AROMATHERAPY AND THE NATURALLY CLEAN, HEALTHY HOME
QUESTION
"Recently I have been staying in hotels a lot. I ended up with a hacking cough and realized that although some of the cough was due to dry re-circulated air there was another component. The use of smell masking chemicals in the rooms and in particular in the elevator and lobby seemed to really aggravate my cough, which was dry and very tickly. Now that I am home I am feeling better. However, it has made me look at the household products I use and I want to make changes. How can I use the natural benefits of Aromatherapy to improve my indoor air environment?"JD, Vancouver, BC
ANSWER
Using the natural benefits of aromatherapy to clean the environments where we live, work and play is one of my favourite topics. Used on their own or in recipes with naturally occurring and plant-based ingredients, essential oils can brighten, purify, deodorize and disinfect a home, office or hotel room without harm to people, pets nor the environment. It is important to use quality, genuine and authentic essential oils. (See the November 2009 Ask the Aromatherapist for information about genuine and authentic essential oils.)
For a very long time aromatherapists around the world have used the antimicrobial, antiviral and healing properties of quality essential oils for the cleaning or cleansing of physical spaces. There are numerous experts, print and Internet resources on the subjects of natural, herbal, green and eco-friendly housekeeping and cleaning, many of which include the use of high quality essential oils. And the housekeeping market is now host to a dizzying number of 'natural' and 'aromatherapy' based cleaning products. I would like to share a few of my favourite, simple and natural ways to clean incorporating quality essential oils. I have included some print and Internet resource sites you may wish to explore.
I hope what follows inspires you to go 'au naturale' so to speak ...
As an immediate remedy for poor or compromised air quality, I reach for essential oil hydrosols. Also known as hydrolates, hydroflorates, distillates or floral waters, hydrosols are produced during the steam-distillation of plant materials. My favourites include Lemon verbena (Lippia citrodora) which clears and disinfects the air including cigarette smoke. It is known for it's reviving and refreshing qualities. Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is a great way to get rid of the stuffy, musty odours of hotels, to refresh the spirit and improve concentration. Around people who are sneezing and coughing? Yarrow hydrosol (Achillea millefolium) will help cleanse and lift the air. It is also a great companion during times of stress or transition. Release the wonderful aroma found in rose hydrosol (Rosa damascena) to fragrance the air and relax the mind. Keep hydrosols refrigerated to prolong their freshness!
The most popular essential oils used for household cleaning, laundry and air freshening include the refreshing citrus aromas of grapefruit, lemon and sweet orange, the head-clearing camphorous aromas of eucalyptus, peppermint and tea tree, the spicy notes of cinnamon and clove, and the green herbaceous essential oils of lemongrass, oregano, rosemary and thyme. The fresh walk-in-the woods aromas of cedarwood, cypress and scotch pine are popular as are the familiar soft floral aromas of lavender and rose. (The botanical names of identified essential oils are listed at the very end.)
What a selection! Each of these essential oils offer specific deodorizing, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal and/or antiviral properties. Aromatherapynaturals.com reports 'Eucalyptus oil, for example, has been shown to kill 70% of staphylococcus bacteria by simply being diffused into the air of an affected room.' Salvatore Battaglia writes, "Lemon oil has exhibited antimicrobial properties." (The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, 2nd Edition, 2003) "Tea tree oil combines powerful antibacterial and antifungal action with an unsurpassed degree of tolerability" (Medical Aromatherapy, Kurt Schnaubelt, 1999). Valerie Ann Worwood dedicates a couple of chapters to the subject of care for the home in The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy (1991). "Essential oils are about cleansing the air, rather than merely masking bad smells" (p 304).
I choose essential oils based on the cleaning task at hand, my mood, the time of year and perhaps the occasion - flu season? celebration? study mode? couple time? I may choose one or be creative and blend a few essential oils. My favourites for surface cleaning or deodorizing are lemon, orange, pine, rosemary, tea tree and thyme. I like cypress, eucalyptus, lemongrass, peppermint, rose and sandalwood for cleansing or scenting the air, and the aromas of lemon, lavender and rose regularly make their way into the clothes closet and linens.
