Healthy Home in a Box Adding essential oils to your air filter is a unique way to scent your home. It's inexpensive, can add a wonderful aroma to your living space, and is very easy to do. Here's how you can do it in your home. Supplies you will need: Buy a new air filter. I wouldn't recommend using your old, dirty, clogged filter. Applying essential oil scents to your dirty filter might not give you the results you want. F.Y.I- when making your new air filter purchase double check to make sure you have the right size. The best way to know what size you need is to look at your existing installed air filter. The size should be printed on the filter. I hate having to drive back to the home improvement store to make returns, so make sure you know your home's filter size before you purchase. Joe Filter offers various sizes and types with FREE shipping on order over $50. Pick your essential oil fragrance. Don't be afraid to be daring when choosing your scent.  Not sure what oil to use?

Make your own combination of essential oils. My favorite scent combination is 10 drops lemon and 10 drops lavender. If you are looking for an awakening scent to freshen up your home try peppermint and eucalyptus. I cannot wait to try cinnamon during the winter holiday.  When combining essential oil scents I would recommend placing one drop of each oil onto a paper towel or napkin. Leave the room for a few minutes allowing the oils to absorb. Once you return to the room you should be able to smell the oils. Now that you have chosen your essential oil, it's time to place it on your filter. Place 15 to 20 drops of your favorite essential oil directly onto your air filter. It does not matter what side of the filter you place your drops. Do not confined your drops to one central area. Spread them out to cover your air filter's media surface. Tip: Do not put more than 20 drops of essential oils on your filter Install your new freshly scented air filter. Once you start to use your air filter the smell will quickly circulate throughout your home's air.

My scented air filter lasted about 30 days. 30 days is the recommended air filter change and now its fun instead of a chore. Every 30 days I change my air filters and I try a new essential oil. air supply mini-mate personal ionic air purifier reviewsThe best part of using essential oils on my air filters is the nice aroma I smell without spraying chemicals into the air and onto my furniture. air duct cleaning napervilleHelp control your indoor air pollution and try putting essential oils on your air filters.air purifier hives Healthy Home in a BoxClick for Room Specific Essential Oils Mini Crock Pot Air Freshener: Purchase a tiny crock pot (they are very inexpensive) and put some water in the pot and add either essential oils or actual ingredients (cinnamon sticks, whole clove, lemon or orange peels) and let simmer.

Add additional water as needed. Quick and Easy Natural Air Freshener: This is one of the fastest ways to fill a room with the natural scents of aromatherapy. Put a bowl of boiling water on the kitchen counter, in the bathroom or any room you want to scent. It's best to use a glass bowl. I just put the bowl of water in the microwave for 5 minutes and heat it. Add 1-9 drops of the essential oil of your choice to the boiling water and in a few seconds the entire area will be filled with a wonderful scent. It's amazing how fast the scent fills the room! This is a good technique to use if company is coming over to scent your home in a hurry. This tip is by Valerie Ann Werwood, Author of The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy. Pet Urine Odor: After getting a new Shihtzu puppy this year and trying so many things for the accidents, I finally found something that works great, is inexpensive and is natural too! First use paper towels to soak up as much as you can. Then pour some baking soda on the area and let sit for at least a half hour to absorb the odor.

Next pour Peroxide diluted with some water over the baking soda and scrub the area. Mold Killer Spray: Simply mix 2 teaspoons Tea Tree oil in 2 cups of warm water. Pour into a spray bottle and shake to blend. Spray the molded area. Let sit for around a half hour, then wipe with cloth. Freshen Your Mattress: I found an article on this and tried it myself and loved it. I love getting into bed at night smelling the soothing and relaxing scent of lavender. Put 12 drops of Lavender essential oil into a half cup of baking soda and mix. Sprinkle the mixture on your mattress and let sit for an hour or more. Then vacuum up the powder. You can use any essential oil you like but you will want to use one that is relaxing. Cut Grease With Hot Towel: Grease and dirt build up on kitchen cabinets over time. To clean your cabinets, first heat a slightly damp sponge or cloth in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds until it's hot. Then spray with All Purpose Cleaner, then wipe the cabinets with the hot towel.

