Pure essential oils can provide effective support when it comes to getting our bodies back in shape in the spring.

Massages with organic base and essential oils stimulate metabolism and aid detoxification. At home, lemon, grapefruit or lemongrass oils guarantee aromatic purity and natural freshness.

Applications with base and essential oils can support detoxification procedures by facilitating the elimination of harmful substances, stimulating cell renewal and activating the self-healing powers of our skin.

2 Aetherische Oele Primavera Fragrance Lamp 400400

“Precious, natural organic base oils are a great natural detoxifier in combination with essential oils that have a detoxifying, circulatory stimulating or skin tightening effect,” Anusati Tum, head of the PRIMAVERA Aromatherapy Academy.

Thanks to their cell-regenerating properties, carrot seeds, for example, are particularly suitable for rejuvenating treatments in the form of massage oil blends.

Orange essential oil also has a skin-tightening effect. Use citrus oils within six months of opening the bottle to benefit from their best qualities. Since citrus peel oils have a photosensitizing (phototoxic) effect , direct sunlight or visits to a tanning bed should be avoided after use.

Body detox recipes

Rejuvenating massage mixture with carrot seeds

Anti-cellulite oil

Massage the oil regularly once a day, starting in the direction from the feet to the heart.

An alternative for detoxification is the essential oil of juniper berries ( Juniperus communis ). It promotes the elimination of water without losing electrolytes. It also has a diuretic effect and is therefore detoxifying, anti-inflammatory and strengthens connective tissue. It has everything you need for effective detox blends.

For a longer spring therapy, the following combination of oils can be used for a two-week massage. Rub a blend of oils into the body before showering and rinse off after a short exposure.

Detoxifying massage oil

Detoxifying bath mix

Aroma blend for diffuser "Support from nature"

This blend for the aroma lamp or essential oil diffuser takes advantage of the balancing effect of bay leaf oil on the central nervous system. The essential oil is considered nervine and allows us to gain the willpower to overcome the obstacles we face - for example, to persevere during a healing fast.

Many detox professionals believe in detoxifying liver compresses with organic rosemary verbenone, which has a draining effect. Add 3 drops of the essential oil and 10 ml of organic sesame oil to a compress and heat it. Place the compress on the right side, under the last rib, for 15 minutes, take a break and repeat for another 15 minutes.

Aromatic home cleaning with the power of essential oils

Essential oils can be used in various ways in the home to clean floors, surfaces or sanitary facilities. Lemon, citronella, grapefruit and lemongrass oils are particularly suitable not only for their pleasant fresh aroma, but also for their high content of monoterpenes or aldehydes. As a result, they have a mild disinfecting and fat-dissolving effect and neutralize unpleasant odors. A neutral detergent acts as an emulsifier for the oils.

For a cleaner for all floor surfaces, add 1 drop of essential oil, such as Demeter Lavandin or a citrus oil of your choice, to 3 to 5 liters of cleaning water plus the usual amount of neutral organic detergent.

In the washing machine, 8 to 10 drops of Lavandin with a little water in the fabric softener compartment guarantee fresh and fragrant laundry.

“It is important that the essential oils used are as pure as possible and extracted from natural sources. Because quality and purity are crucial to the antibacterial or antiviral effectiveness of a given oil,” says author Anusati Tum. Unfavorable growing conditions or improper processing can impair the action of the oils.

You can read more about cleaning rooms and surfaces in the home in our article RECIPES WITH ESSENTIAL OILS FOR CLEANING AND DISINFECTING THE HOME . Now let's pay attention to the appliances that also need spring cleaning.

Steps to a clean washing machine

The washing machine is a breeding ground for all kinds of mold, mildew and soap scum. Front-loading washing machines are an example of this (everyone has had the experience of being repulsed by the smell when opening to start washing). There are many preventative measures you can take to ensure that you feel clean and fresh every time you open the door.

