DIY Natural Lavender Infused Homemade Cleaning Spray...Disinfects, Smells GREAT!
Decades ago, I used to use bleach and chemical-based cleaning sprays on my counter tops and all over the house. It sure smelled "bleachy" when I was done cleaning! And I used to love the smell of bleach and Pine-Sol....because these scents meant "clean" to my brain. Now, they mean "disinfected with toxic chemicals."
Since learning about aromatherapy, the powers of essential oils, and making natural cleaners, my "scents" (Get it? :-) of what smells clean has completely changed. Now scents of tea tree, thyme, lavender, rosemary, lemon, and other "real" plant oils are what smell "clean" to me.
Do you know what happens after you get used to smelling natural plant-based essential oils? Your nose becomes VERY sensitive to chemical smells, even perfumes. These days, I tend to get violent headaches when I’m bombarded with commercial fragrances, and I can’t even bear to walk down the laundry aisle in the stores.
The difference in scents and what a natural scent versus a synthetic fragrance does to your system is incredible. Give me the smell of vinegar, flowers, and essential oils any day!
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Find out how to make the BEST natural cleaning spray EVER. Directions to make a grease-cutting all-purpose cleaning spray that disinfects too!
Chemicals almost become unbearable to your olfactory membranes, and you can begin to tell the differences between real plant scents and chemical knock-offs. In fact, for me, it has gotten to the point that those horrible room deodorizing sprays and commercial cleaners (Febreze, Glade, Pine-Sol, etc.) actually make me feel nauseous.
It's the damaging chemicals, folks! They are not good for your body. Many are proven carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and sensitizers. And, yes, they get into your bloodstream, even through your nose.
Did you know that smelling through your nose is one of the most potent ways to get chemical compounds---both good and bad---into your body? When you inhale, your mucous membranes go to work to try to keep bad things out (if they can tell the difference) and allow good things in.
The problem is that tiny molecules of "bad" chemicals get in there very easily, quickly entering your bloodstream. You have probably experienced this yourself. Let's take second hand smoke for example. We all know about that! Well, chemical fragrances and scents are no different at all.
Guess what?
Essential oils, which are natural and can have therapeutic benefits, work the same way. The tiny molecules can actually enter your bloodstream quickly after inhaling them in, only instead of breathing in toxins, you’re now breathing in something that can actually be good for your mind and body!
So, let's take a look at how to make a cleaning spray that not only works, but it smells great! And your brain will love you too! :-) You can't beat that combo!!
Lavender isn’t just for looking and smelling beautiful! It contains antimicrobial elements that make it a wonderful way to clean your home!
DIY Natural Cleaning Spray: Disinfects & Smells GREAT!
Ingredients for Natural Cleaning Spray:
1. Essential Oil Blend You need some or all of these essential oils:
1 part Rosemary
1 part Eucalyptus
1 part Thyme (optional)
1 part Tea Tree (optional)
2 parts Lemon
2 parts Clove
3 parts Cinnamon
OR….If you really want to go with the lavender scented theme….just add some lavender and tea tree essential oils.
Or really, any combination of the above oils. They all have varying levels of antiseptic, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti fungal properties. I like to buy my essential oils at Starwest Botanicals, especially for soap making and cleaning products.
NOTE: I buy my essential oils from Rocky Mountain Oils, Amrita Aromatherapy, or Starwest Botanicals. You can also get your dried lavender buds from Starwest if you don’t have any on hand.
2. Lavender-Infused White Vinegar OR Plain White Vinegar
3. Distilled water
(I just use my own tap water. It's from a well, so I don't worry much about it, and especially for using for cleaning.)
4. Clean spray bottle (I prefer glass bottles, but I will often re-purpose plastic ones if I have them)
How to Make Lavender Infused Vinegar:
**This is optional. You can use plain white vinegar with great results! Infusing the Lavender (from Starwest Botanicals if you don't grow your own) into the Vinegar will give your cleaning spray some extra antiseptic power from the lavender, though!
