Cleaning your kitchen is an essential task for maintaining a healthy and pleasant environment. However, many household products contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to your health and the environment. There is a natural, effective, and environmentally friendly alternative: essential oils.
In this article, you'll explore how to use essential oils to safely clean your kitchen, disinfect your surfaces, and eliminate unpleasant odors. Discover my practical tips, homemade recipes, and tricks for a naturally clean kitchen, without compromising on effectiveness.
Why Use Essential Oils for Cleaning
With growing concerns about chemicals in the home, more and more people are turning to natural solutions for their household cleaning needs. Essential oils are an eco-friendly, healthy, and effective alternative for cleaning your kitchen. They don't just mask odors or disinfect superficially; they work deep down thanks to their antimicrobial and antiseptic properties.
Essential oils such as lemon, tea tree, and peppermint, among others, are excellent cleaning agents. They help eliminate germs while adding a fresh, pleasant scent to your space. Additionally, using them in homemade cleaning products helps reduce your environmental footprint by avoiding plastic packaging and reducing the use of harmful chemicals.
Choosing essential oils to clean your kitchen means choosing a natural method that combines safety, effectiveness, and environmental friendliness. Whether you want to disinfect your countertops, eliminate unpleasant odors, or freshen up your refrigerator, essential oils offer a versatile solution that's easy to incorporate into your cleaning routine.
3 essential oils to clean your kitchen
Lemon: the natural disinfectant and degreaser
Lemon essential oil is a must-have for cleaning. Thanks to its high concentration of limonene, it is a powerful natural degreaser and an effective disinfectant for kitchen surfaces. Its fresh, invigorating aroma also leaves a pleasant scent after each use.
- Practical tip: Mix 20 drops of Lemon essential oil with 10 cl of white vinegar and top up with 40 cl of water to create a multi-purpose cleaning spray perfect for your worktops, sinks and hobs.
- Precautions: Avoid using this oil on acid-sensitive surfaces, such as marble or natural stone. Wear household gloves when using this oil due to its photosensitivity.
Tea tree: the antibacterial and antifungal ally
Tea tree essential oil is renowned for its powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties. Thanks to its active compounds, such as terpinen-4-ol, it is ideal for disinfecting high-risk areas, such as sinks and cutting boards.
- Helpful Tip: Add 4 drops of Tea Tree essential oil to soapy water to naturally disinfect your dishes or food preparation surfaces.
- Precautions: As it is highly concentrated, always use it diluted and avoid contact with eyes or unprotected skin.
Peppermint: the fresh and powerful air freshener
Peppermint essential oil, rich in menthol, is ideal for eliminating unpleasant kitchen odors. Whether after cooking odorous foods or to freshen the air, its deodorizing effect is instant.
- Helpful tip: Place a few drops on a cotton ball and leave it in your trash can to neutralize unwanted odors.
- Precautions: The strong aroma of peppermint can be overpowering, so use it sparingly.
Natural Cleaning Product Recipes
Homemade cleaning products made with essential oils are not only effective, but also economical and environmentally friendly. Using natural ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils, you can create your own cleaners for all your kitchen surfaces. Here are some simple and effective recipes.
Multi-purpose disinfectant spray
This disinfectant spray is perfect for cleaning your kitchen surfaces while eliminating germs. It leaves a fresh, natural scent in your space.
Ingredients :
- 100 ml of white vinegar
- 400 ml of water
- 10 drops of lemon essential oil
- 10 drops of Tea tree essential oil
Preparation :
- Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well before each use. Spray on countertops, sinks, or trash cans, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe with a clean cloth.
Oven descaling paste
Ovens are often a challenge to clean, especially when grease is embedded. This descaler paste is ideal for removing baked-on residue without resorting to harsh cleaners.
Ingredients :
- 3 tablespoons of baking soda
- 1 tablespoon of water
- 5 drops of lemon essential oil
Preparation :
- Mix baking soda and water to form a paste. Add lemon essential oil and apply to the oven walls. Let it sit for 30 minutes, rub lightly with a sponge, then rinse with clean water.
Scouring cream for sinks and stainless steel surfaces
Sinks and metal surfaces often require a deep cleaning. This scouring cream is perfect for restoring shine to your surfaces without scratching them.
