Research and Development

Natural Air Fresheners

Vigilant cleaning. Steam clean the carpet if there is one, using hot hot tap water to which you can add some white distilled vinegar and lemongrass essential oil. If you are renting steam cleaner, don't purchase the conventional cleaners that they say you MUSt you. You don't. Clean windows with 1:1 white distilled vinegar made from grains, water, to which you can add a tiny amt. of dish detergent earth frienidly brand and 30 drops of eucalyptus essential oil (or another essential oil). You are free to e mail me for specific recipe if you like. Keep this all purpose green cleaner in the room. Wipe surfaces frequently. For laundry and sour clothes, use seventh gen product to which you can add white distilled vinegar (in the wash and in the softener cup as well if you like, and also add several drops of eucalyptus essential oil into the wash or into the detergent or into the vinegar in the softener cup. Make sure everything in the room can be easily taken down and washed frequently. For urine smells, again, it's going to be vinegar to refresh sheets, or for mopping a hardwood floor (mostly hot water in a bucket, to which you can add 1/3 cup more or less white vinegar, and some essential oil, I prefer lemongrass which is antibacterial, but eucalyptus or lavender are much more powerful which is what is sounds likeyou need. Put a bowl of baking soda under a dresser, or table or the bed. You can add essential oil to the baking soda, and refresh is every week more or less (add a few more drops). When the baking soda wears out, so to speak, use it to clean the toilet. No waste! Cleaning and dusting are essential in room where a sick person is. Even wipe down walls if necessary. Be sure the essential oil is pleasing to the patient, or at least not aggrevating. True essential oils are the lifeblood of the plant. Lavender for instance is antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antibiotic. They need to be respected; always use less than what you think you'd need.

My sources include Clean House Clean Planet, by Karen Logan, (great book for getting started doing green cleaning) and The Naturally Clean Home by Karen Seigel Meier (not sure if I have her last name correctly spelled). This second book gives the properties of the herbs. I recommend starting wtih lemongrass essential oil because it is gentle and still antibacterial. Get to know one essential oil helps, rather th an just reaching for several and not understanding what these plant oils may do. They are medicine, and auromatherapy. Beware, however, some cannot be used by pregnant women; sage for example.

Good luck with freshening up thne place. Run fans, open windows early when it's cool. Keep the energy flowing. Reenie