The beginning of the new life
after the cold, the open windows allowing fresh air to circulate
throughout the house, the birds serenading us with their sweet songs
. . .the wait for spring's beauty is finally over!
Now comes time for the traditional task of spring cleaning. I love to give
my home a thorough cleaning after the winter. Getting out all of the
accumulative dust and freshening up the place feels liberating. In honor of Spring Cleaning I wanted to revamp my staple All Purpose & disinfecting Spray by creating an invigorating blend of essential oils for a "just plain clean" smell. I've been playing around with my growing collection of EOs to achieve the perfect scent and here's what I've decided on:
White Fir -
I LOVE the smell of fir trees! The scent is so refreshing and often one that many commercial cleaners try to imitate with artificial fragrances. Besides the great smell, White Fir essential oil also has the ability to fight germs and stimulate the mind while allowing the body to relax. Sounds like a powerhouse must for my blend!
Lemongrass -
A beautiful tall grass that has a sweet lemony smell. The Essential oil is even more delightful. Some of its great properties are: antimicrobial, antibacterial, fungicidal, deodorizer, even insecticidal! And those are just the reasons I picked for cleaning. This oil has sooo many more health benefits.
Cilantro -
Probably my favorite herb for cooking. So why would I chose it for cleaning? Cilantro EO is a powerful cleanser and detoxifier.
Citronella -
Another popular grass with properties that are often used to repel mosquitoes. This essential oil is a great antibacterial & disinfectant.
Using essential oils in cleaning instead of artificial fragrances also gives you aromatherapy benefits such as: a greater sense of well being, relief from stress and anxiety, uplifting and energizing effects, and immune support.
After I picked out my oils I made a master blend in an empty EO bottle, rightfully naming it Spring Clean. ( When making blends I like to use a dropper top so that I have better control over the amount of drops. Spark Naturals carriers these in 5 packs for both their 15ml bottles found here & 5ml bottles found here. They also carry bottles with dropper tops if you don't have an empty one).
Spring Clean Master Blend
40 drops Spark Naturals White Fir
20 drops Spark Naturals Lemongrass
20 drops Spark Naturals Cilantro
20 drop Spark Naturals Citronella
So now that we have our blend all made up, lets put it to some use by making a . . .
Springtime Cleaning Spray:
1. Pour 1 cup of white distilled vinegar into a 24 ounce glass or PET bottle.
2. Add in 35+ drops of Spring Clean Master Blend (again I use a dropper top). Put the nozzle on and give it a nice shake before the next step.
3. Fill the rest of the way with distilled or purified water.
4. Give a little shake, spray surface and wipe clean
Now what can we use our Springtime Cleaning spray for you ask?
Here are just a few things I've tried out :
An all purpose spray for non-stone countertops
A window & mirror cleaner
Wiping down the fridge
Cleaning the floor
Wiping off knobs, handles,& cabinets
Cleaning outdoor patio furniture
Be mindful of quality:
I choose to use Spark Naturals EOs because they offer high quality oils at an impressive value. Not all Essential oil brands are created equally. Some may even contain additives or contaminants when labeled "natural" or "pure". Spark Naturals essential oils are not processed, diluted or manipulated in any way with solvents or other additives. I have put my trust in this company & they have not let me down. Their quality speaks for itself. I hope you decide to give them a try also! If so , please enjoy 10% off your ENTIRE order with coupon code: Nature.
