Home Cleaning with Essential oils

Have you ever read the ingredients on some bathroom cleansers? It makes you want to put on a Hazmat suit before using them. Sometimes, I wonder which is more toxic: the germs I am trying to kill, or the stuff I am using to kill them.

To protect yourself, your kids, your pets, and the environment, you can make your own sprays and cleaners. The ingredients can be found at any supermarket. The end result is a clean, safe, cost-effective product. It is so effective that many yoga studios have taken to using essential oil blends to clean their studios and mats. Earth-minded businesses also have started using plant-based cleaners for a healthier work environment and planet. Plus, they smell great!

Here are three of our most popular recipes:

Alice’s Wonder Spray
(Mix in a 32 oz. spray bottle)
1 1/4 c. white vinegar
2 tsp. borax
1/4 c. liquid soap (clear shower gel works great)
20 drops of essential oil blend
(12 drops tea tree, 5 drops lavender, 3 drops peppermint)
Fill with hot water, and get cleaning!

Yoga Mat Spray
(Mix in 4 oz. spray bottle)
4 oz. distilled water (just under 4 oz.)
2 tbsp. witch hazel
32 drops of essential oil blend
(20 drops tea tree, 10 drops lavender, 2 drops peppermint)
Spray on mat after each use, and allow to air dry. This contains very little alcohol, so it won’t dry out your mat, and cause the foam to disintegrate.

Kitchen and Bath Cleaner
(Can be used in spray bottle or bucket)
4 tbsp. baking soda
2 l. warm water
2 tbsp. vinegar
25 drops of essential oil blend
(10 drops tea tree, 5 drops orange, 10 drops lemon)

Linda Kleinbaum is the CEO of Garden of Eden, a custom-scenting bath, beauty, and bodycare store in St. Paul. Locally owned and operated, it has been in business since 1972.