Popular Essential Oils For Cleaning

When looking for Essential Oils to use in natural DIY household cleaning products, look for labels that state that the product is 100% Pure Essential Oil, as this ensures that neither the source plant nor the oil has been introduced to synthetic substances and that there are no other ingredients, such as preservatives, that are diluting/cutting the oil. The following Essential Oils are the most popular options for DIY cleaning products:

Cinnamon Leaf

Reputed benefits:

• Exhibits antiseptic and antibacterial properties
• Helps to guard against mold and mildew
• Helps to ward off pests
• Exudes a warm aroma that promotes feelings of emotional security

For more information about the benefits of Cinnamon Oil, click here.

Eucalyptus

Reputed benefits:

• Exhibits natural antibacterial properties
• Helps eliminate dust mites
• Helps to ward off pests
• Exudes a cool scent that promotes refreshing feelings of cleanness

For more information about the benefits of Eucalyptus Oil, click here.

Lavender

Reputed benefits:

• Exhibits natural antibacterial properties
• Exudes a warm, floral aroma that promotes feelings of emotional comfort
• Helps to prevent the development of fungal growth on surfaces and in fabrics
• Helps to deodorize stale and moldy odors

For more information about the benefits of Lavender Oil, click here.

Lemon

Reputed benefits:

• Exhibits natural antibacterial and antiviral properties
• Exudes a bright, energizing scent that promotes feelings of freshness and emotional upliftment
• Helps to eliminate grease and tacky substances
• Helps to deodorize foul odors
• Helps to gently polish wood and leather

Other citrus oils, such as Orange, Bergamot, Lime, and Grapefruit are also ideal for their natural antibacterial properties, which make them effective disinfectants.

For more information about the benefits of Lemon Oil, click here.

For more information about the benefits of Orange Oil, click here.

For more information about the benefits of Bergamot Oil, click here.

Peppermint

Reputed benefits:

• Exhibits natural antibacterial properties
• Exudes a cooling, revitalizing scent that promotes feelings of freshness and clarity
• Helps to deodorize unpleasant odors
• Helps to ward off pests

For more information about the benefits of Peppermint Oil, click here.

Pine

Reputed benefits:

• Exhibits natural antibacterial and antiviral properties
• Helps to eliminate fungal growth from surfaces and in fabrics
• Exudes the scent of a lush green forest that promotes feelings of improved emotional well-being

For more information about the benefits of Pine Oil, click here.

Rosemary

Reputed benefits:

• Exhibits natural antiseptic and antibacterial properties
• Exudes a penetrating camphoraceous, woody, and herbal aroma that promotes feelings of mental alertness
• Helps to eliminate fungal growth from surfaces and in fabrics
• Helps to ward off pests
• Helps to polish furniture

For more information about the benefits of Rosemary Oil, click here.

Tea Tree

Reputed benefits:

• Exhibits natural antibacterial and antiviral properties
• Helps to ward off pests
• Helps to eliminate fungal growth from surfaces and in fabrics
• Exudes a penetrating medicinal, camphoraceous, woody aroma that promotes feelings of clarity and calmness

For more information about the benefits of Tea Tree Oil, click here.

Thyme

Reputed benefits:

• Exhibits natural antibacterial and antiviral properties
• Helps to ward off pests
• Exudes a spicy, warm, herbaceous scent that promotes feelings of tranquility and alertness

Cleaning Product Types & Suggested Essential Oils

The most common natural and safe cleaning products include White Vinegar, Baking Soda, and liquid dish soap (the latter may be replaced with Liquid Soap 105N). These products are known to help deodorize, degrease, and eliminate accumulated dirt, residue, mineral deposits, and stains. The cleaning power of these simple ingredients may be further enhanced with the addition of Essential Oils.

Before using the following recipes, test them on small areas to ensure that there is no damage to the material on which they will be used.

Dry Deep-Clean Powder

To deep clean carpets, couch cushions, mattresses, plush toys, and other fibrous, flexible materials

Suggested Essential Oils

Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemon

How To Make It

Fill a mason jar with a shaker lid with 1 cup of Baking Soda, then stir in 1–30 drops of the preferred Essential Oil. Cap the jar and sprinkle the mixture onto fabrics that have stale or foul odors. Allow the mixture to settle into the fibers of the fabric for 15–20 minutes, a few hours, or overnight. When the ideal time has lapsed, vacuum the powder.

Multi-Purpose Surface Disinfectant

To sanitize appliances, cabinets, doorknobs, countertops, floors, toilets, sinks, windows, mirrors, and other hard surfaces

Suggested Essential Oils

Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Grapefruit, Lavender, Lemon, Orange, Peppermint, Tea Tree

How To Make It

Combine 1 cup of White Vinegar, 1 cup of water, and 30 drops of a preferred Essential Oil (or a combination of several oils) in a spray bottle. Cap the bottle and shake it well to thoroughly combine all ingredients. Spray the solution onto preferred hard surfaces.