Ingredients :
- 100 g of baking soda
- 50 ml of white vinegar
- 5 drops of lemon essential oil
- 5 drops of Tea tree essential oil
Preparation :
- Mix the baking soda and vinegar to form a paste, then add the essential oils. Use a soft sponge to apply the cream to sinks, faucets, or stainless steel surfaces, then rinse with warm water.
Natural drain deodorant
To eliminate bad odors coming up from your pipes, here is a simple and natural solution.
Ingredients :
- 1 tablespoon of baking soda
- 1 tablespoon of coarse salt
- 1 glass of white vinegar
- 10 drops of lemon essential oil
Preparation :
- Pour the baking soda and coarse salt directly down the drain. Add 10 drops of lemon essential oil to a glass of white vinegar and pour the mixture down the drain.
- Leave on for 30 minutes. Then rinse with boiling water.
Diffusion to deodorize and sanitize the kitchen
When you've cooked dishes with strong odors (fish, spices, fried foods), it's often difficult to get rid of them. This synergy of essential oils, diffused after the meal, helps purify the air and neutralize unpleasant odors.
Ingredients :
- 2 drops of Peppermint essential oil
- 3 drops of Tea tree essential oil
- 5 drops of lemon essential oil
Preparation :
- Pour the oils into your diffuser and diffuse for 30 minutes after preparing fragrant dishes. This not only helps eliminate unpleasant odors, but also freshens the kitchen atmosphere.
Refrigerator deodorizer
Lingering odors in the refrigerator can be unpleasant and difficult to eliminate, even after a thorough cleaning. This air freshener is perfect for sanitizing the inside of your fridge while leaving a pleasant lemony scent.
Ingredients :
- 1/2 lemon
- 15 drops of lemon essential oil
Preparation :
- Pour the drops of lemon essential oil onto the pulp of half a lemon and place it in the refrigerator.
Purifying synergy to deodorize trash cans
Trash cans can quickly become a source of unpleasant odors in the kitchen. This blend of essential oils is ideal for neutralizing odors in and around the trash can, while providing a fresh, pleasant scent.
Ingredients :
- 5 drops of lemon essential oil
- 5 drops of Tea tree essential oil
- 5 drops of Peppermint essential oil
Preparation :
- Place a few drops of this synergy on a cotton ball or a piece of absorbent paper, then place it at the bottom of the trash or recycling bin to neutralize unpleasant odors.
General precautions
- Dilution: Always dilute essential oils before skin application to avoid irritation.
- Tolerance test: Before use, carry out a skin tolerance test by applying a small amount of the diluted synergy to the inside of the elbow and wait 24 hours to check for an allergic reaction.
- Medical Consultation: If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have specific medical conditions, consult a healthcare professional before using essential oils. Your doctor is the only primary care provider for your health.
- Avoid mucous membranes and eyes: Essential oils can cause severe irritation. In case of accidental contact, rinse thoroughly with a carrier oil, not water. Consult your doctor.
Essential oils offer a natural, safe, and effective solution for cleaning and deodorizing your kitchen. Whether you're disinfecting surfaces, eliminating unpleasant odors, or creating homemade cleaning products, these plant extracts are an ideal alternative to harsh chemicals.
With simple ingredients like white vinegar, baking soda, and a few drops of essential oils, you can create eco-friendly, economical, and effective cleaning products.
Transform your home into a healthy and enjoyable space. Try these solutions today to enjoy a healthier environment for you and your family.
Sources of information (bibliography):
Françoise Couic-Marinier, Dr Anthony Toubol, The Living Earth Guide to Essential Oils, Living Earth Edition, November 17, 2017, 477 p. ISBN: 9782360982752
Karyn Siegel-Maier, Cleaning Your Home Naturally - To Put an End to Toxic Products, Larousse Edition, March 20, 2013, 256 p. ISBN: 9782035872081
Maison Jacynthe disclaims all liability. All information contained on this page is not intended to replace justified allopathic treatment or to disregard the expertise of the medical profession. It is up to each individual to take charge of their own health, to inform themselves, and to make the necessary changes to improve their condition. Therapeutic supervision by a qualified health professional is obviously recommended.
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