The lavender buds also turn your vinegar a lovely pink-purple color!
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White Vinegar, Lavender Flowers. Combine and infuse!! This makes a lovely pink vinegar that's great for using full strength on your kitchen counters.
1. Fill a Mason jar about one-third full of lavender flowers
2. Fill jar to within one inch of the top with white vinegar. Shake really well to get the lavender saturated. The lavender will float to the top.
3. Let infuse for a few days to a couple of weeks. The longer you allow it to infuse, the darker it will become.
The jar on the left is the one I just filled and shook up. Look at that beautiful color! The one on the right I infused for about 2 weeks, and it gets really dark after a time. It still works great, though! It's just not as pretty.
That's it!!! Now, you can use this as your vinegar part. Like I mentioned above, if you don't want to take this extra step, then just use plain white vinegar.
Directions for the Cleaning Spray:
1. Pour about this much of the essential oil blend into your spray bottle. I'm using a plastic bottle in this photo, but I have to let you know the essential oils will degrade the plastic.
I now use amber glass spray bottles I get from Amazon or Mason jars with a spray top from a company called Re-Cap (They turn any Mason jar into something amazing!). Glass is much better to use with your essential oils. You don't need a lot of the essential oil blend, either. Essential oils are VERY powerful.
Here is the essential oil blend in the spray bottle.
I always have leftover essential oils in the blended form. I store them in amber glass bottles to keep them protected from light. Keep them stored in a cool, dark place too. Be sure to label your jars! This is very important, because it is really easy to forget what's in those bottles!
2. Now add your vinegar! You want to add about 1 part vinegar to about 2 parts water or so. I don't measure, because I've found that guesstimating works fine for me.
You can see the essential oils already rising to the top.
3. Add your water! You want about double water to vinegar. This will make quite a strong and powerful disinfecting and cleaning spray that's great at cutting grease, too
Especially when combined with baking soda--the diluted vinegar sprayed on baking soda sprinkled first is just a killer combination on grease. Just sprinkle your baking soda and spray the cleaning spray on top, and experience the magic, as your “soft scrub” leaves the surface sparkling clean.
You can certainly use it all by itself, though, and this is what I use for my countertops.
For windows: Just leave out the essential oils and go with plain water and the plain (or lavender infused) vinegar.
Here it is!! Ready to mop the floors, clean kitchen and bathroom counter tops and other surfaces!! DO NOT USE ON WOOD! The essential oils and vinegar will remove the shiny tops if they are coated.
You're all ready to go clean! Use this spray on non-porous surfaces like kitchen & bathroom counters, floors, etc.
CAUTION: Be careful with wood. If the wood has been coated, the essential oils and vinegar can actually strip the wood. NOT a good thing if you have nice furniture. I do use this on our wood laminate floors...but please take care and do a patch test first, just in case.
Where do I Buy My Essential Oils?
For cleaning purposes and when I need a greater amount of oils (as in soap making), I purchase my essential oils from Starwest Botanicals. They are fast, cost effective, pay attention to sustainability, and have excellent customer service.
Other companies I purchase my essential oils from include Amrita Aromatherapy and Rocky Mountain Oils.
Final Thoughts on Natural Homemade Cleaning Spray
This DIY natural essential oil cleaner is inexpensive, easy to make, and I think it works and smells better than any commercial spray I've ever purchased.
This homemade cleaner is SO much less expensive that commercial products, and it’s far safer for your health and the health of your family, too.
Making the switch to toxin-free products and/or homemade cleaners is a journey that’s worth the small bit of effort, and you’ll save a TON of money, too.
By the way!
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And there are over 500 more articles on my website! I hope you’ll go explore!
Hugs, Health, & Self-Reliance!
Heidi
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Disclaimer: This product has not been tested for efficacy. It's based on my knowledge of essential oils and their properties. I disclaim any liability from creation or use of this product, and you are responsible, as all of us are, to do your own research and make sure what you create and use works and is appropriate for you. I simply provide information and ideas for people doing their best to live a natural life.