Cleaning with Lavender

Oh, lavender. It’s probably my all time favorite scent — dish soap, laundry detergent, candles, you name it. For about the last year or so I have been on a mission to get rid of all the harsh synthetic chemicals in our daily lives and replace them with natural counterparts. Goodbye bleach, hello homemade lemon cleaner! One of the easiest (and inexpensive!) ways to control our exposure to chemicals is to make things myself. Baking soda and white vinegar are much less expensive than some of my old go-to ‘natural’ cleaners. Add in some lavender or lemon essential oil, and voila! Homemade cleaners. Here are some of my favorite uses for lavender for cleaning your home:
 

HOME:

— All purpose cleaner —
3/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice OR 3-4 drops lemon essential oil
3 T natural liquid soap  — I use Dr. Bronner’s Baby
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
10 drops lavender essential oil

Mix together in a ceramic bowl to make a paste and scrub surfaces, rinsing with a damp cloth or water. Use to clean counter tops, stove tops, bathroom counters and floors, tubs & sinks and kitchens! Store in a large glass spray bottle.
 

OR
Simply add a few drops of lavender essential oil to a damp cloth and wipe across any surface.

— Glass & mirror cleaner —
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup distilled water
 10 drops lavender essential oil

Combine in a glass spray bottle  and use as you would any glass cleaner! You can also use the all purpose cleaner for windows and mirrors

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FLOORS:

— Floor cleaner —
1/4 cup white vinegar
a bucket of water
a few drops of liquid soap (optional)
10 drops of lavender essential oil

Mix together in your mop bucket and clean away! If your floors are really grimy, add a couple drops of liquid soap. Safe for hardwood or linoleum. Other great oils for cleaning floors include lemon, spruce (think Pine-Sol), purification and melaleuca (tea tree). 

— Carpet freshener —
1 cup baking soda
18 drops of lavender essential oil

Mix well and place in a covered container (I like mason jars) and let sit overnight to make sure the baking soda absorbs all the wonderful lavender oil. Sprinkle on carpets just before vacuuming. This is also great with lemon or peace & calming!

OR
Simply add a few drops to a cotton ball or tissue and place in the bag of your vacuum cleaner. I alternate doing lemon and lavender!

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LAUNDRY:

— Simple linen spray —
Fill a  4oz glass spray bottle about halfway with distilled water and add about 10 drops of lavender essential oil. I spray this on our sheets, blankets, upholstered chairs, couch, Elliot’s bedding, our pillows, the dog bed (purification is a good oil for this!), camping linens, etc. Use pretty much everywhere!

— Add to basic laundry detergent —
Add 3-4 drops of lavender essential oil directly to the detergent in the detergent compartment of your washer. I like to use free & clear detergent, and I have an HE washer, so it’s safe! Disinfect naturally and make your clothes smell divine.

— Homemade fabric softener —
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
10 drops lavender essential oil

Use the same way you would store-bought fabric softener to soften your laundry and make it smell wonderful at the same time! Store in a small glass jar.

— Wool dryer balls —
I switched over to using wool dryer balls  when I was pregnant with E and researching homemade cloth diaper detergent. Absolutely love them! Natural, inexpensive and the lavender makes our clothes smell divine. Place 3-4 drops of lavender onto each wool dryer ball and place into the dryer with your clothes.

To learn more about living with essential oils or to purchase your own, click here.

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Any suggestions made on this blog are very specific to Young Living essential oils and should not be used with oils from another source. Statements made on this website about Young Living Essential Oils have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products and information are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Anyone suffering from disease or injury should consult with a physician. Keep out of reach from children. If you are currently on medication, please DO NOT STOP.