With the help of an expert aromatherapist, it’s easy to DIY your way to a squeaky clean and sweet-smelling green clean home
Have you ever sat down in a restaurant, hungry for a good meal, when a server begins to spray the glass-topped table next to yours with Windex? That is the moment when I exit the same way I came in. The chemical smell—and the idea of breathing it in—kills my appetite as effectively as the product kills germs.
There are many great green cleaning products that work well without harsh chemicals. We’ve tested a slew of them, so that we can recommend some of our favorites. And it is also easy to DIY. We spoke with Tim Blakely, aromatherapy educator for Aura Cacia (auracacia.com), who shared a wealth of knowledge (and recipes!) with us.
According to Blakely, these are good essential oils to use in your home-cleaning arsenal:
Pine is inexpensive and clean smelling. It is effective as both a disinfectant and deodorizer.
Lavender has a pleasing scent, is antibacterial and deters insects such as moths.
Tea tree oil has a sharp, spicy scent and is a good disinfectant and deodorizer.
Grapefruit has a clean and uplifting aroma that inspires and eliminates odors—even strong pet odors.
“Essential oils do what people use bleach for,” says Blakely. “But they smell a lot better.” Here are Blakely’s DIY recipes and our recommendations for products to try. Happy cleaning!
Basic All-Around Spray Cleaner
2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon sodium borate
1/4 teaspoon liquid soap
36 drops essential oil
TRY Method All-Purpose Natural Surface Cleaner, methodhome.com; Common Good All Purpose Unscented, commongoodandco.com
Window Cleaner
2 cups water
3 tablespoons vinegar
1/4 teaspoon liquid soap
36 drops essential oil
TRY Earth Friendly Window Cleaner with Vinegar, ecos.com; JR Watkins Window Cleaner, JRWatkins.com
Wood Furniture Polish
3 tablespoons vinegar
1/2 teaspoon jojoba oil
10 drops lemon essential oil
TRY Seventh Generation Wood Cleaner Lemon Chamomile, seventhgeneration.com
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
You can make a quick and easy disinfecting toilet bowl cleanser by combining one cup of water, one-quarter cup of liquid castile soap and 20 drops of white thyme, lavender or lemon essential oil in a 22-oz. spray bottle.
TRY Seventh Generation Toilet Bowl Natural Cleaner, seventhgeneration.com
Fabric and Room Refreshing Mist
4 ounces water
24 drops essential oil blend
Combine water and oils in a small spray bottle. Shake vigorously and lightly mist curtains and upholstered furnishings.
TRY Karmalades Lavender Room Refresher, karmalades.com
The Organic Arsenal
These household basics really get the job done
Lemon is antibacterial and acidic, which helps cut through dirt. Half a lemon dipped in baking soda or salt can remove stains from the countertop (do not use on marble, delicate stone or stainless steel, and wipe clean afterward).
Distilled white vinegar kills germs, cuts through grease and gets rid of stains, according to Becky Rapinchuk, author of The Organically Clean Home (AdamsMedia.com).
Baking Soda is a gentle abrasive that also absorbs odors in the fridge and around the house.