#TuesdayTip – Healthy, Homemade Lemongrass Carpet Freshener

I am a smell freak! I have a very sensitive nose and love our apartment to smell fresh and clean all the time. I used to have Yankee candles burning all the time, but then one got too hot and exploded! Very scary. Thank goodness nothing happened except a burn mark on the counter and wax all down the wall and on the carpet. Then I switched to “safer” candles that were made with vegetable wax so they burned at a lower temperature and didn’t burn off any black soot. Then I switched over to melters, where you put some candle melts in the dish and it melts them and puts off a beautiful scent. Personally, I get tired of having to clean out the dish all the time and I do have buy quite a few because they don’t last long, because I burn them so much lol

I found another way to freshen up my home and this is much healthier and safer! This time it uses baking soda and Lemongrass Essential Oil! I love the smell of Lemongrass, it’s very refreshing and clean smelling. I also love that it’s a safe oil to use around cats. Baking Soda is also a safe way to deodorize and clean your carpets without toxic carpet cleaning chemicals.

Directions:

• Mix 10 drops Lemongrass Essential Oil with 1 cup baking soda.
• Let sit for 20 minutes.
• Sprinkle on carpets.
• Let sit for 20 minutes.
• Vacuum.

Enjoy the lovely fragrance!

Some other wonderful Lemongrass uses:

• Airborne Bacteria – Diffuse lemongrass or mix 1-2 per ounce in a spray bottle to use as desired.
• Bladder Infections – Massage 1-2 drops over the bladder and urinary system, and into the reflex points of the feet.
• Carpel Tunnel Syndrome – Gently massage 1-2 drops into the area, moving upward.
• Charley horses/Cramps – massage 1 drop of lemongrass into the area of concern as needed.
• Cholesterol – Massage 1-2 drops into the reflex points of the feet 1-2 times a day.
• Climbers Finger – Gently massage 1 drop of lemongrass essential oil into the area 1-2x a day. Try layering with Frankincense too.
• Clarity/Focus – Diffuse lemongrass essential oil throughout the room as desired or place 1 drop in the palm of your hand, rub hands together, and inhale softly for up to 30 seconds or longer as desired.
• Cleaning – Add lemongrass to your natural household cleaners, including all-purpose or wood cleaners. Mix 10 drops in with 1 cup of baking soda, let sit 20 minutes. Sprinkle on floor, let sit 20 minutes. Vacuum.
• Connective Tissue – Massage 1-2 drops over the area of concern as desired, or up to 3 times a day.
• Cystitis – Massage 1-2 drops over the bladder and urinary system and into the reflex points of the feet.
• Deodorizer – Use lemongrass oil as a natural and safe air freshener or deodorizer. You can add the oil to water and use it as a mist or use an oil diffuser or vaporizer. By adding other essential oils, like lavender or peppermint, you can customize your own natural fragrance.
• Despair – Place 1 drop in the palm of your hand, rub hands together, and inhale softly for up to 30 seconds or longer as desired.
• Diuretic – Massage 1-2 drops over the area of concern.  Make your own lemongrass tea by infusing lemongrass leaves with boiling water.
• Edema – Massage 1-2 drops over the area of consider in a motion moving toward the heart.
• Fever Reducer – Consuming lemongrass tea or rubbing lemongrass on the bottoms of your feet.
• Fleas – Add several drops of lemongrass to dog shampoo, or add 1 drop to their collar to help repel fleas. Add 5 drops of oil to water to make your own spray and apply to their coat. Don’t do too much, since the aroma can be overbearing for dogs.
• Fluid Retention – Massage 1-3 drops over the area of consider in a motion moving toward the heart.
• Gastritis – Massage 1-2 drops of lemongrass essential oil over the abdominal area daily.
• Hair Loss/Itching/Irritated Scalp – Massage a few drops of lemongrass oil into your scalp for two minutes and then rinse.
• Hashimoto’s Disease – Massage 1-2 drops over the thyroid or into the reflex points of the feet daily. Consult with an aromatherapist or holistic doctor for internal use.
• Hernia – Massage 1-2 drops over the area of concern or into the reflex points of the feet daily.
• Insect Repellent – Diffuse as needed, add to a cotton ball and place where needed, or use topically to repel biting insects. Can be sprayed directly on the skin. You can even use lemongrass oil to kill fleas; add about 5 drops of oil to water and create your own spray, then apply the spray to your pet’s coat.
• Immune System – Massage several drops into the reflex points of the feet as needed.
• Kidney Function – Massage 1-2 drops of lemongrass essential oil over the kidneys or into the reflex points of the feet daily or as desired.
• Lactose Intolerance – Massage into the reflex points of the feet as needed or daily. I’d also look into probiotics and digestive enzymes. This is the company I get mine from.
• Ligaments – Lemongrass benefits ligaments, connective tissue as well as tendons,  when used topically. Try 1-2 drops over the area daily or as needed.
• Limiting Belief – Diffuse whenever you need it. Place 1 drop in the palm of your hand, rub hands together, and inhale softly for up to 30 seconds or longer as desired.
• Lymphatic Drainage – Mix 2-4 drops of lemongrass into a tsp of carrier oil and massage toward the heart to improve drainage.
• Pain – By rubbing this oil into your hair, scalp, and body, you can alleviate headaches or muscle pain. Try massaging diluted lemongrass oil on your temples and breathe in for headaches.
• Paralysis – Massage 1-2 diluted drops or more over the area of concern or into the reflex points of the feet up to 2 times a day.
• PMS – Drink two cups of lemongrass tea(made from tea leaves not the oil) a day to relieve pain associated with your period and massage lemongrass oil on your lower abdomen. (Do Not ingest the essential oil unless under the care of an aromatherapist or holistic doctor.)
• Sleep – Diffuse at night before bed, massage into your feet or smell from the bottle.
• Sprains – Massage 1-2 drops into the sprained area 1-3 times a day.
• Stiffness – Massage 1-2 drops of lemongrass essential oil into the area of stiffness as needed or daily for chronic issues.
• Urinary Tract Infection – Massage over the urinary organs 2-3 times a day.
• Wounds – Use 1-2 drops mixed in 3-6 drops of carrier oil and massage over the area of concern.

Live Healthy,
Carrie A Groff
-Healthy, Fit & Barefoot!

“Happiness is Barefoot on the Beach!”