In Pregnancy and Nursing Safety – Part 1 we learned that essential oils should only be used sparingly while pregnant and often times it is best to limit oil usage to relieving unpleasant pregnancy symptoms. Although not completely restricted, exercising caution with the use of essential oils with babies and small children is paramount.
As an expecting mom who wants to lessen the amount of harsh chemicals used in my home, such as chlorine and bleach, these guidelines left me in a bit of a pickle. While I love to use essential oils in homemade cleaning products, I want to limit my growing baby’s exposure both while in the womb and once he arrives. After doing some research, I stumbled upon the wonderful cleaning properties of infused vinegar. Lucky for me, I even had dried lavender on hand to create lavender infused vinegar. I can’t tell you guys how much I love this stuff!
To create lavender infused vinegar, add 1 cup of lavender buds to 3 cups of vinegar. Let the mixture infuse for 2-6 weeks. I went with 4 weeks and it was just perfect!
Here are a few ways I have used it so far:
Surface Cleaner
1 part lavender infused vinegar
2 parts water
Add to a spray bottle, shake well, and get to work! I use this as a cleaner for counters, windows, mirrors, etc.
Fabric Softener
Add ¼ a cup of lavender infused vinegar to your washers final rinse cycle. Not only does this make your laundry smell great but it really softens!
Soothing Bath
Add one tablespoon of lavender infused vinegar to a warm bath to soothe away worries and nourish the skin.
If you have children under the age of two and would like to use essential oils in cleaning products, we would encourage you to use them while your little ones are in a different room. Once the area has cleared for 30-60 minutes your babies can return to the area.
For additional DIY cleaning products be sure to check out our blog post The Best Homemade Cleaning Products
