Spring has arrived, and it’s time for the traditional “spring clean” – a ritual that has its place in most cultures and religions. It’s a time to thoroughly clean your entire home, including mattresses, carpets and upholstery which you wouldn’t generally do on a weekly or even monthly basis.
After spending more time inside our homes due to the bleaker winter months and inevitably creating more mess, our homes are now crying out for a complete scrub down. Not to mention the fact that during the winter months when the daylight hours are shorter, our brain produces larger amounts of melatonin which make us feel sleepier, so it’s likely that cleaning may not have been attacked with quite so much gusto during this period.
Before we all rush to the supermarket and re-emerge buckling under the weight of a dozen or more specialised and supposedly essential cleaning products, just stop for one minute. Do we really need all of these harsh chemicals to perform the job? We have sprays for the kitchen, bathroom, windows, carpets, wooden furniture, floors, tiles, etc. The list is endless.
What if one natural product could take their place? And something that not only benefits our health from preventing us from breathing in all of these toxic chemicals, but actually imparts a whole lot more.
It’s no coincidence that the most popular fragrance in household cleaners is lemon, not only for its wonderfully clean and fresh fragrance to cover the chemical smell, but because lemon is in a class of its own when it comes to cleaning. In fact, one simple bottle of lemon essential oil has the potential to replace all of your cleaning products.
Whatsmore it also revitalises and boosts energy to ensure the job gets done, lifts the mood (who doesn’t get grumpy cleaning?), and improves the immune system. Meanwhile it is also an insect repellent to make short shrift of any spiders or cockroaches we may encounter, whilst also eliminating toxins and pathogens in the air and on surfaces.
A natural degreaser, cleanser and dissolvent, in addition to being antibacterial and antiviral, lemon essential oil is also non-corrosive, natural, safe and eco-friendly, which adds up to a highly effective cleaner. Here’s just some of the ways it can help with our spring cleaning ritual:
KITCHEN:
Surface Cleaner – Fill a spray bottle with ½ cup water, ½ cup vinegar and 3-5 drops of lemon oil. Spray and wipe with a clean cloth. Use to clean and sanitise your counters and walls. For stubborn stains, sprinkle baking soda on the area, spray with the cleaning solution and wipe clean after it fizzes.
Sink Cleaner – Mix 3 drops lemon oil with ¼ cup baking soda and ¼ cup vinegar. Allow to sit for 15 minutes before flushing with hot water and wiping with a clean cloth.
Clean Stainless Steel Appliances – Remove surface dirt, fingerprints and smudges by adding a couple of drops of lemon oil to a spray bottle filled with water. Spray and wipe with a clean cloth.
Grout Cleaner – Add 5 drops of lemon essential oil to a cup of baking soda, a squirt of dish detergent, and a dash of vinegar. Apply to the grout, allow to sit for 30 minutes. Clean with a damp cloth.
Oven Degreaser – Place a couple of drops into a cup of baking soda, and add enough water to make a paste. Scrub into the greasy places and leave for one hour. If the grease does not wipe off with a cloth, repeat as necessary.
Microwave Cleaner – Add ½ cup vinegar, 1 cup of water and a few drops of lemon oil to a microwave-proof bowl. Heat in the microwave according to manufacturer’s instructions to clean and deodorise.
Fridge Cleaner – Clean the fridge with a few drops of lemon added to some vinegar, water, and a dash of dish detergent.
Fridge Freshener – Place a drop of lemon oil into a cup of baking soda, and place in the fridge to neutralise any bad or overpowering odours. Or simply add a couple of drops to a cotton wool ball and place in the fridge.
Clean a Burnt Pan – Add water to the pan to cover the burnt residue, add a couple of drops of lemon oil and boil to loosen the residue and clean.
Rubbish Bin – Add a couple of drops of lemon oil to a spray bottle filled with water. Spray and wipe with a clean cloth. Will deter ants, flies and other insects. Neutralise smells in the bin by adding a couple of drops of lemon oil to a cotton wall ball and placing in the bottom of the bin (beneath the bag).
BATHROOM
Remove Soap Scum – Add a couple of drops of lemon oil to ½ litre of water. Apply using a clean sponge or spray bottle and allow to sit for a few hours. Rinse and clean. Repeat if needed, or make the cleaner more abrasive by adding some salt to the mixture before gently applying with a sponge.
Tile and Surface Cleaner – Fill a spray bottle with ½ cup vinegar, add 3-5 drops of lemon oil and top up with water. Spray and wipe with a clean cloth.
Freshen the Laundry Basket – Add a couple of drops of lemon oil to a cotton wall ball. Drop in the bottom of the laundry basket.
Clean Shower Curtains – Add a few drops of lemon oil to a spray bottle of water. Spray on curtain and allow to dry naturally or wipe clean with a cloth to remove any marks or mildew. Deters mould and mildew.
Clean the Toilet Bowl – Add 5-6 drops to a cup of baking soda. Scrub the toilet bowl using this mixture for a gleaming shine, and eliminate bacteria and prevent mildew.
