The Big Spring Clean, Pt 1 – Freshen up that bedroom

After a long hard winter (that we’ve used plenty of warming essential oil blends to haul ourselves through), it would appear spring has finally sprung. That means it’s time to blow away the cobwebs and freshen up your home ready for the warmer weather to come.

 

Why spring clean?

Although the year theoretically starts in January, a lot of us go into hibernation for January and most of February. However, when shoots start peeping out of the ground, leaves are budding on the trees and there’s suddenly that indefinable scent of spring in the air, we feel ready to come out of our burrows and face the world.

If your burrow, however, has got a bit musty over the winter and is in need of a bit of love, a good, thorough cleaning is in order before you can get on with enjoying spring time. Sparkling home, sparkling mind.

Spring cleaning your house with all-natural, homemade cleaning products bursting with essential oils will have everything gleaming and smelling fresh in no time, so that you feel fresh, too.

 

Where should I start?

We wouldn’t mind betting that you find yourself spending rather more time lounging around the house than you normally would. When the days are short, the nights are long and there’s a chill in the air, there’s far less motivation to get out of bed in the mornings.

Logically, then, your bed probably needs some attention. We often don’t realise how much a tiny detail like sleeping on a bed that’s less-than-loved can affect us. So give your bed an instant refresh with these two make-your-own, chemical-free cleaning products.

 

Homemade Mattress deodoriser

To create a tonic that’ll help to freshen up your mattress, you’ll need bicarbonate of soda, an essential oil of your choice, a jar with a lid, a sieve and a hoover.

Next time you strip your bed to wash your sheets, place a cup of bicarb in a jar with 15-20 drops of your chosen essential oil. Put the lid on and shake it well, and then use the sieve to sprinkle it evenly all over the top of your mattress.

Let it sit there and work its magic for a minimum of an hour (longer if you can) and then hoover it all up. The bicarb will have whisked away any unpleasant smells that had been lingering around your mattress and replaced them with the lovely scent of your essential oil.

You can use whatever essential oil you fancy, but it’s great to choose one that can help to repel those pesky dust mites that just adore setting up shop in your mattress. Great options are clove, peppermint, lavender, lemon or eucalyptus, or a combination. Pick a scent you enjoy but that isn’t too invigorating or you’ll never get to sleep.

 

 

Homemade linen spray

After you’ve sorted your mattress out, turn your attention to your sheets. This natural linen spray will refreshen your bed and fill your room with a relaxing scent when you climb into bed. The combination of essential oils used in this recipe is super-soothing and can help you to switch off after a long, hard day.

You’ll need:

• 2 oz. spray bottle
• Bergamot essential oil
• Lavender essential oil
• Cedarwood essential oil
• Roman chamomile essential oil
• A pinch of Epsom salt
• Purified/distilled water

Add 5-10 drops of each essential oil into the bottle, followed by the Epsom salt, and top up with water. Shake to mix (and remember to shake it before every use).

Simply spray your sheets with a light mist just before bed (being sure not to soak them) and sinking into your bed will be even more of a heavenly treat this springtime.

 

 

Look out for part two of our spring clean blog post, when we’ll turn our attention to making your surfaces sparkle and shine with the help of essential oils and some DIY cleaning products.