Gentle 2-in-1 Dishwashing & Hand Soap

To clean and disinfect hands and dishes

Suggested Essential Oils

Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint

How To Make It

In a dispenser bottle, combine equal parts water and Liquid Soap 105N and up to 30 drops of a preferred Essential Oil or Essential Oil blend. Cap the bottle and shake it well to thoroughly combine all ingredients. Dispense a small amount of the soap onto the hands or onto dirty dishes, scrub the hands or the dishes, then rinse off the soap.

Linen Spray

To deodorize bed sheets, towels, clothes, yoga mats, curtains, rugs, and other soft fabrics

Suggested Essential Oils

Eucalyptus, Lavender

How To Make It

In a spray bottle, combine equal parts of distilled water and Witch Hazel and up to 30 drops of a preferred Essential Oil or Essential Oil blend. Cap the bottle and shake it well to thoroughly combine all ingredients. Spritz the solution onto preferred linens/fabrics, such as bed sheets, pillows, and clothes that haven’t been worn in a long time. Allow the fabrics to dry before using them.

Mildew Buster

To prevent/eliminate mold and mildew in the bathtub, on shower walls, and in any other area where moisture gets trapped

Suggested Essential Oils

Tea Tree, Lemon, Eucalyptus

How To Make It

Fill a spray bottle with White Vinegar, then add 30 drops of the preferred Essential Oil. Cap the bottle and shake it well to thoroughly combine all ingredients. Spritz the solution onto the shower walls and door and in the corners of the tub or other moisture-heavy areas.

Room Freshener

Suggested Essential Oils

Bergamot, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemon, Orange, Peppermint

How To Make It

Fill a 16 oz. (470 ml) spray bottle with distilled water and up to 30 drops of a preferred Essential Oil or Essential Oil blend. Cap the bottle and shake it well to thoroughly combine all ingredients. Spritz the solution in preferred indoor areas to deodorize unpleasant or musty rooms.

Sink & Tub Cleaning Paste

Suggested Essential Oils

Eucalyptus, Lemon, Orange, Peppermint

How To Make It

In a wide-mouthed container, combine up to 5 drops of a preferred Essential Oil with enough Baking Soda and water to encourage the mixture to form a paste. Using a small, soft scrubbing brush, scoop out the preferred amount of the blend, then scrub it into the sink and tub. Rinse or wipe it off after the product has been worked into the fixtures.

Toilet Bowl Disinfectant

Suggested Essential Oils

Eucalyptus, Lemon, Tea Tree

How To Make It

In a squeezable bottle, combine equal parts Hydrogen Peroxide and Liquid Soap 105N or dishwashing detergent (e.g. ¼ cup each). To this, add equal parts of Baking Soda and Water (e.g. ½ cup each). Next, add in 15 drops of a preferred Essential Oil. Cap the bottle and shake it well to thoroughly combine all ingredients. Squeeze the solution out of the bottle in a steady jet stream around the rim of the toilet bowl and let it trickle down into the water. Scrub the solution into the toilet bowl. Allow the solution to stand for 10–20 minutes then flush.

Wood & Leather Polish + Sticky Residue Remover

To eliminate tacky or gooey residue left by stickers, tape, glue, chewing gum, candle wax, crayons and other substances with adhesive properties

Suggested Essential Oils

Pine, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Lemon, Lime

How To Make It

In ½ cup (or more, depending on the size of the area to be polished) of a preferred Carrier Oil, dilute 10 drops of a preferred Essential Oil. Dip a soft cloth in the solution, then rub it gently into the wood or leather for a natural, conditioning shine. If removing sticky residue, wipe the oil off with a clean cloth.

Usage, Storage, and Safety Tips for Cleaning Products

It is acceptable to store cleaning recipes that incorporate Essential Oils in plastic spray bottles/containers, as these formulations are typically diluted to a considerable extent.

Avoid combining Vinegar with Liquid Soap 105N, as the combination is known to produce a slimy substance; instead, when a recipe calls for Vinegar and soap, use dishwashing detergent.

When formulating a cleaning recipe, combine all the base ingredients before adding the Essential Oils. This will help to ensure that the Essential Oils do not come in direct contact with the plastic bottles/containers.

Before applying a cleaning product that contains Essential Oils, shake the bottle well to encourage thorough mixing between all the ingredients.

If you have pets, avoid using Essential Oils in cleaning recipes unless you have educated yourself about the relative safety of the particular oil for your particular type of pet. For more information about Pet-Friendly Oils, click here.

The strength of the final product’s scent will depend on the amount of Essential Oils added to it; to give cleaning products mild scents, add a maximum of 10 drops of Essential Oils to the above cleaning blends.