Vacuuming: Take 2 cotton balls and add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the cotton balls and drop them in your vacuum bag to fill your home with your favorite aromatherapy scents while vacuuming. Scented Lightbulbs: Put 1-2 drops of essential oil on your light bulbs in your lamps when not in use. When you turn on your light again the heat from the bulb will warm the oil and add a nice fragrance to your room. Make sure the light bulb is off and cold before adding the essential oil. Cleaning Services: Carry a small oil burner with you to your clients homes and add some water to your oil burner and a few drops of essential oil. Burn the oil while cleaning to add a beautiful scent to your clients homes. Mice: It is said that mice do not like Peppermint. Put some Peppermint oil in a spray bottle and add a little water. Spray where you think mice may be in your home. I use this method: I put some Peppermint Oil on a few cotton balls and put them under my sinks.

Clothes: Place cotton balls with a few drops of Lavender oil in your drawers and closets to freshen. Our Precious Companions: It is said that Lavender soothes dogs. Spray a light mist of the Lavender Bed Linen on your dogs bedding. Oil Burners: If you have an oil burner at home, add 1ml of your favorite essential oil with water to fill your home with a natural fragrant scent. In the Dryer: As a natural alternative to dryer sheets, put a few drops of oil on a damp cloth and toss into the dryer with your clothes. Potpourri: Potpourri that has lost it's scent can be revived with a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Humidifier: Add 1-9 drops of essential oil to the water. This tip is by Valerie Ann Werwood. Author of The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy. Ironing: A few drops of lavender oil in a small spray bottle makes a fabulous ironing mist. Flu Season: When the flu is going around, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to your diffuser or simmer in a pot on the stove.

Painting: Adding essential oil to paint will counteract the unpleasant smell. And because essential oils are not fatty oils, they will leave no oil spots on the walls. Add 1 TSP of your favorite essential oil to 1 gallon of paint. Painting Tip From The Real Essential Keep a bottle of eucalyptus in each bathroom and add 5 drops or so directly into the commode water to instantly freshen the area. The oil remains there until someone comes along and flushes it away. This is a fabulous way to freshen up your bathroom during the day or before company is to arrive. Whenever shower drains, sink drains, and the garbage disposal begin to get stale, add a few drops to each and the odor immediately disappears. When rinsing out the garbage can, 5-6 drops are added to a few inches of hot, soapy water on the bottom. Swish it around and it instantly deodorizes the can. Once clean and dry put another 5 drops onto a napkin and toss it into the can prior to lining it. This simple act will keep your trash can fresh between bag changes.

Adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil to your hanging car air freshener will help revive it. For removing sticker/decal residue from glass, pour neat eucalyptus oil on it. Leave for a few second and scrub off. Eucalyptus oil can be used to clean stainless steel items. Damp a soft cloth with a few drops of the oil and use it to rub the stainless steel items. The word "Lemon" invokes thoughts of freshness, cleanliness, sunshine and fresh squeezed lemonade! Nothing beats the cleaning power of lemon! A good disinfectant, deodorizer and anti-bacterial cleaner. Lemon has been historically recognized as a cleanser. It is recognized as being antiseptic, and as having refreshing and cooling properties. Research has also shown lemon essential oil to enhance the ability to concentrate. Keep a bottle of lemon oil in each bathroom and add 5 drops or so directly into the commode water to instantly freshen the area. This is a fabulous way to freshen up your bathroom during the day or before company is to arrive.

Use 6-12 drops of Lemon essential oil in a spray bottle mixed with distilled water to use in the bathroom as an air freshener. Or you can diffuse Lemon essential oil to clean and disinfect the air in any room. Use 1-2 drops of Lemon essential oil to remove gum, oil, grease spots or crayon. Add 2-3 drops of Lemon essential oil to water and spray counter tops to sterilize them. Soak your dishcloth overnight in a bowl of water and a drop of Lemon essential oil to disinfect and kill germs. Add a drop of Lemon essential oil to your dishwasher before the wash cycle. Rub a drop of Lemon essential oil on your hands after using a public bathroom. Use a paper towel soaked with several drops of Lemon essential oil to sanitize bathroom fixtures and toilet seats. Rub a drop of Lemon essential oil to clean a butcher's block or other cutting surfaces. Put 10-15 drops of Lemon essential oil in each gallon of carpet cleaning solution to help pull out stains and brighten the rug. This also leaves a fresh smell in the room.