Here at Essentially Yours we love sharing our tips, tricks and knowledge with you - so you can get the most out of your essential oil collection. Whether it’s finding the best blends, or just understanding which essential oils would be the best for you - our website and blog has a range of resources that will benefit you.
In this piece, we’re going to share three chemical-free recipes for eco-friendly spring cleaning.
Eco-friendly furniture polish:
Furniture polish can be packed with a lot of nasties and can end up being harmful especially if you have young children and pets around. This is a low-cost, low waste and completely natural furniture polish that is powerful, and leaves your furniture clean and smelling fresh!
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tbsp vegetable glycerin
- 1 - 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 10-20 drops of lemon essential oil
Mix all of the ingredients together and put into a small spray bottle. Shake before use and spray on wooden furniture and buff with a cloth. This can also double up as a great floor cleaner and you can distil with hot water, and use with a mop.
Eco-friendly gel toilet cleaner:
Bleach can be incredibly harsh, and making an eco-friendly gel toilet clear is quick, easy and still does the job! You can make larger batches if you prefer, and store in a cool, dry place so you can stock them up for the future.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 1.5 cups baking soda
- ⅓ cup natural liquid soap (castile works well)
- 20-30 drops of essential oil (mint or rose works well, pick what works for you)
- Squeeze bottle (old ketchup bottle works well)
Mix all ingredients together and then store in the old ketchup bottle. This keeps well, however you may need to shake it before using it.
Eco-friendly detergent powder for washing
Washing powder can be incredibly expensive, and natural brands can often charge high prices for something you can make in the comfort of your own home. If you have the privilege of time, then follow this quick and easy recipe to make a long-lasting detergent.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ bar coconut oil soap or soap flakes that are designed for detergents
- 3 cups washing soda or baking soda
- Your choice of essential oil
- ½ cup white vinegar (optional)
- 50 drops essential oil of your choice
Grate the soap if you have bought a bar, if not throw all of this into a food processor and blend until powdery. You can add the white vinegar into this now to make the mix a bit wetter, or just add a couple of tablespoons white vinegar into each washing load. This should give you enough powder for 15-20 loads depending on how much you use.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are so many amazing recipes that you can try in your own home, which are relatively easy to make. These alternatives can be great if you’re sensitive to chemicals, or you just want to reduce the number of chemicals that you use in your home.
