The Good Oil

WORDS BOB SACAMANO // PHOTOGRAPHY NICOLA DOBSON

If you’re nothing like us, you’ll be thinking spring cleaning. But all joking aside, it is that time of year when it’s worth thinking about flinging open the windows, spinning some Sinatra and getting your house in order. It’s therapeutic, it means you can finally throw that awesome dinner party you’ve been thinking about, and it’s good for you – blow away the dust, banish the mould, and let in the light. Plus, you always find stuff when you tidy up. Keys! Coins! Earrings and undergarments.

But here’s the thing: it’s becoming increasingly obvious that the stuff we use to clean our homes may be just as bad for us as the grime we’re working to get rid of. We’re all concerned about the additives being put into our food, and it’s about time we started to be a bit more aware of the chemicals to be found in the everyday household cleaners we use. There is a reason things like bleach and aerosol cleaners do such a great job, and that is because they are caustic and toxic – do we really need this stuff floating through the air of our homes – and, equally important, should we be pouring hundreds of thousands of litres of it down our drains every year. It all ends up in the ocean sooner or later, and as an island nation that isn’t good.

So, in an effort to find a healthier alternative, Plenty sat down with Nicola Dobson, mother, graphic designer and essential oil guru, to see if essential oils might be the answer. This also meant we could put off actually cleaning and play with some really great smelling little bottles of stuff. It was win-win.

First up , it’s important to understand what essential oils are. For manyof us, they are those things that annoying hippies bore you about at parties, but in reality it’s a lot more interesting. The first recorded usage of essential oils dates from around 1100AD, but they were probably in use before that, and many are to be found in modern ointments and balms. Most are distilled, some are pressed, and others chemically extracted, but either way it is essential (see what we did there!) that your oils are good quality.

“Always ensure you are using 100% pure essential oils that go through rigorous independent testing. My trusted brand is dōTERRA as they use quality ingredients and have great quality control.” Dobson says. “If we are going to be breathing in and applying these oils to our bodies, we need to know they are free from adulteration and contamination. Unfortunately, a large part of the essential oil industry is pretty dirty, so you need to find a company that is open and transparent about their quality and testing. Do your research and find a good brand, because essential oils can replace most of the chemicals you have around the house with safer, more environmentally friendly alternatives – you’ll wonder why you didn’t switch sooner.”

So what can the good oils do around your home? Here are six of the best to get you thinking.

Lemon

Fresh, clean and uplifting, a scent with antiseptic and antibacterial properties that makes it the super oil for cleaning surfaces in your home. Add a few drops into a bucket of water next time you’re mopping; freshen up your clothes with a few drops in your machine during its wash cycle; and keep your wooden furniture happy with a natural wood polish by mixing a few drops of lemon mixed in with olive oil. Lemon essential oil is also the bomb for removing sticky residue from stickers, labels, gum and other well, sticky gunk - just a few drops and it will help rub it off, which makes it great for removing labels from containers before repurposing them. And last but not least, make your own powerful multipurpose cleaner easily in under 2 mins: ¼ cup white vinegar + 1 ¾ cups of water and then 15 drops of lemon and 15 drops of Lavender essential oils. Add all into spray bottle. Shake thoroughly and voilà!

Wild Orange

Another great citrus essential oil that is uplifting and invigorating: combine a few drops with lemon oil in a spray bottle to help degrease areas in the kitchen, and for really stubborn grease stains make a paste with baking soda and soak overnight; add a few drops in your rubbish bin to keep odors at bay, or place a few drops on a wooden peg and clip to your car air vents for a sweet and uplifting scent to freshen up your car for those summer road trips; and add a few drops in your oil diffuser for an uplifting and energized spring and summer vibe.

Eucalyptus & Tea tree AKA Melaleuca

Used for centuries for its antiseptic and antibacterial properties, tea tree and eucalyptus oils are great to fight off mildew and mould in your home. They are both great air and surface sanitizers: add 8-10 drops in a spray bottle with water for a great bathroom cleaner perfect for those damp spot areas where mould and mildew can take over; combine 10 drops of tea tree oil, with ½ cup of baking soda and ¼ cup of vinegar to clean your toilet; washing machine smelling musty? Add a few drops to your laundry detergent to help remove that musty smell; and add a few drops of tea tree to your shampoo to help ward off lice and ease dandruff.

Peppermint

This invigorating and energizing essential oil has many uses. It is a refreshing oil which pairs well with lavender, lemon and rosemary; add peppermint oil to baking soda and store in an open container for a deodorizer - this can be used as a room deodorizer or a small container in your fridge to keep it smelling fresh and yummy; bug, bugs, bugs – use peppermint to stop ants in their tracks! Add a few drops and place it in their path and also wipe around areas where they often invade; diffuse in the air for an uplifting and energizing scent – great for 3:30pm-itis or to help you refocus on the task at hand; and for sore muscles massage peppermint oil with a carrier oil (to help prevent skin sensitivity) on those trouble areas such as back, shoulders or knees. Peppermint has a cool effect so can be quite soothing - just don’t rub near your eyes!

Lavender

Lavender is a fresh, clean and relaxing scent that helps to create a calm atmosphere in your home. Perfect for after spring cleaning! It also has antibacterial properties and is super versatile – it’s the queen of essential oils: when putting on crisp fresh sheets mix up 10 drops of lavender essential oil in a small spray bottle and fill with water, shake thoroughly and spritz a light mist onto pillows and sheets; add a few drops in your bath with some Epsom salts to relax body and mind after all this cleaning; massage onto the soles of your feet with a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil or almond oil before bed to promote restful sleep; diffuse to create a calming atmosphere for yourself and family (perfect for after school with those energized kids); combine lavender with lemon and peppermint for allergy support, a drop of each and inhale in cupped hands; and if you’ve had too much sun lavender oil works wonders for minor burns and sunburnt skin – just add a drop into a small spray bottle with water and spritz onto your skin or combine with aloe and a few drops of peppermint for cooling relief.

Find out more on facebook at -EssentiallyGoodNicolaDobson // Essential oils are great, but remember that neither us nor Nic are medical professionals so if you have a serious ailment or if, y’know, pain persists, stop whatever you’ve been doing for god’s sake and go see your GP.

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