Essential Oils for Clearing your Closet
When we think about springtime, the first thing that comes to mind are fresh starts. This often comes in the form of “spring cleaning”- a time of year where motivated people are looking to clear out and organize their spaces, though many may not know where to start. If you fall into this category, you aren’t alone, and were here to help!
Usually, spaces you share with others come to mind first in your spring-cleaning journey, such as a living room or dining area that has seen better days. While encouraging places to tidy up for spring, many of our organizational hang ups lie in spaces we walk past each day, but would rather close the door on than take time to address.
In todays post, we’d like to challenge and empower you to tackle what’s usually the most congested part of our homes: the closets. This area of the home isn’t necessarily as glamorous to revamp as the gorgeous gathering spaces you see on Pinterest, but cleaning out closet spaces in your home is important; and with these essential oil tips, we’ll be highlighting ways to make it creative and exciting, too.
Using essential oils to clean your closet is a refreshing way to make a space that looks intimidating instantly smell clean, and put a smile to your face as it calms the nervous system.
The average American spends up to 15 minutes a day in their closet, so why not foster a good state of mind each time you enter?
We recommend these dispersing methods to revitalize our closets:
-Electronic or battery diffuser
- Added to a bowl of salt or baking soda.
-Cotton balls, cotton fabric.
-Added to wooden clothes pins
Since some closets serve different purposes, lets cover specific types:
For our linens:
Using essential oils in your linen closet is an innovative way to step back from fragranced laundry detergent without giving up a great scent.
On top of the linen closet smelling like a spa, the aroma you choose will transfer over to other rooms in the home with the towels and sheets you bring there.
Our top essential oils for the linen closet (used alone or mindfully blended)
-Lavender, (Lavandula angustifolia)
-Eucalyptus, (Eucalyptus globulus)
Even if all your linens do not match, you will be amazed at the difference using one uniform fragrance makes on your organization.
When it comes to different rooms in the house, the task of cleaning each can be daunting; here are a few useful ideas for tackling each project:
The master closet:
For this project, and all others, keep in mind that the aromatherapy that essential oils can provide is for you as well as the people you’re tidying up for. Choose essential oils that will motivate you, and give you the emotional support you need to give your best effort.
For example, energizing essential oils work best when you need a boost of energy. These are great for storing or donating old clothes.
Oils we recommend for keeping pep in your step:
Peppermint (Mentha x piperita), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Lemon (Citrus limon), Orange (Citrus sinensis), Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus).
On the other hand, calming essential oils work best when you need to relax and ground yourself. These oils can be supportive when clearing out areas with a lot of emotional attachment, like a loved one’s belongings, or past gifts you can’t seem to let go of, but have no use for.
Oils we recommend for keeping calm:
(Latin name) Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica), Frankincense(Boswellia carterii, Scotch Pine( Pinus sylvestris).
Kids closets
Children can also enjoy the benefits essential oils can provide, but at a much lower dilution. When scenting your kids’ closet spaces, be sure to diffuse mindfully to keep their systems from being overwhelmed.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica), Orange ( Citrus Sinensis) are all a great fit.
Teenager’s closet
Teenagers are often messy by nature, and if they are involved in a sport or other activity, things like unattended gym bags and laundry can become a problem. Energizing oils with antibacterial properties, like Peppermint (Mentha x piperita), and Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) are a powerful match for deodorizing and fighting off germs.
Coat closet
The U.S environmental protection agency lists lavender among its natural alternatives to mothballs. We also recommend Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica) for silverfish, Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) for spiders, and Pine (Pinus sylvestris) for moths.
These oils are also great for handling possible closet problems:
Odors: Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus), Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)
Fungus: Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
Bacteria: Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
Though they have many benefits, always use caution when adding essential oils to closet spaces. Lower dilution in small spaces is recommended, and use essential oils in short time spans when isolated in a closet space. If children or pets frequent the space, be sure to provide a way for fresh air to circulate.
We advise keeping colored oils, like heavy resins or citrus oils away from clothing, as staining can occur.
Bibliography:
Asadollahi, Amin, et al. “Effectiveness of Plant-Based Repellents against Different Anopheles Species: A Systematic Review.” Malaria Journal, BioMed Central, 21 Dec. 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6925501/.
“Women Spend Nearly One Year Deciding What to Wear.” The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group, 9 July 2009, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5783991/Women-spend-nearly-one-year-deciding-what-to-wear.html.
“Children and Essential Oils.” Angie's Organics, Angie's Organics, 21 Nov. 2020, https://angiesorganicsinc.com/blogs/news/children-and-essential-oils?_pos=1&_sid=c51413fb6&_ss=r.