Use these essential oils instead of harsh cleaning products.

Essential oils are lipids extracted from plants. They possess numerous properties ranging from healing to disinfection, and these oils can be used within the home for a range of purposes. They serve as homemade alternatives to chemically laden products found at the store. Below are just a few household uses for essential oils.

Lemon oil is incredibly versatile for the home. To refresh a smelly carpet, add 10 to 15 drops of lemon essential oil to 2 cups of baking soda. The baking soda can be sprinkled onto the carpet and later vacuumed. This can be especially helpful for families with pets as lemon essential oil does not contain the harmful volatile compounds found in commercial carpet cleaners.

Lemon essential oil can also be used to make a great homemade dish soap. Just add 8 drops of lemon and 20 drops of lime essential oil to 2 cups of unscented castile soap.

If the goal is an effective grease remover, try adding 2 drops of lavender oil to 2 cups of white vinegar. The natural antibacterial properties of the lavender provide a nice complement to the vinegar.

It's also possible to combine the 2 cups of white vinegar with a teaspoon of tea tree oil and 10 drops of orange essential oil for an instant mildew killer. It's great to have on hand in the bathroom.

These alternatives offer a gentler substitute to cleaning supplies commonly found in stores. With essential oils, eliminating harsh chemicals from a cleaning routine becomes a breeze!