The most common, accessible and inexpensive natural cleaners include baking soda, borax, castile soap, lemon juice, washing soda and white vinegar. Coupled with quality essential oils you can easily and effectively boost the quality of your indoor air and have a naturally fresh, sparkling environment too! Avoid using the same utensils you use for food preparation. I recommend using metal utensils for measuring and metal or glass bowls for mixing to prevent cross-contamination of ingredients. Refrain from using pots that have a coated non-stick surface. Always check an inconspicuous spot of the surface to be scrubbed, sprayed or treated to learn how the product will affect it, and always store your cleansers in an appropriate, clearly labelled container in a secure, dark and cool location. I wear non-latex gloves to prevent any chance of skin irritation.
Versatile baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) absorbs odours in fridges, sports lockers, closets and carpets and is used as a scrub for sinks, tubs, tile grout, pots and pans. Greenliving.com suggests using 1/2 cup (120 ml) of baking soda in the washer with laundry detergent to address perspiration odours. I find this works best when non-scented natural laundry soap is used. Thoroughly mix 15 drops of lavender or lemon essential oil into the soap or baking soda before adding to the washer using care to not drop essential oil directly onto fabric.
Borax (sodium borate decahydrate, boric acid) is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used for hundreds of years, is widely used in the cosmetic industry and is an inexpensive, all-purpose household cleaner. One-half cup (120 ml) of borax powder dissolved in 1 gallon (4 litres) of hot water with 10 drops of thyme, rosemary or scotch pine essential oil makes a simple disinfectant spray. One-half cup (120 ml) of borax with two or three drops of lemon, peppermint or scotch pine essential oil deodorizes the toilet bowl. Leave mixture in toilet bowl overnight for best results. Reach for the borax instead of other abrasive powder cleansers for your sink or tub. It and a couple drops of your favourite essential oil on a damp sponge will do an amazing job!
Castile soap is a vegetable-oil based cleaner for hair and skin, laundry, dishes, floors, pet grooming and diaper cleaning. Its natural properties are effective and harmless to people, pets and the environment. A member of greenlivingtips.com offers a recipe for the automatic dishwasher; 1/2 cup (120 ml) liquid castile soap, 1/2 cup (120 ml) water, 1/2 cup (120 ml) white vinegar, 1 teaspoon (5ml) fresh lemon juice and 3 drops tea tree oil. Stir all ingredients together until well blended. Store in a labelled squirt top bottle. Use 2 tablespoons per load of dishes. Shake well before use.
The acid in lemon juice neutralizes hard water deposits, dissolves buildup and dirt on wood and tarnish on silver. I use fresh lemon juice and a bit of baking soda to deep clean the insides of stainless steel pots and pans. And who doesn't love the aroma of freshly squeezed, peeled or grated lemon? A similar aromatic effect can be accomplished by adding two or three drops of lemon essential oil on a dish washing cloth - a treat for the cloth, your dishes and the surrounding air.
I love this simple, citrusy remedy from diylife.com (spring cleaning with essential oils) for disinfecting non-porous kitchen countertops and the tops of bathroom vanities. Do not use lemon, vinegar or other acid-based cleaners on porous surfaces such as marble and granite as they will etch and dull the surface! For the recipe you will need 1 tablespoon (15 ml) baking soda, 2 teaspoons (10 ml) castile soap, 1 cup (240 ml) water, 3 drops oregano essential oil (rosemary and lavender essential oils work well too), 8 drops sweet orange essential oil and 8 drops lemon essential oil. Heat the water and baking soda in a pan over medium heat just until the soda dissolves. Remove from heat and gently add the castile soap and essential oils. Pour into a spray bottle and label. Spray surfaces and wipe with a clean cloth or damp sponge.
