Medical Disclaimer: Today we are chatting about essential oils. I use these oils in my home and today I'm sharing how we use them. Please be aware that I am not a doctor, a certified aromatherapist, and have no formal training in aromatherapy. Please always do your own research before using essential oils. This episode today is for entertainment purposes only. 

A couple of weeks ago, I did an episode on essential oils 101! If you've never used oils before and you want to dip your toes in, then this is a great class to start with. But since then, I've had people asking for more in depth tips on using essential oils. So tune in today.

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How we use Essential Oils in our Home: 

The two main ways I use essential oils in my home are for cleaning and health and wellness. I first began using essential oils in my home to clean with because it seemed like the easiest way to get started. Plus, I was slowly figuring out how to swap out toxic cleaning items with more natural ones in my home anyway! 

To start off with: Dr. Axe is a fantastic resource for essential oils. Search essential oils on his website, or for specific concerns or oils and a ton of stuff comes up! In fact, he has an AMAZING book on essential oils that I've been drooling over for a long time. I like the fact that it is NOT brand specific! 

Essential Oils for Cleaning: 

My favorite oils for cleaning include Tea Tree, citrus oils (especially lemon), a deodorizing blend, and a germ fighting blend. Young Living has their very popular Thieves cleaning line which you can purchase pre-made cleaners with the Thieves essential oil! 

I just saw (from searching) that Plant Therapy has their own cleaning kit!! This would be a fantastic way to get started with cleaning oils. It includes: Tea Tree, Lavender, Lemon, Germ Fighter, Peppermint, and Citrus Blend. The only one I would add to this pack is the deodorizing blend for laundry!

 

Dr. Axe's Tips for Essential Oil home use from his article 101 Essential Uses and Benefits.

Air cleaner: Diffuse cinnamon essential oil in the air and enjoy its anti-microbial properties.

All-purpose cleaner: Add three drops each of lemon essential oil and tea tree oil (melaleuca) to a few ounces of warm water, then spray countertops to naturally disinfect.

Bathroom freshener: Put a cotton ball soaked in lime or lemon oil behind the toilet for a bathroom refresher.

Bathtub scrub: Mix one-half cup of baking soda, one-half cup of vinegar and five drops of bergamot or lime oil; use as a scrub for a sink or bathtub.

Dishwasher fluid: Add a few drops of lemon oil to the dishwasher before washing for a spot-free rinse.

House fragrance: Diffuse clove, rosemary and orange essential oils when guests come over, and they will talk about how amazing your house smells.

Kitchen odor eliminator: Add a few drops of clove, cinnamon or citrus essential oil to a simmering pan of water to get rid of cooking odors.

Mold killer: Add tea tree oil to your diffuser to kill mold and other pathogens in the air.

Pest killer: Combine orange and clove oils and then spray to kill pests on contact.

Produce washer: To clean fruit and vegetables, add two drops of lemon oil to a large bowl of water, then wash.