At the first signs of Spring many people (including myself) are suddenly gripped by the urge to Spring Clean.  It is believed that the tradition of Spring cleaning stems from the Persian New Year - Iranian Nourouz, which falls on the first day of Spring. Iranians practice "khooneh tekouni" just before the new year (21 March), which literally translates as "shaking the house". This involves a complete clean of the house, and the purchase of new clothes and flowers such as hyacinths and tulips.

Another possible origin of Spring cleaning can be traced to the ancient Jewish practice of thoroughly cleansing the home prior to the Feast of Passover.

Whatever the origins, Spring is a great time to refresh and reinvigorate our homes in line with the 'rebirth of nature'. I personally like to do a real 'blitz clean' of the house at this time of year! I move furniture to vacuum underneath, I change curtains and take pillows and winter duvets to the cleaners, and I also take the opportunity to clear out unwanted clothes and take them to the charity shop.

Spring cleaning to boost wellbeing

If you're not quite feeling the urge to 'clean', it may help to know that cleaning can actually be good for your health. Apart from the obvious benefits of removing harmful bacteria, the process of cleaning and de-cluttering can also benefit your mental health. Studies show that clutter and mess can leave us feeling anxious, overwhelmed and helpless, making it harder for us to relax, both mentally and physically. According to UCLA’s Center on Everyday Lives and Families, women are more likely to react to a messy home than men, and their research found that women living in cluttered homes had higher levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. 

If you go about it with the right attitude and employ a few simple techniques, house cleaning can actually help to reduce your stress levels and boost your mood. One technique is to use cleaning time as meditation time to let your mind wander wherever it wants to go! Another is to play some music and get your body moving! Quick movement i.e. vigorous scrubbing or hoovering releases natural mood-enhancing endorphins into your bloodstream, making house cleaning a lot more enjoyable.

Essential oils for cleaning your home

Although the physical act of cleaning can benefit your health, the use of toxic, chemical-laden cleaning products is obviously not so good! Research shows that many household cleaning products contain toxic chemicals that can actually damage our health. These toxic substances can burn the skin, irritate the eyes, cause allergies, headaches and breathing problems, and some are even linked to cancer. A study conducted in Norway found that regularly inhaling the chemicals in cleaning sprays is as bad for the lungs as smoking 20 cigarettes a day.

Essential oils offer a safer, natural alternative to the cocktail of chemicals found in mainstream cleaning brands. We've put together a few simple cleansing blends using essential oils renowned for their anti-microbial, antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Their natural, therapeutic powers can also help to lift your mood and boost your immune system while you clean!!

Natural home fragrance

I love to vaporise essential oils while cleaning, and when I've finished I make up an “atmosphere spray” to create the fresh clean ambiance that I like each room to be filled with – cleansing, relaxing combinations for upstairs – and a bit more zing and aromatherapy zap for downstairs!

Bedrooms

Vaporise 4 drops Lemon, Lime and Lavender, with 2 Frankincense or 2 Roman Chamomile if anyone has difficulty sleeping.

Add the same combination to 20ml of Orange Flower Hydrolat and spray into the room to leave that all pervading air of peace and freshness combined!

Bathrooms

Vaporising 5 drops Pine and Lime with 2 Eucalyptus gives you a strong scent of cleanliness and vitality.

Add the same combination to 20ml of Rose Hydrolat for a cool, clean, crisp spray that can be used as a natural air-freshener!

Dining Room

I like to vaporise 5 drops Sweet Orange, 5 Lime and 2 Peppermint – for that citrus edge leading to a peppermint punch – it's so refreshing and a digestive aid too!

Add the same blend to 20ml of Orange Flower Hydrolat and spritz into the air to clear your head and leave a surprisingly persistent aroma for days after you've cleaned.

Living Room

As this is the hub of most homes – remember what everyone likes – and consider how your family and friends are feeling at the moment. Choose oils that will boost their mood and that will also leave your room smelling fresh and clean at the same time. Dogs, cats, children and open fires all add to the aromatic effect – and not always in the way we want. In this room I tend to vaporise 2 drops Neroli, 6 drops Lime, 4 Geranium and 2 Cedarwood. I then add the same combination of oils to 20ml of Orange Flower Hydrolat - which I spray into the newly washed dog's beds as well as into the atmosphere. I also sprinkle a few drops of Pine essential oil on the logs in the log basket to add to the “mean clean” aroma! 

Kitchen

As part of my Spring clean, I scrub the floors with the floor cleaning blend from below. This has quite a strong aroma so I also like to vapourise 4 drops each of Bergamot, Lemon and Lime to lighten the load and remind me of the Summer sunshine to come. Again, the same blend of oils can also be added to 20ml of hydrolat for a natural air freshener.

Natural cleaning blends

It's so easy to make up your own natural cleaning products with essential oils and a few other key ingredients such as water, baking soda and distilled white vinegar. Liquid Castile Soap is also another great product to try. This is an eco-friendly, vegetable-based soap that can be used in place of wide range of cleaning products (and toiletries).

Please note while some online recipes recommend mixing Castile Soap and vinegar in cleaning blends it is generally not recommended as they react with each other, cancel each other out and cause the mixture to curdle. The only exception to this is if you mix the Castile Soap with baking soda first, as the vinegar will then react with the baking soda instead of the soap

Here are some blends to try:

Bath/Shower Cleaner

Mix 2 tablespoons of baking powder, 50ml warm water, 2 drops Eucalyptus essential oil and 5 drops Tea Tree. Apply as normal with a sponge scourer.

Toilet Cleaner

Mix 1 tablespoon baking powder, 20ml distilled white vinegar, 6 drops Tea Tree, 2 drops Eucalyptus and 6 drops Bergamot. Scrub with loo brush as usual.

Antiseptic Surface Spray

Combine 100ml cooled boiled water, 10 drops Tea Tree, 5 drops Eucalyptus, 5 drops Peppermint and 5 drops Lemon in a spray bottle. Shake well before each use. You can add a squirt of Castile Soap if you'd like a foamier consistency.

Heavy Duty Surface Cleaner

Mix 2 tablespoons baking powder, 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar, 50ml warm water, 5 drops Tea Tree and 1 drop Eucalyptus. Apply and wipe down as normal.

Furniture Polish

Place 50g of Olive Oil (or 40g if you want a thicker consistency) and 10g of Beeswax in a glass bowl over a pan of simmering water. Heat gently until the beeswax has melted, stirring occasionally to combine. Once melted you can add a couple of drops of Lavender essential oil for fragrance. Mix well, pour into a sterile jar and leave to set. If you have used less Olive oil it will have a firmer consistency. Buff into surfaces with a soft, clean cloth.

Floor Cleaner

Combine 4.5L of very hot water with 2 cups of distilled white vinegar and 10 drops each of Eucalyptus. Peppermint and Pine. You can add 40ml of a natural-based detergent such as Ecover if you wish - or leave out the vinegar and use 40ml of Castile Soap.

Window Cleaner

In a spray bottle mix 1.5 cups of cooled boiled water with 1/4 cup of distilled vinegar and 25 drops of citrus essential oils (Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit or Orange). Shake well before spraying onto glass.

Safety advice

• Mix up fresh blends every couple of weeks
• Always stick to recommended quantities of ingredients
• Avoid getting undiluted essential oils on the skin or near the eyes - rinse well if contact occurs
• We recommend that you still wear gloves when using these cleaning blends
• Spot test on surfaces prior to widespread application
• With the exception of the furniture polish do not use these blends on polished or varnished surfaces

Happy cleaning!

Joannah Metcalfe
Consultant Aromatherapist