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The antibacterial, antibiotic, antiviral, antiseptic, deodorizing and insect repelling properties of Lavender make it an extremely useful safe natural way for keeping up the home environment on a daily basis.
The following is a list of my favorite ways to use lavender at home.
Trader Joe’s Lavender Dryer Bags- Trader Joe’s sells a 4-pack of Lavender filled dryer bags. Toss one bag into the dryer with your towels or linens. The gentle scent of lavender is said to be a natural sleep aid. The bags can be used for multiple drying cycles. Before tossing a bag in the trash, open it and sprinkle the contents on carpeting, then vacuum.
Mosquito and insect repellant- I had read that in the South of France, dishes of dried lavender are often left on window sills to keep scorpions at bay. It turns out that when smoothed onto skin, it also repels mosquitoes and other insects. Unfortunately for me, while testing this I discovered that I am very allergic to lavender oil. If you would like to try this chemical free insect repellant, see the recipe below.
Simply fill a small pump spray bottle with one cup of water and add 10-20 drops of the pure Lavender oil. You can control how strong the scent is by adjusting the amount of essential oil you use. By the way, this is also a safe way to repel Fido’s fleas.
Antiseptic cleaning spray- When added to distilled white vinegar, essential oil of lavender makes an inexpensive cleaner which is great for counter tops.
Off season clothing storage- Due to the toxic nature of moth balls, I will not use them in my home. A small sachet of lavender tucked away with winter sweaters will repel moths naturally.
Junene Hrycko
Owner- Ecolibrium Cleaning