Uses for essential oils?

weenie

Hi everyone!!!

I was wondering if you could all help me out here regarding essential oils.
Postman came today with a late Xmas pressy for me off my DH. Its a box containing 10 bottles of E.Os, of various fragrances.

Ive got all the "air freshner tips", but was wondering if you had any ideas for mixing them with vinegar/ bicarb/ etc to make some cleaning sprays.

Five of the oils are citrus scented, and the others are lavender, teatree, camomile, and sandelwood.

Im sure ive seen a post about making multi purpose lemon cleaner, but i cant find it now!!!

Im going to try a few bath bombs and candles with them, and maybe after all that have some left over for relaxing massage!!

Thanks all............... :grouphug:
:money:

SallyinWales

You can add a drop of EO to soap and washing soda, or to the vinegar in the rinse aid drawer for nice smelly washing. You can add a splosh of citrus oil to a squirty bottle of strong white vinegar, shake very well before each use, and its a good multi purpose cleaner. Peppermint oil is excellent for treating the loo, as is teatree and lemon. You can scent a tub of baking soda/bicarb if you use that for bathroom cleaning or deodorizing carpets.

If its genuine sandlewood oil, don't waste it on housework, its expensive stuff! If its Sandlewood Amrys (sp?) you can be a bit more liberal.

Chamomile and lavender are lovely on the sheets, try putting a drop of each on a tissue in the airing cupboard or inside each underpillow for sweet dreams.

Lots of uses, remember you usually just need one or two drops, so they should last ages

weenie

Thanks for the useful info Sally!!!
The reason i got lavender and camomile was perhaps to make my own fabric conditioner, so i shall get mixing and try the tissue trick in my airing cupboard.
Will have a dabble at the rest of the cleaning hints and see how i get on tomorrow!!

homersimpson_3

just found bottles of essential oils- such as lavendar, majoram, ylang ylang, lemongrass geranium patchouli etc etc- what can i do with them? would prefer to make some use of them if possible when doing some household chore e.g. laundry etc

lindadykes

I use an old spray bottle and fill with water and lavender essential oil. I use this as a linen spray when ironing and also as a room spray.

Anne_Marie_2

Just off the top of my head........
You could add a couple of drops of lavender to vinegar if you use that as a fabric conditioner. (Same with the geranium).

Make up spray bottle with water, drops of lavender , geranium and lemongrass as a worktop spray - about 15 - 20 drops in total per plant spray sized bottle.

Lemongrass is a good deodoriser - you could wipe insoles of sweaty footwear! Also good insect repellent. Don't put this on your skin, add a couple of drops to clothing, or use in a burner to keep beasties away.

Lavender is brilliant for burns - I keep a bottle handy in the kitchen, take it on hols, usually have some in my handbag! (I kid you not:D). Applied straight to burns it is very healing, as I learned the hard way, many years ago - anyway it works, reduces likelihood of scarring.

Marjoram is more for sprains, arthritis, rheumatism, migraines , tension - will have to check out that for you.
Patchouli is for skin problems, stress, tension, also good at repelling moths.
Ylang ylang good for destressing, skin problems.

Will have to check out in my books tomorrow for you re the last 3 and any other ideas that might pop up!

nanamags

You can make room/laundry sprays. I use distilled water with 6 or 7 drops of oil but you must use glass bottles. The oil reacts with plastic bottles. There are lots of books which give "receipes" for different mixes of oils, have a look in your local library.

Pink.

I'm another one who adds lavender to vinegar as a fabric conditioner. What about a few drops in your vacum cleaner as a room freshener or putting some on a tissue in your underwear drawer?

Pink

Anne_Marie_2

Just seeing Pink-winged's post reminded me - a few drops on a cotton ball and popped in your hoover bag.

You could also make up your own pot pourri - dried flowers, leaves, cones etc, some baby talc or unscented and your fav essential oils. Make up in a tin, shake every so often for the smells to be absorbed - think about a fortnight should do it, then put in bowls to make the house smell sweet.

In the winter, I pop some oil onto moistened cotton ball, and place it in an old foil tealight holder and stick on top of radiator - different smells for different rooms. Doesn't really work when your heating isn't on!

Nanamags is right about using glass bottles - and they should be coloured really to keep the oils in a premium state. I still advocate plastic plant spray bottles for in the kitchen and bathroom with my hash-bash lot about, and me to be honest! A wee glass bottle spray would be no use for spraying about the way I do with my worktops - my finger would get all sore pumping the thing!

You can also use a few drops of essential oils in a bucket/basin of water for general cleaning of floors, worktops, sinks, bathrooms - your lavender, geranium and lemongrass all ideal for that. Or just a few drops directly onto a damp cloth.

You will need the ylang ylang to relax in the bath with after all that cleaning, help you relax, patchouli could be used there too - has either a sedative or pick me up effect, depending on how much you use, and can't remember at the moment. Will check books later and let you know.

Aril

Add few drops of lavender and geranium to rock salt and mix well.Use at bathtime.
I also put a few drops of lavender on the small person's temples [it's the only one you can put direct onto the skin without a carrier oil] if he's struggling to get to sleep.
Please be cautious with essential oils if you are pregnant
Aril

Teria

I don't know if it's just me who might be interested in this, but I was just wondering if anyone else used essential oils for anything unusual?
Here's my list
Adding a couple of drops in the fabric conditioning drawer, makes the clothes smell lovely, and also keeps the washing machine smelling fresh, if it's not used ever day.
In winter, rub a couple of drops along the top of radiators, when the heating is on, you get a lovely smell throughout the room.
If you use the natural "mineral salt" deoderant, put a couple of drops in a beaker of warm water, and use that water to moisten the deoderant. It gives it a lovely scent for a couple of days.
Tea tree oil is wonderful stuff, and has loads of uses.
It's a natural antiseptic, so I use a couple of drops diluted on cuts and scrapes for the whole household - adults, kids and cats! (a warm used tea bag is also good for a mild antiseptic)
I add a drop to my daughters shampoo whenever I wash her hair - may just be a coincidence, but she's one of the few in her class who have never had nits.
One drop on a damp ball of cotton wool makes a great cleanser - I used to get loads of spots every month, but now get them very rarely.
It's quite an effective cleaner too, though a lot more expensive than vinegar. It smells nice. I tried adding it to the washing up liquid once though - never again!
Any other ideas?