How to Use Essential Oils to Clean Your Kitchen

In 2019, there were over 139 million housing units throughout the United States -- and virtually all of them contain a kitchen of some kind. This room is one where we tend to gather to make memories and enjoy delicious meals. There's a good reason it's referred to as the heart of the home. But because it's the center of so much socialization, as well as meal preparation, kitchens can get quite grubby after only a short amount of time. Although 14% of homeowners planned to make improvements to their kitchens during 2018, you don't necessarily need to undergo a substantial renovation to make your kitchen feel fresh and new. In many cases, all it needs is a good cleaning. But what if you're concerned about VOCs and other harsh chemicals that can be found in many available cleaning agents? While many of these products work wonders when eliminating dirt and bacteria, they may not necessarily be safe for your family or good for the planet. Many people have turned to essential oils to wipe away grime and keep their homes smelling fresh. And since essential oil particles remain suspended for up to 75 minutes, those scrumptious scents have real staying power. So how exactly can you use essential oils to spruce up your kitchen? Here are just a few ways to use lemon, clove, peppermint, orange, lavender, or any number of other essential oils to make sure your kitchen is sanitized and sparkling.

Clean Countertops and Floors

Kitchen countertops and floors are notorious for gathering all kinds of crumbs and spills. But the good news is that you can clean them fairly easily with essential oils. Adding your favorite essential oil to a natural floor cleaner can keep everything feeling fresh, particularly if you opt for pine, peppermint, or citrus. To make a homemade cleaning product for your countertops, combine three tablespoons of distilled white vinegar, two tablespoons of rubbing alcohol, one and 1/2 cups of water, and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Add the mixture into a spray bottle, shake it up, and wipe down your counters with ease.

Get Rid of Persistent Odors

We often associate the kitchen with delicious smells, but this space may also be filled with gross odors from time to time. Whether the garbage has gotten too full or your fridge is starting to smell a bit funky, you can put your essential oils to work. You can either use a disinfectant spray out of water, white vinegar, dish soap, and essential oils to get the grime off the shelves in your fridge or create a simple deodorizer from baking soda, natural sea salt, and essential oils to ensure the inside of the fridge stays fresh for months. While this won't eliminate the need for a deep cleaning, it can certainly keep bad smells at bay.

Make the Microwave and Oven Spotless

Your microwave and oven are probably prone to spills and all kinds of dried food particles. These issues may be easy to overlook until you see your kitchen through someone else's eyes. Luckily, essential oils will have your back. You can easily steam clean your microwave to get rid of stubborn food remnants by combining a mixture of water and lemon oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Then, place it in the microwave and fill the appliance with steam by setting the microwave for three to five minutes on high. Let the steam sit, remove the bowl, and then wipe everything down with a sponge or damp cloth. Want to get all of the grime out of your oven? Preheat it to 300 degrees and then turn it off. Then, mix about a dozen drops of lemon essential oil with a half-cup of water in a spray bottle and spray your oven liberally. Then, mix a 1/4 cup of salt and a 1/4 cup of baking soda to tackle the spots with the biggest stains. After that, mix another 1/4 cup of salt and 3/4 cup of baking soda with two teaspoons of liquid soap to make a paste. Spread the paste over the interior of the oven and allow it to remain overnight. The next day, combine a half-cup of water and a fourth-cup of white vinegar into your spray bottle and use it to loosen the paste, wiping it all down to finish. Cleaning the kitchen might not be your favorite activity of all time. But if it gives you an opportunity to use your favorite essential oils, it might be a bit more enjoyable. And even if you don't love all the hard work that goes into cleaning, at least the room will smell irresistible afterward -- and you won't have to worry about using any harmful cleaning agents.