The Natural Home
Home Remedies -Using Essential Oils in the Home
Sage Mint Toothpaste Recipe
1/4 teaspoon peppermint essential oil
1/4 teaspoon spearmint essential oil
1/4 cup arrowroot
1/4 cup powdered orrisroot
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon ground sage
Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl. Add water until paste is
desired thickness and consistency.
Store at room temperature in a tightly covered jar.
Variation:
Substitute 1/2 teaspoon each of cinnamon essential oil and
cloves essential oil for peppermint and spearmint essential oils, if
desired.
Recipe by: Make Stuff
Orange Glass Shiner
Use Orange Glass Shiner to polish any glass or mirror to a lovely finish and shine
Enjoy the pleasant aroma too -- which makes it seem like you're not cleaning at all. (Well almost!)
Yield: 8 ounces
Shelf Life: Indefinite
Ingredients:
4 ounces water
4 ounces apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon borax
1 tablespoon orange essential oil
1 teaspoon lemon essential oil
Blending Procedure:
Combine all ingredients in a heavy duty plastic spray bottle and shake well before each use.
Spray on glass or mirror and wipe immediately with a clean cloth. Watch the shiny surface emerge. Note that stubborn stains like old toothpaste glop and chewing gum come off with ease, plus the aroma is pleasant and uplifting.
It's best to use gloves with this cleaner and remember to shake before using the evenly incorporate the essential oils.
As with all household cleaners, keep this one out of the reach of children.
Enjoy!
From
http://www.makeyourcosmetics.com
Homemade Surface & Glass Cleaner
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
10 drops lemon eo
10 drops rosemary eo
5 drops peppermint eo
Mx all ingredients together in a spray bottle, shake well, and spritz!
From: April 2006 issue of Alternative Medicine -- The Art & Science of
Healthy Living, page 95
Glass Cleaner
Crunch up a piece of newspaper, put 7-10 drops
of Grapefruit or Lemon essential oil on it and polish
windows or mirrors. An added bonus, when the sun shines
on the windows a wonderful fragrance will be released.
Essential Oils and Pet Care
New information is emerging on pets and aromatherapy massage. One
must heed more caution with animals than when using essential oils than with
humans. For one thing animals skin absorbs oils at a different rate than
human skin.
Essential Oils that have been found helpful when working with animals
to confront everything from flea control to depression includes: Lavender,
Tea Tree, Chamomile, Bergamot, Cedarwood, Juniper, Geranium, Rosemary,
Sandalwood, Patchouli, Sweet Orange and Eucalyptus.
The Essential Oil to AVOID ON PET IS: PENNYROYAL. This is too strong
in undiluted form.
FLEA and TICK CONTROL:
Dried herbs and essential oils can be very effective in shielding your
animal from fleas and ticks. I have seen a full blown tick drop off of a dog
onto the floor with just a single drop of undiluted tea tree oil, when
applied directly to tick. Also cleaning pet bedding with pure essential oils
help repel varmints.
PET POWDER
2 drops Juniper Oil
2 drops Lavender Oil
1/2 cup arrowroot OR cornstarch OR clay OR baking soda OR any
equal parts of these
Directions:
Combine the arrowroot and essential oils. Crushing the clumps of oils
between your fingers to evenly distribute them. Be sure to wash your hands
after handling the pure essential oils to avoid any contact with eyes or
delicate mucous membranes.
Sprinkle on pet as a preventive powder.
HERBAL BUG REPELLENT PILLOW
You can make a bug repellent pillow for a cat or dog by adding equals
amounts of Lavender flowers, Cedarwood chips and Pennyroyal herb (NOT THE
OIL), to the stuffing of a pillow or small homemade pet mattress.
If you are substituting essential oils for the dried herbs, us ONLY 5
drops TOTAL to pillow or mattress and again AVOID PENNYROYAL OIL.
I know that Penny royal oil is used in many animals recipes but I feel
that it is too strong to be used directly on an animal.
Also AVOID using Citrus Oils. While they are an ingredient in many
flea repellents, they are used highly diluted. I once witnessed a small
kitten go into convulsions after an unsuspecting owner applied orange oil to
its fur. I would not use pure essential oils on young kittens and dogs. I
tend to use homeopathy with my cats and seldom have the need to use essential
oils on them.
PETS BATH WATER:
Pure essential oils may be added in small amounts to a pet's bath
water. About 8 drops of essential oils to 2 gallons of water. These oils work
well: Lavender, Juniper,
Eucalyptus, Cedarwood, Peppermint or Tea Tree.
**CAUTION: ALWAYS CONSULT A VETERINARIAN BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO TREAT A PET'S
POTENTIALLY SERIOUS CONDITION ON YOUR OWN***
Source: The Essential Oils Book by Colleen Dodt 1996
Mold Buster
2 teaspoons Tea Tree essential oil
2 Cups Water
Add to a spray bottle, shake before using.
Apply to mold and mildew, do not rinse off.
Nothing works as well for mold and mildew as Tea Tree.
Lemon Mint Window Wash
For the shiniest windows ever!
