26095

Who hasnt experienced house cleaning as an assault on the senses? Blame it on those harsh cleaning compounds that emit strong odors and fumes. But did you know that by using the principles and ingredients of aromatherapy, we can make our most wearisome household chores pleasant and invigorating?

Formulating your very own household cleansers isnt complicated at all. In fact, it can be an enjoyable undertaking and a money-saving one at that, especially if you mix your solutions in bulk.

Label your homemade cleansers and fresheners properly, the way you would your regular chemicals. Store them beyond the reach of children and pets. Even non-toxic substances can cause sickness when ingested in large quantities.

Make your own air freshener by putting drops of your favorite scent in a pot full of water. Let the mixture boil on the stove for several hours without putting the lid on. The scent of citrus rind will invigorate the members of your household as it wafts across the rooms in your house. Try other essential oils beside citrus.

Freshen up your bathroom by placing a few drops of essential oil on the cardboard that holds the toilet paper in bathroom. Smell the oils fragrance as it is released with each pull on the paper.

Use your old chemical cleansers without leaving a harsh smell by making a rinse. Mix your favorite essential oil with plain water. Pine, lemon, wintergreen, eucalyptus, lavender and other scents make good fresheners. Use a ratio of four drops of oil to a pint of water. For your final rinse, squirt your mixture from a spray bottle. Keep it in a dark place if your bottle is clear.

A few drops of tea tree oil and lavender essential oil mixed with water make a good countertop cleanser with anti-bacterial action. Spray on kitchen tops and other surfaces you want cleaned and disinfected. For the more major operation of stamping out mold and mildew, add 50 drops of oil into a bucket of water.

Use this recipe to make a homemade carpet freshener:

• 4 cups cornstarch or baking soda
• 25 drops rosewood essential oil
• 35 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 30 drops lavender essential oil

Procedure: Mix these ingredients in a bowl, breaking apart clumps as you stir thoroughly. Sprinkle your freshener from a shaker bottle on carpets approximately 15 minutes before vacuuming. You can create your own set of oils to mix in place of the ones listed above.

Use the following mixture for cleaning floors:

• 15 drops orange essential oil
• 8 drops lemon essential oil
• 1 gallon hot water
• 2 tbsp liquid soap

This concoction is effective on tough cleaning jobs and is fresh-smelling besides.

A towel with a smidgen of essential oil is as good as the dryer sheet you purchase from the supermarket. Use this towel as you normally would a regular dryer sheet, adding it in the dryer together with newly washed clothes.

For a night of sound sleep, spritz lavender essential oil onto your bedsheets a few moments before you retire.

For more tips and information on Cleaning and Freshening Your Home with Essential Oils visit Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Guide, a popular site on the health benefits and other uses of pure natural essential oils. Discover how aromatherapy works and how it can benefit you and your home.