Determining the root cause of stale indoor air in a home or office can be challenging. However, permanently replacing all toxic commercial cleaning products with homemade natural cleaning products and misting rooms with do-it-yourself non-aerosol room sprays that contain small amounts of essential oil can quickly improve stuffy, stale air.

Essential Oil Room Sprays

Room sprays are easy to create. The only necessities are an eight-ounce glass spray bottle three-quarters filled with distilled water, two tablespoons of witch hazel, vodka or alcohol, and 20 drops of any single essential oil or a blend of two oils that equals a total of 20 drops. Although more drops can be added according to personal preference, it’s best to test the results a little at a time to make sure the fragrance is not overwhelming.

Cleaning Combinations

Popular oil combinations for cleaning are lavender, lemon and peppermint (particularly good for Southwest Floridians to use during episodes of red tide, which irritates the sinuses); rose and lavender; melaleuca and geranium; and spearmint and grapefruit.

The scent, as well as the physical application, of therapeutic grade essential oils is also beneficial to our health. For example, a study published in the Journal of Essential Oil Research notes that spearmint oil's antimicrobial properties are effective against several bacterial strains such Staphylococcus aureus, which causes pneumonia, and Escherichia coli, which causes diarrhea. It is also effective against Aspergillus niger, the cause of black mold, as well as other fungal pathogens.

Lemon Oil

Lemon essential oil, widely recognized as a natural disinfectant and cleaning agent, also helps to relieve seasonal allergy symptoms such as sinus congestion. It can also be used to kill toxins and bacteria in the kitchen and bathroom.  

Melaleuca Oil

Commonly known as tea tree, melaleuca oil has more than 92 different compounds and is best known for its purifying properties that protect against environmental threats in the home.

Rose Oil

According to The Journal of Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, rose oil has a positive affect on depression and anxiety.

Grapefruit Oil

Versatile grapefruit oil has antimicrobial properties that help reduce or eliminate harmful strains of bacteria that enter the body through contaminated food, water or parasites.

Cindy Bisanti is the owner of Crunchy Cleaning by Cindy, serving Collier and Lee county. For more information on her non-toxic, non-chemical, eco-friendly cleaning services, call 239-202-3151 or visit CrunchyCleaning.com.