12 ways to use essential oils in your home that don't require an essential oil diffuser

To create a mood or ambience in your home or spaces, an essential oil diffuser, candles or reed diffusers can be the perfect answer, however there are a number of situations where these methods might not be available yet you want to enjoy the benefits of essential oils. We hope some ideas in this guide help inspire you to use essential oils in simple everyday ways.

Natural fragrance, in the form of essential oils, are beneficial in many ways, such as improving mood, relief from anxiety, support during sickness and improved sleep. 

Introduce a couple of these practices around your home or spaces, to help achieve a beautiful smelling home, while restoring your sense of equilibrium.

Personal Care

Bathtime

Mix 4-5 drops of essential oils into either 1 tablespoon of carrier oil (such as coconut or grapeseed) OR 1 tablespoon of liquid soap before adding to your warm (not hot) bath for a soak for approx 10-15 minutes to relax your mind and body. Essential oils such as Lavender, Ylang Ylang or Chamomile are good choices or a ready made option like Washpool Sleep Easy blend are perfect for this purpose as they are safe when used as directed  and will provide a sense of calm and evoke a restful state. (Both carrier oil and liquid soap help disperse the essential oil in the bath water to effectively dilute the concentrated blend. Do remember that the bath may be slippery, so take care.)

Showertime

Drop 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil directly onto your chest, right before you step into the shower. As the water washes over you, the essential oils will provide calm and balance. A perfect way to start the day. (Note that not all essential oils are safe directly placed on your skin, however Lavender essential oil is generally ok for skin not sensitive to essential oils. It should not sit undiluted on your skin for any period of time and is only intended to be washed off as part of a mindful practice).

Relaxing Sleep

Drop 4-5 drops of essential oil of lavender or Washpool Sleep Easy blend to a cotton cloth or tissue and place it under your pillow slip to assist with a calming and relaxing sleep. Breathing these oils in will provide a calming practice and positive step towards optimum sleep health.

Cold Symptoms

Drop 4-5 drops of peppermint essential oil onto a cotton cloth or tissue and place it under your pillow slip. The oils will help clear your airways and assist in a better night sleep when you are congested.

Clothing and Shoes

Shoe Freshness

Drop 1-2 drops of a refreshing essential oil into the footbed of your sports shoes to mask any mustiness or bad odours. Try with peppermint or lavender essential oil or Washpool Vitality blend for a fresh lift to your hard working shoes.

Underwear Drawers

Drop 2-3 drops of a beautiful essential oil onto a cotton ball or tissue, and place in your drawers when you want your intimates to subtly smell fresh and perfumed. More feminine essential oils would be lavender, rose, geranium, jasmine and ylang ylang or many of the Washpool Blends including Sleep Easy, Beautiful, Serenity, Wellbeing. More masculine essential oils could be patchouli, peppermint or sandalwood, or Washpool Moonlight blend.

Leather Shoes with Dirt and Mould

Use this simple recipe for caring for your leather shoes, as they require gentle but effective cleaning. Make up a solution of ½ cup of warm water, ¼ cup of white vinegar and 10 drops of eucalyptus oil. Patch test first on your leather, however if it responds well, use the solution to clean over the shoes. Do this regularly i.e. every six months and especially after periods of high humidity and rain.

In the Kitchen

Kitchen Cooking Aromas

Whilst you are preparing your meal, add another saucepan to the stove top and drop 3-5 drops of essential oils into the boiling water to fill your room with fresh aromas. A good one to use is peppermint essential oil to counteract many unwanted aromas. You could also try citrus oils including orange, lime and lemon. This technique also works with whole spices such as cinnamon or clove.

Deter Bugs And Insects

If you are getting the occasional insects/bugs in your pantry. Monthly drop 4-5 drops of an essential oil like tea tree, lemongrass, cedarwood, eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender onto a cotton cloth or tissue and place in your pantry. It also helps to keep your pantry smelling fresh.

All Home Areas

Cleaning The Floors

For areas where you have residue left on your floors from cooking (kitchen) or pets, or sports clothes, etc. drop 5 essential oil drops into your timber or tile floor cleaner solution to help clean and mask any odours. Peppermint, lemongrass, orange or lime are great essential oil for these areas.

Demoulding Around The Home

Eucalyptus and Clove essential oils are both helpful oils to use around your home. You will need to patch test areas, but generally good quality essential oils can be added to a spray bottle of water with a little liquid soap to disperse the essential oils. This will clean the area and inhibit growth, however you will need to make it a regular practice to ensure the mould doesn’t come back. (This tip is for small areas of mould, however on larger areas you may need to investigate using a commercial cleaner, as the mould may be too far spread to eradicate with natural essential oils.)

Natural Air Freshener

Use any of your essential oils as natural air fresheners. All Washpool pre-blended essential oils below are suitable to freshen your spaces. Drop 4-5 drops of essential oil onto a cotton ball and discreetly include into vessels and vases, in cupboards, under your cushion covers, or drop essential oils directly onto dried flower arrangements as they will help to disperse the wonderful scents. 

Enjoy x

 

Washpool Skin Wellness Essential Oils available instore and online

Sleep Easy Blend - lavender, chamomile, sandalwood and sweet orange. 

Beautiful Blend - sweet orange, atlas cedarwood, ylang ylang, lime and neroli 

Relax Blend - mandarin, cedarwood atlas, lemon, lavender maillette, lavendiin grosso, bergamot and chamomile roman

Moonlight Blend - sweet orange, atlas cedarwood, juniper berry, bulgaria lavender, patchouli and cinnamon bark 

Serenity Blend - atlas cedarwood, pink grapefruit, sweet orange, frankincense and rose absolute 

Spring Blend - sweet orange, lemon, white grapefruit, bourbon geranium, jasmine absolute 

Vitality Blend - lemongrass eucalyptus, peppermint, lime and lemon myrtle 

Wellbeing Blend - sweet orange, maillette lavender, marjoram, bergamot and neroli

Calm Blend - mandarin, cedarwood atlas, bergamot, clary sage, lavandin super, vetiver

 

Perfect Potion

We also stock a large range of Perfect Potion essential oil trio and sets, and their wooden aromatherapy diffuser. If you're interested in exploring further, check out the Perfect Potion range, which is available instore and online.

Explore Perfect Potion Essential Oils

Shop the Perfect Potion Wooden Aromatherapy Diffuser

 

Important to note about Essential Oils

When using essential oils please read the label on from your essential oil provider. These tips are meant as a guide to help you on your journey with using essential oils. Please educate yourself further and enjoy the benefits as there are many.

It is good to change up your use of essential oils, so that you are not just favouring one essential oil. It is sometimes good to give yourself a break from one particular oil and alternate usage so you don’t build up a sensitivity to that scent.

Contraindications that you should be aware of:

Pregnancy

If you are pregnant there are certain essential oils that you need to avoid. Please do your research and choose your essential oils for your pregnancy and when your child is born.

High Blood Pressure and Skin Sensitivity

There are various essential oils that won’t complement conditions like high blood pressure and skin sensitivity. Please be mindful if you have sensitive skin, not to put undiluted oils onto your skin without a carrier oil. Always start in a small way with your usage of essential oils, if you suspect you are highly sensitive. If you have high blood pressure, please educate yourself on essential oils to avoid, before starting these practices.