The kitchen is one of the most heavily used spaces of the home, so it’s important to keep it feeling clean, fresh, and welcoming.
Essential oils are a great way to achieve this—not only do they smell great, they also help to cleanse, degrease, and disinfect, which is so important in any areas where we are prepping or cooking food.
They can be used in many ways, from cleaning to providing an “all-round calming” scent for social gatherings. However, it is essential that you understand how to use these essential oils safely in this way to avoid unwanted accidents.
1. Cleaning the kitchen with essential oils
If you love to cook, your kitchen is in a constant flux of traffic. Worktops are used several times a day to prepare food, so it’s no surprise that they are open to dirt and bacteria.
Essential oils can be used to clean a variety of surfaces without any harmful chemicals or toxins. Many essential oils have anti-bacterial properties, including black pepper (Piper nigrum) essential oil.
With a 3% dilution of black pepper essential oil, lemon and clove (and white vinegar for a base), you can clean your kitchen surfaces with a powerful all-purpose-spray that kills germs and bacteria. Add the mixture to an amber glass spray bottle and spray on the surface. Wipe down with a damp cloth.
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2. Get rid of bad smells in the kitchen with essential oils
The kitchen is often a place full of tempting aromas of freshly baked bread and cookies, but sometimes bad smells cling to the cabinets and can even permeate into your clothing. There may even be lingering smells in the kitchen from yesterday’s cooking that you want to get rid of.
Aromatherapy diffusers are an excellent way to keep the kitchen fresh. You can deodorize off odors by using essential oils in an aromatherapy diffuser.
An experimental study found that clove essential oil was most effective against fungi (in those tested against) in relation to air quality, although eucalyptus and lavender essential oil showed some potential as well. Combine clove, lavender and eucalyptus essential oils in a blend and add a few drops to an aromatherapy diffuser.
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3. Clean and deodorize kitchen floors and carpets
Kitchen floors get dirty, not just from the usual traffic but from pets being sick, children dropping food, dirty shoes and slippers. Depending on the floor surface of your kitchen, you can use a simple combination of baking soda and a suitable essential oil to freshen up and deodorize your kitchen floor.
To freshen up and deodorize your kitchen floor, mix lavender oil with baking soda and sprinkle onto your carpet or carpet tiles and vacuum up the powder. If you have a bare floor such as linoleum, combine the blend with water and mop down the floor.
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4. Create a fridge deodorizer
Keep your kitchen tidy and germ free by cleaning the drawers and shelves in the refrigerator and freezer. Every 1-2 months, spray with a cleaning solution with essential oils, then hand-wash in your kitchen sink with warm water and dish soap.
Mix together a few drops of your favorite essential oils with a tablespoon of baking soda and half a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Store in a mason jar, cover with mesh cloth secured by the ring and tuck it away in the back corner. Replace as needed.
Create a DIY Disinfectant Spray
Ingredients:
1 cup filtered water
1 cup white vinegar
3 drops dish soap
2 drops sweet orange or lemon essential oil
16 ounce glass spray bottle
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in an amber glass bottle. Shake well before use. Use within 1-2 weeks.
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5. Create a garbage deodorizer
Garbage odor can be difficult to eliminate. Adding a mixture of 20-30 drops of your favorite citrus oil to 1/2 cup of baking soda and sprinkle it at the bottom of each new bag, or into the garbage as it’s being used if there is any further odor control needed.
Another option is to add 10-20 drops of any citrus oil to a small piece of cloth and lay it at the bottom of the bin before you tie in a new bag.
6. Create seasonal ambience in the kitchen
Add a touch of warmth to your kitchen with a homely aroma by diffusing essential oils through an oil diffuser.
Essential oils that are reminiscent of a “homely kitchen” include vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. The presence of these scents can be a powerful way to evoke memories of warm and fuzzy childhood experiences, as well as create an inviting ambience during a gathering with friends.