To prevent mold and mildew as much as possible, leave the lid open after each wash cycle. Another simple change: use the amount of detergent recommended for your machine. Sometimes when we use too much we think we are making our clothes extra clean. In fact, this only leaves behind more soap stains on the clothes and the washing machine.

We're going to share two recipes that will help you keep your washing machine clean. The first recipe should be used weekly, while the second is for deep cleaning, which is done only a few times a year.

Once a week, after you're done washing, use this recipe with tea tree and grapefruit oils to clean and refresh your machine.

Weekly cleaning of the washing machine

In a 100ml glass spray bottle, combine all ingredients.
Shake well and spray the solution around the seal (rubber at the front), the drum and the door of the washing machine. Using a soft cloth, wipe well. Remove the powder dosing tray. Spray and wipe, then put it back. Allow to air dry before doing the next load of laundry.
For top-loading washing machines, you can use the same recipe to wipe down the drum and the outside of the washing machine.

Many online recipes suggest mixing baking soda with vinegar. The only problem is that baking soda and vinegar cancel each other out—when they react and form bubbles, the ingredients turn into water and a little salt. Although water alone can dissolve most compounds, all the cleaning power of vinegar and baking soda is lost. However, both ingredients used individually are powerful natural cleansers. For this reason, the deep cleaning of your washing machine is divided into two phases.

Deep cleaning of the washing machine

½ teaspoon natural dish soap
4 tablespoons of washing soda
1 cup white vinegar
20 drops of tea tree oil

Instructions

First phase:

Remove the detergent compartment and submerge it completely in hot water with natural dish soap. Scrub the residue with a toothbrush, rinse and put back in the machine.
Put baking soda in the drum. Using the washer's hottest setting or the "auto clean" cycle on some models, run the machine.

Second phase:

After the cycle is finished, pour the vinegar and essential oils into the liquid detergent dispenser. Restart the washer using the “auto clean” cycle or the hottest setting.
Wipe the seal, drum and door with a cloth and allow to dry completely before starting the wash again.

Steps to a clean dishwasher

Daily preventative care, weekly maintenance and periodic deep cleaning keep your dishwasher clean and performing at its best.

We share with you the steps we use to clean the dishwasher at home:

After removing the dishes from the dishwasher, remove all food residue and dirt from the bottom of the dishwasher and then wipe the front of the dishwasher.
Weekly Cleaning – Once a week, remove the filter and spray arm so you can give them a good soak and give the filter a good clean.
Monthly Deep Cleaning – Once a month or whenever you notice a problem with your dishwasher, use baking soda, essential oils (tea tree, lemon, etc.), and vinegar or citric acid to thoroughly clean your dishwasher.

For basic cleaning of the dishwasher

Cleaning a dishwasher – first step

1 cup white vinegar
5 drops tea tree essential oil

Place the glass in the upper compartment so that you can fill the vinegar into it, drop the essential oil into the vinegar, and run the dishwasher on a short program at the highest possible temperature.

Cleaning a dishwasher – step two

1 cup of baking soda
5 drops lemon essential oil

Mix the baking soda and lemon and pour it into the bottom of the dishwasher. Run a short program at the highest possible temperature.

Steps to a clean oven

It often happens that we overfill the pan when cooking in the oven and burnt residues accumulate on the bottom, and the rest of the oven is dirty with splatters and greasy stains. We present to you a tried and tested recipe that helps us deal with stubborn dirt with relatively little effort.

Oven cleaning

1 cup of baking soda
2 teaspoons of salt
1/2 cup liquid soap
5 drops lemon essential oil

Mix the soda and salt, then add the soap, mix and add the essential oil, you should get a homogeneous mixture. Apply to the affected areas, leave for two hours, then wipe with a damp cloth. Turn the oven on the highest setting for 30 minutes, let it cool and wipe again with a damp cloth.

Conclusion

Spring cleaning with essential oils can support both body care and freshness at home — with proper dilution, attention to the phototoxicity of citrus oils , and following the instructions for electrical appliances. Read more about safe use in How to Use Essential Oils Safely.