Keeping things clean & hygienic living in a caravan on the road - My no-tox secret!

Van Life

Essential oils have such an extensive list of uses that it’s hard to know where to start. Should you inhale oils to improve your mood? Rub them on your feet to relieve anxiety? Drop them on your pillow to help you sleep? Or diffuse them to fill your space with uplifting aromas?

Well — all of the above. But did you know that you can also use essential oils to purify your home or caravan?

I don't know about you, but I'm always looking for natural ways to keep my home (AKA, Our Vintage Caravan) clean and germ-free and I tend to avoid harsh chemicals like the plague! One of my favorite discoveries has been melaleuca essential oil, commonly known as tea tree oil. This stuff is amazing and so versatile. As an essential oil enthusiast it has now become my secret weapon for natural cleaning around the Van. I started using it a few years ago and now I use it for almost everything in my daily cleaning and hygiene routine.

If you're not familiar with melaleuca oil, it's derived from the leaves of the melaleuca alternifolia tree, native to Australia. The oil has natural anti-fungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties, so it's a powerhouse for purifying and freshening up the van. I'm going to share some of my favorite ways to use melaleuca oil so you can experience how wonderful it is too.

The Many Benefits of Melaleuca Essential Oil

First, it's a natural antiseptic. I apply it directly to cuts, scrapes, and bug bites to disinfect the area and speed up healing. The anti-fungal properties also help clear up skin conditions like athlete's foot and acne.

Melaleuca oil is also great for alleviating seasonal discomforts too. When my allergies flare up, I put a few drops in a diffuser. The refreshing aroma opens up my nasal passages and helps me breathe easier. For muscle aches and pains, I massage the oil directly into my skin. The anti-inflammatory effects work to relieve soreness and improve circulation which is fantastic for those long days driving.

Another favorite use is as a natural cleaner and deodoriser. I add 10-15 drops to a spray bottle filled with water to make an all-purpose cleaner for my kitchen and bathroom. The fresh, medicinal aroma also works great as an air freshener - just put a few drops in your vacuum's dirt cup, in an essential diffuser or spray in the corners of rooms.

From treating skin conditions to easing respiratory problems to cleaning and freshening the home, melaleuca essential oil has so many practical uses. I don't know what I'd do without this miracle oil in my wellness arsenal!

Most conventional cleaning products are full of harsh chemicals and when you use them in your living space, you and your family breathe these chemicals into your lungs. Cleaning products are associated with a number of health issues, including hormone imbalances and asthma.

But Melaleuca oil cleans the air with studies even suggesting that it might stop the spread of the Flu in its tracks!

I notice very quickly when I use this oil in and around the caravan that all those funky lingering smells disappear. It is so nice to walk into the van and enjoy taking a deep, slow breath; inhaling the wonderfully fresh air and knowing that it doesn’t just smell clean: it is clean.

DIY Natural Cleaning Recipes Using Tea Tree Oil

Here are a couple of my favorite DIY recipes using this essential oil:

All-Purpose Cleaner

For an all-purpose cleaner, I mix 1/2 cup distilled water, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 10-15 drops tea tree essential oil, and 5 drops lemon essential oil. The vinegar helps cut through grease and grime while the essential oils naturally disinfect and leave my home smelling fresh. I use this cleaner on counters, appliances, floors - you name it. It is also great for fighting mould!

Disinfecting Wipes

To make disinfecting wipes, I soak paper towels or reusable cloths in a solution of 1 cup water, 1/2 cup vinegar, and 15-20 drops tea tree oil. Let the wipes soak in the solution until saturated and then wring out excess liquid. Store the wipes in an airtight container. These wipes kill germs and bacteria on high-touch areas like doorknobs, light switches, phones, toilets, and sinks. They come in super handy for rest stop and public toilets!

Laundry

Add a few drops of Melaleuca oil to your laundry detergent to kill any bacterial fungi lingering in your clothes.

Laundry

Using these natural DIY cleaners with tea tree oil, I'm able to clean and purify our entire caravan without exposing myself to harsh chemicals leaving it smelling clean and refreshing thanks to the woodsy, medicinal aroma. This essential oil is such a simple way to take your home or caravan cleanliness to the next level using the power of nature.

Mattresses

Use this same Melaleuca, lemon and vinegar combination to lightly spray your mattress in between sheet changes. It’ll prevent the build up of bacteria on your mattress, and can even deter bed bugs. Just make sure the mattress is completely dry before you put a fresh sheet on.

Smelly Shoes

Spray Melaleuca oil and water into your shoes to get rid of unpleasant odours — it even works in your sweaty gym shoes.

Give it a try - start with just a few drops in your diffuser or cleaning products and see how it helps freshen up the air and surfaces in your space. Your nose and your body will thank you. Melaleuca oil has earned an permanent spot in my holistic toolkit on the road for health and natural wellness. I hope you'll find it as useful as I have!

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How to Purchase Melaleuca Essential Oil (Tea Tree Essential Oil)

Purchase Melaleuca Retail HERE

Purchase Melaleuca at Wholesale Price 25% cheaper HERE

When it comes to essential oils, you get what you pay for. Most store-bought essential oils are not put through the testing like doTERRA oils are. Plus, there usually is a warning on the label not to take them internally. No, thank you! When I buy essential oils, I want to get the full therapeutic benefit from them.

doTERRA’s extensive sourcing partnerships empower doTERRA to produce exclusive, proprietary oils and blends that preserve the purity and potency of each plant. Ninety-six percent of doTERRA single oils and oil blends are exclusive, ensuring that essential oil users receive a product that is truly special and sweet.

While others in the essential oil industry cut corners during the planting, growing, and harvesting process, or even try to “extend” pure oils by adding less expensive ingredients, doTERRA is uncompromisingly selective.

In order to work with committed partners and to ensure the best growing conditions, doTERRA sources essential oils from across the globe. With an ever-expanding product line that includes over 100 different essential oils sourced from over 40 nations, doTERRA truly offers Earth’s best gifts.

While the temptation for a company as large as doTERRA may be to buy large plots of land and mass produce oils, doTERRA places great value on the expert knowledge of local farmers—many of whom have nurtured essential oil plants for generations. doTERRA recruits their expertise into a Global Botanical Network and, in so doing, responsibly supports thousands of jobs around the world.