Harness the power of Lemon Essential Oil

Don’t be fooled by its fresh scent. Lemon is one of the best essential oils for cleaning - cleaning surfaces, tack, buckets, and even the air (when diffused, of course). The major constituent of Lemon essential oil is D-limonene, which is considered such a potent cleaner that you will find it listed as an ingredient in industrial cleaners (along with a lot of toxic ingredients).

Lemon essential oil is cold-pressed from the rind of the lemon. Here’s a fun fact: keep Lemon EO handy when using strong glue - you can use a drop or two to “unstick” your fingers or to remove labels or anything sticky.

Due to its strength, there are some safety precautions I’d like to point out:

-Citrus essential oils can cause photosensitivity when used topically (whether on yourself or your horse).

-Due to their high monoterpene content, citrus oils will oxidize more quickly than other oils. This means they have a shorter shelf-life (1-3 years, depending on how they’re stored). It’s important to always keep the cap on essential oils and store them away from sunlight and heat. You can store citrus oils in your refrigerator to maximize the shelf life. Once an oil is oxidized it can cause a skin reaction when used topically. If you think your citrus oil has oxidized, you can still use it in cleaning, just don’t use it topically.

-When adding Lemon Vitality to your water, be sure you only use it in a glass or stainless steel container.

One of my favorite ways to use Lemon essential oil? Diffusing it. I used to burn lemon-scented candles before I discovered essential oils. Now, not only does my house smell clean when diffusing lemon, but I benefit from all its mood-enhancing qualities.

There have been some promising studies on the anti-microbial actions of diffusing Lemon essential oil, so it’s a great choice to diffuse in your barn to promote wellness for all!