If you’ve been hearing a lot about essential oils lately, you’re not alone. Interest in essential oils has skyrocketed in recent years with people using oils for everything from aromatherapy to pest control to flavoring foods.

Here’s some ideas on how you can use essential oils at home.

Aromatherapy

Add a few drops of oil to a warm bath or a vapor diffuser, or mix a few drops with jojoba or avocado oil and massage into your skin. The scent can improve your mood, help you de-stress or give you energy. It all depends on the oil you choose. Lavender or chamomile oils promote relaxation, while lemon lifts spirits and peppermint refreshes.

Cleaning Products

Laundry detergent, all-purpose surface cleaner, carpet deodorizer and grout scrub are simple to make at home using essential oils and readily available ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar and borax. Check out this list of 67 cleaning products you can make at home.

Cold Remedies

Put several drops of eucalyptus oil in a bowl of steaming water, place a towel over your head and breathe in the vapors. This helps to break up congestion in your nasal passages. To help clear chest congestion, try a homemade vapor rub that uses beeswax, coconut oil and a combination of essential oils such as peppermint, clove and eucalyptus.

Deodorizer

Put a few drops on a cotton ball and place it in the bottom of your trash can (beneath the liner) or behind the toilet in your bathroom. Add a few drops to your heating and cooling system’s air filter to spread the scent throughout your home. You can use any essential oil you like to deodorize your home, but grapefruit, lemongrass, lavender and orange are great options.

Personal Care

• Make an alcohol-free hand sanitizer using four ounces of aloe vera gel, 22 drops of tea tree oil, 12 drops of peppermint oil and 14 drops of orange oil.
• For headaches, mix two drops of peppermint oil with a tablespoon of coconut oil and massage the mixture onto your temples.
• Get relief from bug bites using a combination of 10 drops each of tea tree and lavender oil mixed with two teaspoons of water. Dab on bites as needed.

More Tips

• Because they’re so concentrated, most applications require only a few drops of essential oil. Most oils should not be used at full strength, especially if you’re putting the oil on your body. Use this chart to see how oils should be diluted.
• Take care when using citrus oils for personal care purposes. Don’t use them near your eyes and note that citrus oils are photosensitive. That means you’re more likely to sunburn if you put a citrus essential oil on your skin before spending time outdoors.
• Don’t ever consume an essential oil internally, even if it’s diluted. Store essential oils where children can’t reach them.

What are some of your favorite tips for using essential oils? Share them with us by writing a comment below!

Advice or recommendations are for informational or educational purposes only, not a substitute for a visit or consultation with your doctor.

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