Aromatherapy in the Kitchen
Using essential oils to keep your kitchen clean!
So many essential oils have powerful antibacterial and antiseptic qualities that using them in the kitchen seems a very “natural” thing to do. The scent from these natural cleaners is also a bonus, as no one wants to have to contend with chemical scents wafting around their environment.
Try using essential oils to wash down countertops after cooking, chopping boards after cutting up meats, in the wash water when washing the floor, walls or cupboards, or when cleaning the fridge or freezer.
Rising up in the steam as you cook are those tiny little molecules of fat, which carry the scent of the food you are cooking. While this is hopefully appetizing at the time, you don’t want these smells to linger by attaching themselves to curtains, clothing, furniture and carpeting. Blending essential oils of Rosemary essential oil, Eucalyptus essential oil, Lime essential oil, Lavender essential oil or Lemon essential oil (use one or all) into a spray bottle with a little alcohol and water makes a wonderful air-cleansing room spray. The aromatic molecules of the essential oils actually surround and deodorize the smelly little fat molecules, rather then just covering them up like so many commercial, chemically-based synthetic sprays do. All the while these essential oils are helping to destroy any air-borne bacteria that may have been tracked home from school or the office, and are just waiting for someone”s immune system to weaken so they can attack!
In the final rinse water for the cleaning of the refrigerator, a drop or 2 of any of the citrus essential oils (orange, lemon, or grapefruit) will help to deodorize without permeating your food.
Washing down the counters and cupboards requires some serious bacteria fighters, to make sure there are no surprises lingering on your cooking and preparation surfaces. The following oils can be dropped directly onto your cloth or combined to make 7-8 drops into your rinse water. Again, the citrus oils are wonderful as well as Thyme essential oil, Pine essential oil, Lavender essential oil and Eucalyptus essential oil (these can also calm you down and clear your nose if you have a cold).
Even doing dishes can be a little more fun when you add 10 drops of Lemon essential oil, Grapefruit essential oil or Bitter Orange essential oil to your dish soap. You may not want to sing and dance upon completion, but at least your kitchen will be clean, your psyche will be suitably calmed and rejuvenated, and with any luck your immune system will be boosted!
*This is educational information and any opinions expressed here-in do not replace professional medical advice. If you are ill, see a suitably qualified medical practitioner.*
All articles on this website are copyright Green Valley Aromatherapy Ltd. If you wish to reprint any article from Green Valley Aromatherapy’s website in your ezine, website, blog, forum, RSS feed or print publication, you must first agree to the conditions of our article reprint policy.