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nliven your senses and your home with the delightful aroma of essential oils. Lavender, ylang ylang, Roman chamomile, bergamot and vetiver; used in the bedroom lends a calming and romantic environment. Pine, basil, ginger, eucalyptus and peppermint work well in a study or office to improve focus and concentration. Extracted from plants, some essential oils can mask unpleasant odours, get rid of mould and mildew, kill bacteria, airborne microorganisms and quite a few indoor pollutants. Still others, like the pressed oils of basil, oregano, thyme and clove are antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and have strong disinfecting properties. And, a little goes a long way.

• Orange oil is great at removing set in chewing gum from various materials. Apply with a cotton ball. For use on cloth first stain test on the reverse and launder immediately after use

• Eucalyptus oil can be used to remove glue and sticker residue as well as to strip paint

• Burn citronella oil to keep the mosquitoes away

• A couple of drops of lavender oil in the water compartment of your steam iron will have your linen smelling heavenly

• To make a carpet freshener add 15 to 20 drops of essential oil to a cup of baking soda. Mix well and place in a covered container overnight till the oil is absorbed Sprinkle over the carpet the next day and vacuum the powder up

• Wipe scum covered shower glass doors with a few drops of lemon oil twice a month. It protects from grime build-up

• Combat mould and mildew with a combination of two teaspoons tea-tree oil and two cups of water in a spray bottle. Shake and spritz over the problem area, do not rinse. This solution also works as an effective toilet cleaner – spray along the bowl’s inside rim, let sit for 30 minutes and then scrub clean

• Add 10 drops of lavender or lemongrass oil to two ounces of water to swipe grime off windows. Bonus- these oils may repel flies

• Douse cotton balls with your favourite oils and place them near air vents at home

• A home-made recipe for an effective floor cleaner – to a bucket of water add one-fourth cup of white vinegar, 10 drops of lemon, pine or spruce oil and four drops of oregano essential oil (oregano has anti-septic properties). For really dirty floors several drops of dishwashing soap to the mixture will clean even the filthiest of floors

• Add flea deterring eucalyptus or peppermint oil to your pets bedding. A good way to make sure fleas are away