.
So glad to see this blog and TY! Have been making my own DIY household cleaner using much of these same ingredients, for awhile. Works very well and is a relief to not be spreading unwanted chemicals around the house.
Can I use Eucalyptus Dives instead of Eucalyptus Globulus to make it Kid Safe?
You sure can!
Glad you included the diffuser blend of blood orange, Love Vanilla, Jasmin and Vetiver. Sounds yummy. Will try!
What would be the best kid safe substitute for the Eucalyptus Globulus?
Eucalyptus Dives is KidSafe! Rosalina is also a great option. Or you can leave out Eucalyptus Globulus and use the other three oils to make up the drops.
Love that these are the oils you picked for FriYay. I was looking for the antiviral oils to be a big hit
Will the oils rise to the top of the liquid when it isn’t in use, or will it stay dispursed in the liquid?
The oils might separate while it’s not in use. Just be sure to shake it up again before you go to use it to mix it back up.