Ingredients:
Juice from one fresh Lemon
2 Cups water or Club Soda
1/2 teaspoon Peppermint essential oil
1 teaspooon Cornstarch
Mix all ingredients and pour into a plastic spray bottle. Shake before using.
Try using sheets of black and white newspaper, it shines without steaking.An old home remedy.
Cleaning out drawers and closets...rearranging them
to match the new season, and storing winter clothes is a spring ritual at most homes.
First, I empty the drawers, vacuum out any debris,
wipe them with a damp cloth, then spritz them with the
following Drawer Spray;
two ounces isopropy alcohol
one half teaspoon sandalwood e.o.(essential oil)
one teaspoon tangerine e.o.
one half teaspoon Peru balsam e.o.
One eighth spruce e.o.
one eighth lavender e.o.(or more if you prefer)
two ounces distilled water.
Pour the isopropyl alcohol into a glass spray bottle and add the
oils. Add the water and shake to mix.
Before using, first test the spray on a small section of a drawer
before using as alcohol can dissolve a shellac finish.
If the finish is unharmed, spray the empty drawer and allow
it to dry before replacing the clothes.
To get rid of doggy smells and pet odors, spray bedding regularly with a solution
of 3 drops eucalyptus oil and 2 drops rosemary to 2 oz of purified water.
This makes a quick, instant spray. As there is no alcohol to preserve
the oils, make up small amounts at a time and shake the bottle
vigorously before using.
From The Naturally Scented Home by Julia Bird
page 85.
Natural Alternatives for Insect Repellants
The following essential oils have been found to have moderate
to high effectiveness in keeping various insects away from you.
To repel mosquitoes: Basil, Cedarwood, Citronella, Geranium, Juniper, Rosemary
To repel house flies: Citronella, Geranium, Juniper
To repel ants: All Mints
To repel fleas: Cajeput, Lemon, Pine
Citrus oils can be used as natural cleaning agents around the house.
Simply add a few drops of Orange, Lemon, Bergamot or Mandarin oil to
water, moisten a clean cloth with the mixture and wipe down children's rooms
and school bags.
Peach Smoothie
With fresh Peaches on sale this is a yummy treat!
3 ripe peaches
1 cup plain yogurt
2 T honey
4 ice cubes
1-2 drops Mandarin essential oil
Mix in blender and Enjoy!
Keep Lemon on hand to kill germs.Keep a spray bottle handy for quick cleanups in children's playroom.
Add to dishwashing liquid or any mild hand soap.
Use in a spray for disinfecting the air.
You'll find plenty of other uses I'm sure.
It has high antibacterial properties. It's antiseptic
properties will last for 20 days.
Lemon has the ability to stimulate white corpuscles
that defend the body against infection.
Combine with Angelica to stimulate the body's immune system.
It is a powerful bactericide and great for kitchen clean ups.
How much easier can it get!
Lightly scent your home by placing a cotton ball containing
a few drops of essential oil in an open window.
Ylang Ylang Chocolates
Essential oils can be infused into chocolates
or any other sweets by placing the loose chocolates
in a box then adding a piece of absorbent paper to
which you have placed a drop of Ylang Ylang.
Cover and let sit until absorbed,
a few days should do it.Try other oils like Orange or Mandarin for a different twist.
Cinnamon Ginger Stars
These fragrant stars are a great addition to potpourri. They can also be used
as ornaments or glued to craft projects.
Mix together in a plastic bag:
1/2 cup powdered cinnamon
1 tablespoon powdered ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
In a small bowl, mix together:
3/8 cup smooth applesauce
1 tablespoon white craft glue
Add the applesauce mixture to the bag. Close the bag and squeeze to mix until
the mixture forms a ball. Take out and knead on a cinnamon sprinkled surface.
Roll out the dough to a 1/4" thickness and cut into shapes with small cookie
cutters. For ornaments, use a straw to make a hole before drying. Let the
stars dry slowly, turning the frequently.
Scented Stationary, Business Cards, Note Pads
Put a few drops of your favorite essential oils
on blotter paper or cotton balls.
Place items and oils in a tightly closed box.
Let sit for about 1 week.
Ice Candles
Melt one pound of paraffin in a double boiler. Cut a milk carton to height
desired, center a taper candle inside, then fill with crushed ice. Add six
drops Spearmint essential oil and a sprinkling of glitter to the cooling
paraffin.....pour the paraffin into the carton. Let cool, then pour off
the water and tear away the carton to reveal a candle that glistens like ice
How to Make Scented Rocks
from http://www.make-stuff.com
Place rocks in a bowl or dish to scent a room.
A nice alternative to potpourri!
1/2 cup plain flour
1/2 cup salt
1/4 teaspoon essential oil (your favorite scent)
2/3 cups boiling water
Food coloring, if desired
In bowl, mix dry ingredients well.
Add essential oil, and boiling water to dry ingredients.
(Scent will be strong, but will fade slightly when dry.)
For colored stones, blend in food coloring, one drop at a
time until desired shade is reached.
Blend ingredients, and form balls into different shape
and sizes to look like stones.
Allow stones to dry.
View Cart
![[using essential oils in the home, natural cleaning tips]](images/AromaThyme.gif)