Banish those not-so-good old-boat odors
Issue 65 : Mar/Apr 2009
When our good friends Jeff and Dawn told us they had just purchased a liveaboard sailboat, I knew what would make the perfect “boat warming” gift: a starter kit of essential oils and natural cleaners that really work and smell great too. This gave me the opportunity to match some of my favorite essential oils to my favorite people.
Essential oils are aromatic liquids extracted from certain species of flowers, grasses, fruits, leaves, roots, and trees. They are effective natural cleansers and don’t have the polluting effects of chemicals. I chose the four inexpensive essential oils for this kit for their sanitizing properties as well as for the compatibility of their scents.
- Lavender, a favorite everywhere, has powerful antibiotic, antiseptic, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties.
- Eucalyptus, with its antibiotic, antiseptic, and deodorizing properties is versatile.
- Lemon has a fresh, clean scent and antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Its synergy with lavender or eucalyptus gives blends with those oils more punch.
- Geranium has astringent and antiseptic properties, smells great on its own, and adds synergy and a light floral scent to a blend with any of the other oils I selected.
The last three ingredients for this starter kit are pure white vinegar, natural liquid soap, and natural oil for wood. All of the components of this kit can be found in most health food stores.
Putting oils to work
I explained to Dawn the three ways she could use the oils.
For washing or wiping surfaces, she could make a mixture of water, liquid soap, and essential oils. Water and essential oils combined in a spray bottle would let her mist the air or spray the mixture onto a damp cloth with which to wipe and deodorize surfaces. A few drops of essential oils added to a bowl of warm water will dispel unpleasant odors and scent the air.
As Dawn and Jeff walked me through Windswept, I gave them some ideas on how to use the oils for cleaning different areas.
Dawn said that it was difficult to eliminate odors from cooking, baking, and frying in the galley. This is because fat molecules tend to linger in the air long after meals. I suggested a blend of lemon and eucalyptus — using any of the three methods I had just taught her — as an effective solution to unpleasant galley odors.
I also gave Jeff, the dishwasher on board, the antidote to his dishwashing blues: just a drop or two of essential oil in the dishwater (or laundry rinse water) makes these chores more pleasant: lemon for morning zing; uplifting lavender after lunch; and geranium, a relaxing floral scent, after dinner. Dawn liked the idea of adding a drop of refreshing lemon oil to the water she uses to clean the icebox.
Jeff had already cleaned the head but a musty odor lingered. My proposal for this area was to wipe all surfaces with my favorite bacteria-busting combination of soap, water, lemon, and eucalyptus oils to kill germs, inhibit bacterial growth, and refresh. Using the spray method or putting a couple of drops of oil inside the toilet paper tube also dissipates any unpleasant odors.
And vinegar, too
Vinegar has many uses on board from cleaning toilets to removing mold and mildew and to leaving glass sparkling. A number of studies, including some conducted by the Good Housekeeping Institute, indicate that a straight 5-percent solution of vinegar kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of viruses. I recommended that Jeff and Dawn give the toilet a good dousing of straight vinegar and a few drops of lemon oil to remove scum and clean the pipes.
We opened the shower and locker doors to discover a fusty smell. I proposed washing these areas with a half-and-half solution of vinegar and soapy water and, when dry, wiping them with straight vinegar. A cotton ball dosed with a few drops of eucalyptus and stored in the lockers further inhibits the growth of mold and mildew and lightly scents the area. To make windows and mirrors sparkle, I suggested they mix 1 1/2 cups of vinegar, 1/2 cup of water, and 8 to 10 drops of lemon oil, then spray the glass surface, and wipe it with a dry cloth.
Jeff and Dawn fell in love with the lovely woodwork inside Windswept. The first chore was to wash the wood with natural liquid soap and water. Once it’s clean, wood is easy to maintain by adding a few drops of essential oils to natural furniture oil, applying the mixture to a damp cloth, and simply wiping the surface. Lavender added to the wood oil in the cabin makes for restful sleep; geranium refreshes passageways with a light floral scent; lemon adds energy to the galley; and eucalyptus gives a clean, spa-like scent to heads and showers.
Jeff and Dawn were impressed with their cleaning kit and delighted in finding easy, environmentally safe methods for cleaning that leave their new home smelling and looking terrific.
Laurie McDonald, from Canada’s west coast, is on a 3-year sabbatical with her partner, Lionel, sailing the Caribbean and Mediterranean. She writes on health issues, travel, and sailing.
Thank you to Sailrite Enterprises, Inc., for providing free access to back issues of Good Old Boat through intellectual property rights. Sailrite.com
