Lavender Decor
Lavender bouquets, fresh and dried, are a beautiful addition to any decor, adding instant elegance and comfort. Here are just a few ways to incorporate them into your home. (Click on photos for full effect)
Cleaning and Deodorizing with Lavender
Lavender is well known for its antibacterial properties, so during this cold and flu season, it is the perfect addition to your cleaning regiment -- disinfecting and dispelling the winter blahs by transporting you back to sunny summer days. Here are a few ways to use lavender as a cleaner and deodorizer:
All Purpose Deodorizer
(From The Lavender Lover’s Handbook by Sarah Berringer Bader)
Carpet deodorizer
Area rugs and carpets are breeding grounds for odors and bacteria, so here is an idea for fresh and clean carpets without the expense:
All Purpose Deodorizer
(From The Lavender Lover’s Handbook by Sarah Berringer Bader)
- 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon borax
- Distilled or purified water
- ¼ c liquid castile soap
- 10 drops lavender eo
- 5 drops of lemon essential oil or 1 tsp lemon juice
- Mix the white vinegar and borax together in a 16 ounce spray bottle. Fill the bottle ¾ full with hot purified or distilled water. Shake well until the borax is dissolved.
- Add the liquid castile soap and the essential oils (or the lavender oil and lemon juice) to the solution and shake well. Use as you would any other all-purpose cleaner
Carpet deodorizer
Area rugs and carpets are breeding grounds for odors and bacteria, so here is an idea for fresh and clean carpets without the expense:
- 8 drops of lavender oil
- ½-cup baking soda.
- Large mason jar
Lavender Laundry
Lavender Laundry Detergent Tabs (or powder)
Mark and I are trying to reduce our plastic use, so I’ve started making our own laundry detergent, and I have to say, I’m quite impressed with its cleaning power! Once you have the necessary ingredients, it’s very easy to make. This recipe is for laundry tabs, but if you don’t have any ice cube trays handy, I’ve also just mixed the dry ingredients together and then added vinegar to the bleach tray in my washer before I start a load. I’ve found either method works really well, and I love how my laundry smells!
Ingredients
Instructions
After grating the soap, mix with the borax and washing soda.
Slowly pour the vinegar over the mixture, stirring as you pur, and mix really well. You want the mixture just wet enough that it will hold together in the ice cube tray.
Spoon the mixture into the ice cube tray, about 1 tablespoon per cube. Pack it down and then let it dry overnight.
Once dry, pop ot the tabs and store in a covered container. Use one tab per load.
Mark and I are trying to reduce our plastic use, so I’ve started making our own laundry detergent, and I have to say, I’m quite impressed with its cleaning power! Once you have the necessary ingredients, it’s very easy to make. This recipe is for laundry tabs, but if you don’t have any ice cube trays handy, I’ve also just mixed the dry ingredients together and then added vinegar to the bleach tray in my washer before I start a load. I’ve found either method works really well, and I love how my laundry smells!
Ingredients
- 1 cup Borax
- 1 cup washing soda
- 1 cup grated bar soap (I use our lavender soap, but any pure soap like Ivory or Castille soap will work)
- 1/2 cup vinegar
- 15-20 drops lavender essential oil (optional)
- Ice cube tray
Instructions
After grating the soap, mix with the borax and washing soda.
Slowly pour the vinegar over the mixture, stirring as you pur, and mix really well. You want the mixture just wet enough that it will hold together in the ice cube tray.
Spoon the mixture into the ice cube tray, about 1 tablespoon per cube. Pack it down and then let it dry overnight.
Once dry, pop ot the tabs and store in a covered container. Use one tab per load.
Lavender in the Dryer
Option 1: Lavender dryer sachets. Store bought dryer sheets can contain some nasty chemicals, so why not try something that smells just as nice (or better!) without the chemicals and for a fraction of the cost!
Just fill a small muslin bag with lavender buds and throw it in the dryer. Just make sure to double or triple tie the bag shut so that it doesn't spill out (that happened to me...yes it makes a mess, but smells lovely). In most cases, these sachets will last for 8-10 loads before losing their scent. Just gently squeeze the sachets before throwing into the dryer. (Muslin dryer sachets are also available for purchase on our website and in our Newberg shop.)
Added bonus: You can sprinkle the spent sachets onto your carpet and then vacuum to freshen up your carpet!
Just fill a small muslin bag with lavender buds and throw it in the dryer. Just make sure to double or triple tie the bag shut so that it doesn't spill out (that happened to me...yes it makes a mess, but smells lovely). In most cases, these sachets will last for 8-10 loads before losing their scent. Just gently squeeze the sachets before throwing into the dryer. (Muslin dryer sachets are also available for purchase on our website and in our Newberg shop.)
Added bonus: You can sprinkle the spent sachets onto your carpet and then vacuum to freshen up your carpet!
Option 2: Lavender EO on dryer balls: Another great option is to place a 4-5 drops of lavender essential oil onto reusable wool dryer balls.
Essential oils are flammable, so to reduce risk of fire add the drops to wool balls and then run for about 10 minutes on "air dry" mode after your drying cycle has ended.
Essential oils are flammable, so to reduce risk of fire add the drops to wool balls and then run for about 10 minutes on "air dry" mode after your drying cycle has ended.
Scenting a Room
Option 1: Lavender essential oil in a diffuser not only makes your room smell great, but it is very relaxing as well!
Option 2: Hydrosol spray has such a lovely floral scent and is great as a room freshener or linen spray. Be sure to use real hydrosol -- not flower water. Hydrosol is the byproduct of the distillation process so it contains many of the smae great properties as lavender and is clean and pure. No additives, no toxins, nada.
Option 1: Lavender essential oil in a diffuser not only makes your room smell great, but it is very relaxing as well!
Option 2: Hydrosol spray has such a lovely floral scent and is great as a room freshener or linen spray. Be sure to use real hydrosol -- not flower water. Hydrosol is the byproduct of the distillation process so it contains many of the smae great properties as lavender and is clean and pure. No additives, no toxins, nada.
