Essential oils for household use
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil not only smells fresh but is wonderful for cleaning your home. With natural antibacterial properties, it kills nasty germs without having a harmful effect on you.
Eucalyptus oil
This strong-smelling oil also has antibacterial and antiseptic qualities so it is perfect for use around the home. It is also great for eliminating any unpleasant, lingering odours.
Lemon oil
Nothing smells fresher than lemons and that is just one of the reasons why lemon oil is great in natural cleaning products. It is also an antiseptic and can deodorise any surface it is used on.
Thyme oil
Made from the leaves of the thyme plant, this oil is a strong, natural, and versatile antiseptic and it also has some antibacterial properties as well.
Rosemary oil
A wonderful addition to any soap, spray, or cleaning product, rosemary oil is both antibacterial and antiseptic. It smells divine and is particularly nice when used on the skin, or in laundry products.
Peppermint oil
It is not just the smell that is great when it comes to peppermint oil as it also has powerful antibacterial properties. A great addition to homemade cleaning products, or natural, organic cleaners, it is especially good to use in bathrooms and kitchens.
(Source: https://www.peacewiththewild.co.uk/great-natural-cleaning-essential-oils)
DIY oven cleaner
Dish soap
Baking soda
Salt
Sponge or scrub brush
Scraper
Distilled white vinegar
Start with a cold oven. Create cleaning paste by mixing baking soda, coarse salt and dish soap. It should have a similar texture to frosting and be thick enough to cover walls without dripping. Spread the paste and leave for a couple of hours or overnight if possible. Wipe away mixture with damp sponge. Once most of the paste has been removed, spray inside with vinegar spray (one part vinegar, one part water).
DIY all-purpose cleaner
½ cup white vinegar
1 ½ half cups water
10 drops tea tree oil
Mix ingredients together. Kills bacteria and mould. Do not use on marble or travertine.
DIY surface cleaner
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1 cup baking soda
2 tbsp borax
25 drops lemon EO
Add together and shake
Source: @wastefree planet
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Carpet cleaner
Hoover your carpet to remove dirt.
2 cups of water
1 cup of vinegar
Mix them well together
Add 2 tsp of salt
10-15 EO of your favourite smell
Spray on carpet. Keep for a few minutes. Sponge with clean damp sponge. Then re-hoover.
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DIY wood polish
Two parts olive oil
One part lemon juice
Add together in bottle & use.
DIY orange air freshener
Recipe requires infused vodka:
4 cups vodka (high-proof vodka)
peels from 2-4 oranges, grapefruit, and/or lemons
2-3 sprigs fresh herbs (eg mint or rosemary)
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Then follow this for sprayable air freshener:
Infused vodka
Distilled water
30-35 drops sweet orange essential oil (per 16 oz bottle)
20-25 drops germ destroyer essential oil, eg lavender oil
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Fill a spray bottle with half infused vodka and half distilled water. Add the essential oils until you reach the desired scent.
DIY room freshener
One tablespoon of baking soda
Two cups of warm water
Ten drops of essential oil
Add baking soda to a clean spray bottle. Add water. Put on lid and shake until baking soda dissolved. Add ten drops of chosen essential oil.
DIY glass & stainless steel cleaner
½ cup rubbing alcohol
1/3 cup white distilled vinegar
12 oz water (use distilled or boiled & cooled water for long-term use)
Add alcohol and vinegar together
Add water until bottle full
Add a few drops of your favourite essential oil
Store at room temperature
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(source: https://livesimply.me/diy-all-in-one-glass-and-stainless-steel-cleaner/)
DIY glass cleaner (streak-free)
¼ cup white vinegar
¼ cup rubbing alcohol
2 cups water
1 tablespoon corn starch
Mix ingredients together and use. Simple!
DIY scouring cleanser
¼ cup baking soda
One tablespoon dish soap
Enough white vinegar to form a paste
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DIY woodcutting board cleaner
Wipe with full strength white vinegar
Or rub with cut lemon to sanitise
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DIY mould and mildew cleaner
Fill spray bottle with white vinegar (option to also add a few drops of tea tree oil). Spray over affected area, leave for 30 minutes and then wipe off with warm water
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DIY toilet cleaner
Pour in some white vinegar, a good shake of bicarbonate of soda, & ten drops of essential oil. Leave for a few minutes, then scrub with
toilet brush, fizzing up the mixture.
DIY bath & shower cleaner
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White vinegar
Water
Lemon essential oil
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Mix together & use
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DIY silver & stainless cleaner
Soak silverware or stainless steel in full strength white vinegar, rinse & dry.
DIY all purpose cleaning spray
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One part water
One part vinegar
10-15 drops essential oils
Spray bottle
Put all ingredients into spray bottle, shake and use.