Essential oils are often used in cleaning and disinfecting around the house, with lemon, lavender, peppermint and tea tree ranking as most popular. These best-smelling essential oils have strong antibacterial properties and they make the house smell clean and fresh.
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Another bright side to essential oils is they can also be used for washing the dishes and cleaning the dishwasher. Here is how to incorporate essential oils in the kitchen.
Add a few drops of essential oils to the liquid dishwasher detergent
The easiest way to use essential oils for dishwashing is to add them to your dishwasher detergent. Pour a few drops into the bottle itself or add an essential oil of your liking in the detergent compartment.
If you like to switch to different oils with every use, then add directly to the detergent compartment.
Make your own dishwashing liquid
Green cleaning often requires natural ingredients and the most natural dishwashing detergent is the one you make yourself with carefully selected ingredients.
These include water, soap flakes, castile soap, glycerin, washing soda, essential oils of your choosing and a glass bottle with spout. It takes about 15 drops of essential oil to create a mood-boosting dishwashing liquid that is also natural and antiseptic.
Clean the dishwasher itself
Just like the washing machine needs tending to from time and time, so does a dishwasher, which can accumulate so much gunk.
For a dishwasher to be cleaned efficiently, it needs to be emptied completely, including the space under the bottom rack if there are any residues there.
Next is to mix white vinegar with about five drops of a preferred essential oil in a dishwasher-safe cup and turn on the dishwasher to the hottest cycle. It’s safe to rinse every month if needed, otherwise every other month.
The best essential oils to use for dishwashing
You can usually use any essential oil in the kitchen, however there are some most recommended, as they provide extra sanitation. Here is what to use for best properties.
- Lemon: antiviral and antibacterial;
- Tea tree: germs, bacteria & viruses;
- Rosemary: antibacterial and antiseptic;
- Wild orange: efficient against grease;
- Lavender: antibacterial;
- Eucalyptus: natural germicide;
- Peppermint: antibacterial;
- Cinnamon: antibacterial & antiseptic;
- Pine: great for eliminating bacteria;
- Thyme: powerful against germs.
Various fragrances of dishwashing liquids can be created, such as citrus version with grapefruit & lemon, woodsy with cedar & jupiter, floral with geranium and lavender plus so many to liking.
If you prefer dishwasher detergent tablets, you can also make those at home using baking soda, citric acid, concentrated cleaner and essential oil.
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Both homemade detergent tablets and homemade dishwashing liquids are long lasting and effective, not to mention they have calming and relaxing properties and provide an uplifting scent that can instantly relieve moodiness.