The Botanical Armour Kitchen Cleaning Spray
Would you like an antibacterial, mood boosting, stress relieving, memory enhancing and gorgeous, fresh smelling kitchen cleaning spray? Yes please!
I’ve written before about using essential oils in sprays, both for very specific purposes. One spray I shared last December creates seasonal aromas in your home, and a welcoming and calming atmosphere. The second, an energising and clearing car spray, will fill your car with scents to help you get where you are going in healthy and happy form.
This next spray that I’d like to share with you is one that I use everyday around the home. It’s a kitchen cleaning spray. All you’ll need to make this surface spray is a clean, used, spray gun bottle, some water and four easy-to-find essential oils.
Four beautiful, botanical oils
It combines four beautiful, botanical oils: Tea Tree, Lemon, Scots Pine and Rosemary. Each brings a special something to the mix.
Tea Tree has long been treasured for antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties. It contains the compound terpinen-4-ol which has antimicrobial properties that has seen it being used in topical medicines, first in its native Australia, and now throughout the world. Its properties are outlined in Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties
“Of all of the properties claimed for TTO, its antimicrobial activity has received the most attention. The earliest reported use of the M. alternifolia plant that presumably exploited this property was the traditional use by the Bundjalung Aborigines of northern New South Wales”
A perfect oil for maintaining healthy kitchen surfaces.
Lemon oil or citrus limon is derived from cold pressing the skin of a lemon. Lemons grow well in the southern parts of Europe and many of us Northern Europeans associate their colour, smell and taste with sunny days and exotic holidays. Even if lemon had none of its chemical properties I would include it for these fabulous associations alone! Such a mood booster!
However in a 2017 study Citrus Limon Essential oil was proven to have antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, leading the researchers to conclude:
“We also demonstrated, in vitro and in situ, the efficiency of Citrus Lemon Essential oil as a natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agent.”
They also state that as lemon oil seemed to have a particular effect on Listeria monocytogenes, the bacteria responsible for spoiling meat, further investigation should be undertaken to see how lemon oil properties could be exploited in the food processing industry. So yes indeed let’s welcome lemon oil to the kitchen cleaning party.
A mood boosting aroma
Scots pine is a refreshing and mood boosting aroma. One 2011 study of the effect of pine extract on male rats concludes that “These results indicate that ethanolic extract of Pinus eldarica needles possesses an antidepressant activity.” The reason scientists undertake research such as this is because, anecdotally, pine has been considered a stress reliever. Ask anyone who has stood in a pine forest or has finished decorating their tree for Christmas and I am sure they will tell you that their mood is boosted. Let’s bring some of that joy to the kitchen.
A barrier to germs
Lastly, Rosemary is a powerful botanical essential oil that brings even more antibacterial goodness to this spray. The antibacterial properties of rosemary essential oil are such that research is ongoing about incorporating the oil into food packaging to increase the barrier to germs and disease. There is also evidence that Rosemary is a good memory booster so if you have a student studying for exams in the house this would be a great spray to use around the room in which they are hitting those books!
So with all those anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, memory improving and stress-busting properties who wouldn’t want to spray this aromatic mixture around their kitchen? Here is the recipe:
Kitchen Counter Cleaning Spray
I use this spray on all my kitchen surfaces including the sink.
It cleans and leaves fresh, energising aroma.
- Use an empty spray gun bottle.
- Fill with water or buy an ECOVER Surface Spray.
- For the oils to dilute into the liquid, add 20ml of alcohol to the water before you put in the essential oils. If you don’t have alcohol the oil will rise to the surface so you will need to shake the mixture each time you use it.
- Add the following Essential Oils
- Tea Tree. 15 drop
- Lemon 20 drops
- Scots Pine 5 drops
- Rosemary 5 drops
Total Drops: 45 drops of essential oil
- Add drops to the water and alcohol mix and shake well.
- Shake well every time you use it.
Will last about 3-4 weeks. Use gloves if your skin is sensitive and avoid eye contact.
I would love to know if you make a batch of this for your home. What did you think of it? Did it make you whistle while you work?