The most common domestic use for washing soda (sal soda, sodium carbonate, soda ash) is as a water softener but it is also a natural caustic cleaner that effectively removes oil, grease and alcohol stains. I'm not familiar with washing soda and how it reacts with essential oils. Similar to baking soda it neutralizes odour and I understand that soaking heavily soiled items in warm water with 1/2 cup washing soda for 30 minutes works like a charm. I look forward to experimenting with it!
White vinegar has amazing natural cleaning and deodorizing properties. The smell does dissipate as the vinegar dries; however, if you would rather forego the fish and chip shop aroma, a small amount of lemon juice added to vinegar-based cleaning solutions will help neutralize the smell. Following the use of a vinegar-based cleanser I am very quick to fill the air with an aromatic hydrosol spray or to finish the job with a few drops of one of my favourite essential oils. Earthnotes.tripod.com offers, 'To keep drains running clear - each week pour 1/2 cup (120 ml) of baking soda down each drain and pour about 1 cup (240 ml) of white vinegar (a bit at a time) down after it. You can stop adding vinegar when you don't hear any 'fizzing' going on in the pipes. Follow this treatment with your hottest tap water and allow it to flow down the drain for a couple of minutes. Regular treatment will keep your drains and pipes running free.' I follow this drain care treatment with two or three drops of scotch pine or lemongrass essential oil-that's for my nose, not the drain!
Additional favourite recipes are Lemon-Mint Window Wash from Sandy Maine's book Herbal Homekeeping, (1999) and what I call Lovely Lavender Wood Rub, a recipe I've had for a while from a source I cannot recall. For the Window Wash mix the juice from one fresh lemon, 2 cups (480 ml) water or club soda, 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) peppermint essential oil and 1 teaspoon (5 ml) cornstarch and pour into a labelled plastic spray bottle. Spray windows and polish with sheets of black and white newsprint or a microfiber cleaning cloth. Love your wood with lavender! Mix together and rub into wood with a soft clean rag; 1/8 cup (30 ml) plain olive or other heavy vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) vodka or grain-based alcohol and 10 drops lavender essential oil.
Think of these simple yet highly effective and delightfully aromatic cleaning remedies as beginning steps toward discovering a naturally clean, uber healthy, eco-friendly way to improve the quality of your physical environment. You will be caring for yourself, loved ones, your living space and Mother Earth. Perhaps you will connect with your Creative Self and concoct your own special recipes boosted by the extraordinary properties and aromatics of quality essential oils!
Final Bits
In addition to the resources I have sited you may wish to explore the information and ideas found at the following Internet sites: householdsolutions.org; back-to-basics-cleaning.com; ecocycle.org (hazardous waste/recipes); aromaweb.com; and naturesgift.com.
Identified essential oils with their common and botanical names in alphabetical order: Cedarwood - Cedrus atlantica; Cinnamon - Cinnamomum zeylanicum; Clove - Eugenia caryophyllus; Cypress - Cupressus sempervirens; Eucalyptus - Eucalyptus globulus or Eucalyptus citriodora; Grapefruit - Citrus paradisi; Lavender - Lavandula angustifolia or Lavandula spica; Lemon - Citrus limon; Lemongrass - Cymbopogon flexuosus; Sweet Orange - Citrus sinensis; Oregano - Origanum vulgare; Peppermint - Mentha piperita; Scotch Pine - Pinus sylvestris; Rose - Rosa damascena; Rosemary - Rosmarinus officinalis ct. camphor or Rosmarinus officinalis ct. 1.8 cineole; Sandalwood - Santalum album or Santalum spicatum; Tea Tree - Melaleuca alternifolia; and , Thyme - Thymus vulgaris or Thymus serphyllum.
Please send in your questions... Ask the AromatherapistThe information contained herein is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of the author or SCT. SCT and its associates do not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent is only to offer information to help you in your quest for a happy and healthy lifestyle. Accordingly SCT and its individual associates assume no responsibility for your actions.