ESSENTIAL OILS AND ECOLOGICAL DETERGENTS FOR HOUSE CLEANING

For decades, the use of chemically aggressive products has accustomed us to a very strong and clean concept from the point of view of effectiveness, but it’s not very attentive to the quality and content of the products used.  Ecological detergents focus a lot of attention on the biodegradability of the product, or how much it is decomposable under the action of bacteria and microorganisms in respect to the environment. We can find them at herbalists, in organic food stores and in some well-known supermarkets.

The continuous study to obtain better formulations from the point of view of environmental balance and respect for the person, today allowed for ecological cleaners to be effective while not containing raw materials of petrochemical or animal origin. The enzymes that break down the dirt are exclusively from bio crops, produced in protected and controlled work environments.

For a detergent to have a cleaning effect, it must have a high wetting and penetrating power, that is be able to enter the interstices and porous materials to attack the dirt and divide it into particles very small and easily eliminated. These effects are obtained thanks to the presence of surfactants, organic products that are capable of change the bonds between the molecules that make up water. Plant-based surfactants are easily, quickly and completely biodegradable.

The ecological detergents are totally soluble, so much so that they do not leave a residue in the drains and in the pipes, and eliminate the need to use aggressive and environmentally harmful descalers. The choice of a detergent must be related to the type of dirt it must eliminate. Alkaline products are more suitable for removing organic substances, such as food residues from the dishes, while the acid ones to remove the mineral type dirt.

ESSENTIAL OILS INDICATED FOR CLEANING THE HOUSE: 

Essential oils dilute very well in natural detergents.

In 100 ml of base (about one glass) you can dilute 20 drops of total essential oils. Choose from:

Deodorant essential oils: such as lavender, geranium, bergamot, cypress, sage, clary, lemon, eucalyptus, lime, grapefruit, lemongrass, thyme, yarrow, bitter orange.

Antiseptic essential oils: such as eucalyptus, juniper, lavender, thyme, tea tree, lemon, myrtle, cypress, mint, fir, basil, hyssop, oregano, geranium.

Antibacterial essential oils: such as lemon, thyme, lavender, bergamot, cloves, oregano, savory, sage, cinnamon, chamomile, lemon balm.

APPLICATIONS AND USES:

For the laundry.

It is advisable to pour 3 to 5 drops of essential oil into the container with the fabric softener.

Another method is to prepare a mixture of rice starch and essential oils, always chosen according to need and pour 2 to 3 teaspoons in the washing machine before each wash. If someone in the house suffers from mycosis, it is recommended to add a few drops of essential oil to each wash of lavender, tea tree, cedar, laurel and thyme, effective for disinfecting socks and underwear.

Bactericidal detergent for floors.

To a bucket of hot water, add half a tablespoon of ecological detergent for dishes in which is mixed 10 drops in total between thyme essential oil, oregano and bergamot. Warning: it is not necessary to rinse because no foam is produced.

Taken from: “Aromatherapy in the ecological home” by Laura Savo