6 Ways to Use Peppermint Naturally in Your Home
November 8, 2016
I love the smell of peppermint and now that the holidays are getting closer, I plan on using it even more often than I usually do. I don’t use artificial fragrance sprays or perfumed-scented candles in my home, because they can aggravate my daughter’s asthma, and my own. Instead, I use natural peppermint. There are a lot of different ways to use peppermint in your home, and I’m sharing a few favorites below.
1. Windowsill Plant
I love indoor plants during the winter because my garden is under a foot of snow. Adding a few small potted peppermint herbs to a sunny windowsill is a great way to bring the outdoors inside. Make sure that the windowsill you place your plant on gets a lot of sun and doesn’t get too cold.
2. Diffused Oils
If you use an essential oil diffuser, you can easily add a few drops of peppermint essential oil to naturally scent your rooms. For a great fragrance combination, mix lavender and peppermint together. I find this mixture very relaxing. Make sure that you purchase essential oils and NOT fragrance oils.
3. Repel Mice
Mice do not like the scent of peppermint. If you’re having a mice problem in your home, place a few drops of real peppermint essential oil on a cotton ball and leave it in the area the mice are visiting. Make sure that you refresh the cotton ball regularly to keep them away. Bonus tip: I’ve heard that peppermint oil also repels ants.
4. Peppermint Tea
I love relaxing with a cup of herbal tea in the evening, and one of my favorites is peppermint tea. You can dry your own peppermint leaves from your garden, or you can purchase peppermint already dried at a natural food coop. Just place the leaves in a tea ball or tea strainer and let them sit for 3 minutes in a cup of hot water. Then enjoy! Peppermint tea is a wonderful home remedy for upset stomachs.
5. Clear Sinuses
Bring a pot of water to boil over the stove and remove it from the heat. Add two or three drops of peppermint essential oil to the water and inhale deeply with a towel over your head to catch the steam. Don’t get too close to the hot steam. Breathe in the peppermint scent, and it will clear your sinuses.
6. Foot Soak
After a long day, it can feel wonderful to sit down and soak your feet. Fill a large tub with hot water and add 3 or 4 drops of peppermint essential oil. Let your feet soak while you relax with a cup of tea. The peppermint will help your feet feel revitalized.
What are your favorite ways to use peppermint around the home?
