Essential oils are one of the most versatile natural products out there. From home cleaning to freshening the air in your home to helping with insomnia and anxiety, there really is an essential oil for everything and everyone!
If you’ve been in my Joyous Health world for a while, then you know that I believe in high-quality products, including essential oils! I know you’re going to ask what brand I recommend is, and without a doubt, I love Living Libations in fact, I love them so much they are even Joyous Health Approved - use code JOYOUS to save 15%!
In this post, I want to share with you the 5 essential oils I keep on hand for cleaning our home to make it a clean, cozy, comfy place to be! There are a few key oils that I love because they’ve been shown to be antibacterial and antimicrobial in multiple studies. While cleaning may not be my favourite pastime, when I get to cook in a squeaky clean kitchen and make a puzzle with Walker and Vienna in a fresh-smelling, tidy living room, it’s definitely worth it! Plus, I love cleaning with botanicals and plants instead of chemicals and toxins!
It never ceases to amaze me what a little vinegar and essential oil can do to make your countertops sparkle!
Here at Joyous Health, we always focus on small changes that you can make in your life that will have a big impact. Using essential oils to clean your home is one way you can contribute hugely to your overall health and well-being. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also save the good bacteria that live on your body. You’ll improve your gut health, immune system, and overall well-being.
The Problem with Conventional Cleaners
Our gut is home to trillions of bacteria, both beneficial and some not-so-beneficial. The science is not yet settled on the role of the less desirable bacteria. We also have “microbiomes” aka bacterial homes on our skin, in our lungs, in our mouths, even in your vaginal canal. These bacteria can be altered by many factors: the environment, temperature, what we eat, the soap we use, cleaning products, our level of physical activity, stress, and so much more.
You know those ads that say, “in one wipe you’re killing 99.9 percent of all bacteria and viruses”? 99.9% of bacteria means it’s killing good and bad bacteria! The other problem with conventional cleaning products is that all the chemicals in these cleaners end up on your surfaces. From countertops to floors to laundry to dishes. These are the places our kids crawl on, we prepare food on, we eat off of, we live in. We absorb these chemicals through the air we breathe and through our skin.
Essential Oils for a Joyous Home
There are so many amazing essential oils to clean your home with, but I wanted to share my must-haves with you. So without further ado, here are my clean home essentials! ;)
Anciently, lavender essential oil was used for bathing and cooking. Nowadays, it’s one of the most commonly used essential oils. From soothing skin to using a lavender spray for insomnia or anxiety to cleaning.
This oil is versatile and it’s an antimicrobial powerhouse! It’s been shown that Lavender Essential Oil is an effective antibacterial agent. In fact, lavender essential oil has active properties that help with respiratory tract infections and it has an immunostimulatory effect.
Whether you spritz your pillow with some lavender essential oil or you add it to your next batch of natural cleaner, it’s a great oil to keep on hand!
We love this oil so much we even have it in our shampoo and conditioner.
For centuries, thyme has been used across nations and cultures for incense in holy temples, ancient embalming practices, and warding off nightmares. Thyme Essential Oil continues to have a multitude of uses.
Thyme Essential Oil, specifically the common thyme and German Thyme essential oil is one of the most antimicrobial oils available. The active compound in thyme essential oil is thymol, which is what gives thyme oil it’s antiseptic and antifungal properties.
In addition to its antibacterial properties, thyme oil has also been shown to help balance progesterone levels. Try adding thyme essential oil to your next batch of DIY Non-Toxic Cleaning Wipes!
Did you know that peppermint oil uses have been documented back to 1,000 B.C. and have been found in several Egyptian Pyramids?!
Today, peppermint oil is used for so many things. While peppermint oil isn’t as antimicrobial as other oils that are widely available, it has been shown to have synergistic effects with other essential oils, making it a great addition to Essential Oil Blends.
In addition to being a great oil to include in a countertop cleaning spray, peppermint oil has also been extensively studied and used as an anti-nausea remedy. As well, it’s been shown to help folks with IBS who experience symptoms of bloating, stomach aches, and constipation. Peppermint oil has been shown to soothe the smooth muscle in your intestines to help with proper bowel movements and elimination.
Peppermint essential oil has been shown to inhibit the growth of bacterial strains, including E.Coli, which means it’s a great oil to include in a countertop cleaner!
Before we get into the benefits of sage oil, it is important to recognize the two different types of sage essential oil that you may find at your local health food store. These two oils come from the same genus and belong to the same family of evergreen shrubs, but they’re very different. Think of them as second cousins rather than siblings. Clary sage is herbaceous and floral smelling and is more calming and relaxing whereas sage is stronger and spicier smelling and is more uplifting.
In terms of benefits and uses, I’m going to talk about Sage Essential Oil. Sage oil has been shown to be antiseptic and antibacterial. Recent studies have even shown that it can be used as a disinfectant against airborne microorganisms! Pretty cool, right?!
Sage essential oil can of course be used in a variety of ways, personally, I like diffusing it, because it’s effective in disinfecting airborne microorganisms and I also like using it in DIY cleaners because it’s antibacterial.
Tea Tree Essential Oil is widely touted as the ultimate pimple fighter and spot-treatment. It’s also known as melaleuca and is well-known for its powerful antiseptic properties and ability to treat wounds, which is why it’s one of the top antibacterial essential oils.
Not only is tea tree great for skin health, but it’s also an amazing bug repellent and its antibacterial properties make it an incredible oil for cleaning!
In fact, tea tree oil is such a powerful antibacterial agent that lab studies have found that it can inhibit the growth and even kill many strains of bacteria, viruses and fungi including E. Coli and Influenza. You can see now why so many people are reaching for Tea Tree Oil to add to cleaning supplies!
These are 5 great staple essential oils to clean your home with and once you start using them, you won't want to go back.
Did I miss anything? What are your favourite essential oils for home cleaning?
*Important note: Please consult with a natural healthcare practitioner before taking any essential oil internally.
Hi Joy, This is off the topic but I wonder if you could re post the article you did on how regular candles were bad for you. I kept your original email but when I checked back the link was no longer available and I was going to send it to a friend. Thank you
ReplyCould you tell me the name of the exact name of the article if you still have the email and I can search for it in the backend, perhaps it is a glitch. Thanks for letting me know!
How much essential oil drops do you use in a spritz bottle? This article is great to show the benefits of essential oils, but would now love an article on HOW to use them and on what surfaces they can be safely used on. Eg. noticed you can’t use the wipes on granite, so what can be used on granite? On bathroom sinks? In toilets? Etc
ReplyYou have a great point, I will do a follow-up post to provide specific recipes for essential oils - is that what you are looking for? In a spritz bottle, if using peppermint you could put 10-15 drops in about 1 cup of water.
Well that’s cool, I’ll be using this and saving this link for advice for my facial business and my home to clean and use in a humidifier .
ReplyPerfect!
Would love to see the artical on candles also!
ReplyLemon! I love lemon essential oil. So great for removing sticky labels.
ReplyThat's a great idea!!
Hi Joy... If you want to diffuse any of these oils do you first have to add them to a carrier oil or can you simply add them directly to the water in your diffuser? Thanks!
ReplyYou can add them directly to your diffuser with water. And if you're using them topically you would want to add a carrier oil.