In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the quarantine of hundreds of millions of individuals across the globe. As the illness spread, it served as a dangerous reminder of how important cleanliness and sterilization are when it comes to keeping a healthy home. The only problem is, if you opt for powerful, excessively strong chemical cleaners as you scrub your home from ceiling to floor, you’re often exchanging one hazard for another. 

If you’re feeling torn between the need to clean and the concern for the damage that introducing harsh chemical cleaners into your home can cause, don’t worry. There’s still hope. There are several essential oils that can help effectively get the job done in a natural and safe manner, and the best part is, many of them double as air fresheners in the process.

Lavender for the Bathroom

Lavender is one of the most common essential oils and no wonder. It smells delicious, works well as an air freshener, and can help calm a frazzled mind. But did you know that it’s also antibacterial?

That’s right, Lavender essential oil is naturally antibacterial, and not just minorly so. In one study, the essential oil was used against thirty-eight different strains of pathogenic bacteria coming from pet turtles. The results? The lavender was effective against all but one of the strains.

Not only that, but Lavender essential oil is one of the top options as a bathroom cleaner in particular. Often combined with other oils like Eucalyptus or Lemon, Lavender can double as an active combatant against those nasty bathroom smells. After you’re finished cleaning, you can pop some of the delicious smelling stuff into a diffuser or even use it in a home-made bath bomb — as long as you make it out of the right materials and don’t clog the drain.

Orange for the Carpets

Carpets can get dirty quickly, especially if everyone is constantly at home. Then toss a pet or two into the mix and those carpets can get downright smelly fast, even when they’re vacuumed on a regular basis.

One of the classic solutions for a smelly carpet is deodorizing with a carpet powder. The only problem is, many commercial carpet powders are manufactured with talcum powder, and that can be trouble. Many talcum powders have recently been shown to contain asbestos, which is definitely not something you want to be breathing, no matter how stinky the carpet might be.

Fortunately, you can make a quick and easy homemade carpet cleaner by using nothing more than baking soda and some orange essential oil. The pair make an effective team, and the resulting smell is fresh, clean, and natural.

Lemon in the Fridge

A dirty refrigerator is a health hazard. Once again, though, unless you’re going to start spraying down an area where you keep your food with nasty chemical cleaners, it can be hard to keep your fridge clean. Sure, you can toss a box of baking soda in the back for the smell, but it won’t get rid of the dirt and grime.

Once again, essential oils can solve the problem. This time it’s lemon essential oil mixed with some water and vinegar that can quickly and effectively clean up the mess and restore your fridge to its former food-holding glory.

Peppermint for the Whole House

Finally, if you’re looking for an all-purpose cleaner to keep things looking good and smelling great, it’s wise to ditch the Lysol and the Purell, and instead, mix up your own natural cleaner from scratch, this time using peppermint essential oil.

Peppermint essential oil has been shown to be a highly effective antibacterial agent, and using it in an all-purpose cleaner is a great way to simultaneously boost your home’s cleanliness and overall aroma. 

Essential Oils and Children

Children can often benefit from essential oils. For instance, lavender is commonly used to help provide aromatherapy for younger ages. However, while oils can be used with children at times, and cleanliness is obviously an important aspect of newborn care, great caution should be made when it comes to using essential oils around children. 

It’s generally recommended that dosages should be reduced for younger children and many oils, such as peppermint, should never be used with children under the age of six years old. If someone is pregnant, they should also exercise great caution and carefully research any and every oil that they might be considering using.

Using Essential Oils for a Healthy and Clean Home

While the coronavirus served as a reminder of how important it is to disinfect your home on a regular basis, it didn’t change the fact that doing so with harsh chemicals is only swapping one negative for another. 

If you truly want to keep your home healthy and clean and your spaces thoroughly disinfected, it’s important that you choose to use natural, effective cleaners. Essential oils like lemon, peppermint, lavender, and orange are all excellent candidates that can leave your house germ-free and smelling great all at the same time.