What Is Lavender Essential Oil Good for Around the Home?

Lavender essential oil is good for many uses around the home, in particular cleaning and repelling insects, which are the topics covered in this article. You can also use lavender in pet care.

Contents

• Surface Cleaners
• Tub Scrub
• Dish Soap
• Room Spray
• Clean the Washer
• Foaming Hand Soap
• Insect Repellents

Lavender Essential Oil Good for Cleaning

Cleaning with lavender essential oil deodorizes and helps kill bacteria.

Surface Cleaners

Make these cleaners in a clean 16-ounce spray bottle.

Vinegar-Based Cleaner

• 2 cups white vinegar
• 3 drops lavender
• 2 drops bergamot essential oil
• (Optional) Solubol as a dispersant

Add white vinegar to the spray bottle. Drop in essential oils (and Solubol). Cap and shake. Shake well before each use.

Note: Do not use on granite or other delicate surfaces that the acidic vinegar might damage. Source: ACHS 

Castile Soap Surface Cleaner

• 2 cups distilled water
• 2 to 4 tablespoons liquid castile soap
• 15 drops lavender essential oil

Combine all ingredients in the spray bottle. Cap and shake. Shake well before each use. Spray on surface and wipe with a clean, damp cloth.

Adapted from Llewellyn's Complete Book of Essential Oils

Tub Scrub

Make this scrub in an 8-ounce glass or PET plastic container that has a lid.

• 8 ounces (1 cup) baking soda
• 3 tablespoons liquid castile soap
• 12 drops lavender
• 9 drops lime essential oil
• 9 drops orange essential oil

Place baking soda and soap in the container. Stir to create a paste. Stir in the essential oils. You can adjust the consistency of this scrub by adding more or less baking soda or castile soap.

To use: Place a small scoop of scrub on a sponge to clean tub and tile.

Source: The Heart of Aromatherapy

More essential oil recipes for bathroom cleaning.

Lavender Dish Soap

Combine the following ingredients in an empty dish soap bottle, a bottle with a pour spout, or a squeeze bottle:

• 1 cup liquid castile soap
• 1/4 cup distilled water
• 2 teaspoons vegetable glycerin
• 10 drops lavender essential oil

Close bottle and shake gently. Use as you would any other dish soap.

Source: Essential Oils for a Clean and Healthy Home

More essential oil recipes for kitchen cleaning.

Lavender Essential Oil Room Spray

Add to an 8-ounce spray bottle:

• 4 ounces distilled water
• 4 ounces lavender hydrosol
• 25 drops (1/4) teaspoon lavender essential oil
• (Optional) Solubol as a dispersant

Cap and shake well. Shake before each use. Spray around rooms as desired, avoiding delicate fabrics or surfaces.

More essential oil room sprays.

Clean the Washer

• 3 to 4 cups white vinegar
• 1/2 baking soda
• 1 teaspoon lavender essential oil (or a blend)

1. Set the washer to the largest load setting and fill it with hot water.
2. Pour in the vinegar, start the cycle, and let agitate for a minute.
3. Add the baking soda and essential oils and let agitate for a minute.
4. Stop the washer and let it sit for up to an hour. While the washer is stopped, dip a cloth into the water and use it to wipe down the bleach and fabric softener dispensers and around the rim of the tub.
5. Resume the cycle and let it finish.

Source: Llewellyn's Complete Book of Essential Oils

Lavender Foaming Hand Soap

• 1/2 cup liquid castile soap
• 1 teaspoon fractionated coconut oil or almond oil
• 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
• 10 drops lavender essential oil
• 1/2 cup distilled water

Combine castile soap, coconut oil, glycerin, and lavender in a foaming hand soap container. Add the water. Replace the lid and shake gently. Use as you would any hand soap.

Source: Essential Oils for a Clean and Healthy Home

More essential oil soap blends.

Lavender Essential Oil Good for Repelling Insects

Lavender essential oil is also good for repelling moths and some other insects and deodorizing small spaces. One option is to place a cotton ball with a few added drops of lavender in closets, drawers, and cupboards. Replace the cotton balls frequently.

General Insect Prevention Spray

• 5 drops lavender essential oil
• 3 drops peppermint essential oil
• 10 drops lemongrass essential oil
• 2 ounces distilled water

Combine ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake well and spray in locations where insects enter the house.

Source: The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy

Pest Control Sachets

• 30 to 40 drops lavender essential oil or a blend
• 1 teaspoon carrier oil
• One cup baking soda

Combine the essential oil with the carrier oil. Stir in the baking soda and mix thoroughly with a fork to break up lumps. Let the mixture dry and then pour into small muslim bags. Place bags anywhere bugs might enter your home.

Source: Llewellyn's Complete Book of Essential Oils

More essential oil insect repellents.

Buy essential oils: Aromatics International or Rocky Mountain Essential Oils.

Aromatherapy for Massage Therapists.

Photo by Dane Deaner on Unsplash