Bathroom Room Refresher – Add 2-3 drops of lemon oil to the inside cardboard roll of the toilet paper. The scent will fill the room every time someone uses the roll.
GENERAL:
Floor Cleaner – For an effective antibacterial solution to clean floors simply add a few drops of lemon oil to a bucket of water prior to mopping. For more stubborn marks, greasy areas and ground-in dirt add ½ cup of white vinegar and 7 drops of lemon oil to a gallon of water, and then spray and mop. Both solutions will spread the cheerful aroma of lemon throughout the home, and incidentally the lemon will mask the scent of the vinegar.
Window/Mirror Cleaner – Add ¼ cup of white vinegar, ¼ of water and 16 drops of lemon oil to a spray bottle. Spray, and wipe off with scrunched up newspaper to prevent streaks.
Wood & Leather Cleaner/Polisher – Add 5 drops of lemon oil to ½ cup of olive oil. Apply using a dry, clean cloth. Always make a test patch first in an inconspicuous area.
Carpet Cleaner, Freshener & Brightener – Mix 20 drops into a cup of baking soda and leave overnight. Sprinkle onto the carpet, and use a brush or fingers to ensure it penetrates down to the bottom of the carpet. Leave for a minimum of 20 minutes before vacuuming up. Effectively removes pet and food odours.
Curtain Deodoriser – Add ¼ cup of vinegar and 2-3 drops of lemon oil to a spray bottle and top up with water. Mist the curtains with the spray (no need to saturate and make wet). Will remove cooking and tobacco odours. Make a patch test first in an inconspicuous area.
Deodorise Pillows and Mattresses – Use the carpet freshener mix to deodorise your sofa, pillows and mattresses (remove covers first). Leave for 20 minutes and vacuum up. Alternatively you can use the curtain deodoriser spray.
Clean and Sanitise Sofa Covers, Throw Cushions and Bedding – Throw into the washing machine and add your usual washing powder/liquid, plus add some vinegar and a couple of drops of lemon oil (to the fabric conditioner compartment) to sanitise and keep these smelling fresh.
Remove Glue Residue (Sticky Labels, Sellotape) – Mix together 1 tablespoon water with 1 drop of lemon. Apply a small amount to the affected area and allow to sit for one to two minutes, before removing using a clean cloth. Repeat as needed.
Remove Kids Art (Crayon, Pencil) and Scuff Marks from Walls and Floor – Add a couple of drops of lemon oil to ½ cup of water. Apply with a clean cloth and leave for a few minutes to soften the residue, and wipe clean with a cloth.
Remove Permanent Marker from Surfaces – Add a few drops of undiluted lemon oil to the corner of a clean cloth (use gloves so skin is not in contact with the oil), and rub the offending mark. Some pressure may be needed to eliminate the mark. Make a patch test first in an inconspicuous area.
Vacuum Freshener – Eliminate that hot dusty/musty smell when vacuuming by placing a few drops of lemon oil onto a fresh vacuum bag and inserting as usual before use. Alternatively for a bagless vacuum, add a few drops to a cotton wool ball and place in the empty canister. Eliminates bacteria and emits a pleasant aroma as it cleans.
Freshen Up Wardrobes – Place a few drops of lemon oil on a cloth or cotton wool ball and place in the bottom of the wardrobe to remove stale odours.
Deodorise the Shoe Cupboard – Place a couple of drops of lemon oil on cotton wool balls and place one in each stinky shoe, and leave overnight to neutralise odour. If its just smelling a little musty with no particular smelly shoes, just place a cotton wall ball in the bottom of the cupboard.
Polish Silverware – Use a few drops of lemon oil on a rag to polish silverware.
Clean Stainless Steel – Add a few drops of lemon oil to a cup of water and a squirt of dish soap. Apply with a clean cloth and rinse.
Clean Doors, Walls, Handles and Switches – Fill a spray bottle with ½ cup vinegar, add 3-5 drops of lemon oil and top up with water. Spray and wipe with a clean cloth.
Clean Stuffed Toys – Mix together two tablespoons of baking soda and 2 drops of lemon oil. Place the stuffed toy in a bag, add the mixture and shake well. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes. Will safely deodorise and sanitise stuffed toys before your kids notice they’re missing.
Plant Cleaner – Add a couple of drops of lemon oil to a spray bottle with a dash of dish detergent. Spray the leaves to remove dust and fungi, and wipe clean. Also eliminates any bugs as lemon is a natural insecticide.
Looking to paint after the spring-clean? Try this hack – add a 15ml bottle of lemon oil to a 5 gallon pot of paint (mix vigorously to mix) to help disperse the chemical fumes.
So this is just a few ways you can apply lemon oil for your spring cleaning. Ditch the chemicals and invest in some natural oils, particularly if you have a young child in the household, or anyone with health issues or allergies. Plus natural cleaners are better for the environment.
Long-term your wallet, house and health will thank you.
