I usually like to use my white vinegar and water cleaner mixed fairly strong (50:50 ratio), so the smell can be a bit overwhelming at times, especially in enclosed areas like a shower stall. As soon as it dries, the odor disappears also. It usually doesn't bother me, but some people aren't fond of the scent.
This week, I decided to try adding a little more lavender essential oil to the formula. The oil cut right through the vinegar scent and left a nice natural "flower field" smell behind. I had only added 6 drops to the bottle. It costs about $18 for a 4 oz. sized bottle at Heritage Natural Foods (Moline, IL), but at that concentration it will last a very long time for an average consumer.
Some other added benefits to using lavender oil in your cleaners are:
- spiders, dust mites, and other insects do not like it.
- it has an aromatherapy de-stressing effect on people. (Much needed for me!)
- it is a great antiseptic if you happen to cut yourself, get burned, or stung by a bee.
(Speaking of bees, the photo I took this morning is from the gardens of Lavender Crest Winery on Rt. 6 near Colona, Il.)
There are some precautions to keep in mind when working with all concentrated essential oils though:
- tip the bottle and allow drops to fall out. (Shaking could result in a splash in the eye)
- lavender is safe for skin contact, but oils like peppermint can burn.
- lavender is toxic to the livers of cats. (They should not even breathe the vapors)
- always shake your spray bottle before each use to remix the oils.
This trick is for some better sleep at night:
Just add 4-5 drops to a small spray bottle of water, spray it around your bed and pillows before sleeping, and you should drift off to sleep quite easily. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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