Household Cleaning with Essential Oils

Having natural, non-toxic supplies to clean your home is a fundamental part of living a healthy lifestyle.  Check out this goldmine of 23 recipes for household cleaning with essential oils. From surface cleaners to gum remover to dryer softener balls, this guide has you covered!

Household Cleaning Recipes

Air Freshener Spray (Yield: 8oz spray bottle) 

• ¾ cup water or floral hydrosol
• 6 drops lavender essential oil
• 6 drops lemon essential oil
• 3 drops peppermint essential oil

DIRECTIONS: Combine the water and essential oils in an 8oz glass spray bottle and spray 3 to 4 times in each room of the house.

Sticker or Gum Remover (Yield: 1 to 2 applications) 

• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp almond oil or olive oil
• 3 drops lemon essential oil

DIRECTIONS: Mix all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Apply a small amount to the sticker or gum and let sit for 1 to 2 minutes. Use a soft cloth to remove the sticky substance on the area. Continue to apply, if needed, until the sticky spot is removed.

Carpet Freshener (Yield: 8 to 10 applications) 

• 2 cups baking soda
• 10 drops lavender essential oil

DIRECTIONS: Combine the baking soda and lavender essential oil in a mason jar. Cap and shake well to combine. Remove cap and replace inner lid with construction paper. Secure rim and cut excess construction paper. Poke holes in the construction paper. Apply carpet freshener liberally to carpet. Wait 1 to 2 hours. Vaccum over carpet thoroughly.

Dusting and Cleaning Cloth or Wood (Yield: 1 application) 

• ⅓ tsp olive oil
• ¼ cup vinegar
• 4 drops lemon essential oil

DIRECTIONS: Mix all of the ingredients together and add to cleaning cloth. Dab soft cloth on wood surfaces to polish wood. Reuse cloth for other wood surfaces up to six times.

Natural Scratch Remover (Yield: 1 application) 

• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp distilled white vinegar
• 3 to 5 drops lemon essential oil

DIRECTIONS: Mix all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Dip soft cloth into mixture and gently rub onto wood surface scratch. Rub on scratches until they disappear. For deeper scratches, rub in mixture until they shrink in size. Buff away any remaining residue with a dry soft cloth.

Basic Hardwood and Ceramic Tile Floor Cleaner (Yield: 1 application) 

• 1 gallon hot water
• ¼ cup Castile liquid soap
• ¼ cup distilled white vinegar
• 10 drops melaleuca essential oil

DIRECTIONS: Mix water, Castile soap, vinegar and essential oil in a large bucket. Mop with a dry mop or scrub with a microfiber cloth by hand. Change cleaning solution as needed.

Vinyl Floor Cleaner (Yield: 1 application) 

• 4 cups hot water
• 1 tsp liquid dish soap
• 1 cup distilled white vinegar
• 1 cup isoproply alcohol (rubbing alcohol)
• 10 drops lemon essential oil

DIRECTIONS: Mix water, dish soap, vinegar, isopropyl alcohol and essential oil in a large bowl. Mop with a dry mop or scrub with microfiber cloth by hand. Change Cleaning Solution as needed.

Carpet Stain Remover (Yield: 1 application) 

• 3 cups water, divided
• 1 Tbsp Castile liquid soap
• 10 drops lemon essential oil

DIRECTIONS: Mix half of the water, the Castile soap and the essential oil into a bowl. Soak a soft cloth in the mixture, wring it out and gently blot the stain. Use a clean, dry soft cloth and soak it in the remaining clean water to remove the residue. Continue to alternate between the soap solution and the clean water until the stain is not visible.

NOTE: Remember to blot, not rub, the carpet or upholstery stain so you do not damage the fabric or fibers.

Kitchen Cleaning Recipes

Foaming Hand Soap (Yield: 8oz to 12oz bottle) 

• 3 Tbsp liquid Castile soap
• ½ tsp almond oil
• 10 drops essential oil of choice
• 1 to 2 cups water

DIRECTIONS: Combine Castile soap and almond oil in a bottle with  a foaming pump. Add essential oil of your choice. Slowly add water to the bottle, leaving space for the pump to screw into the bottle. Shake gently before using.

Liquid Dish Soap (Yield: 20 oz dish soap squirt bottle or pump dispenser) 

• 2 cups unscented liquid Castile soap
• ½ cup warm water
• 5 drops lime essential oil
• 5 drops orange essential oil

DIRECTIONS: Fill the dish soap container with Castile soap, warm water and essential oils. Shake container and use on dishes.

Oven Cleaner Paste (Yield: 1 application)

• 2 cups baking soda
• 1 cup water
• 2 Tbsp Castile soap
• 15 drops lemon essential oil 

DIRECTIONS: Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl to form a thick paste. Use more baking soda to increase the thickness as desired. Apply paste with a sponge and let sit for 30 minutes. Wipe off with clean cloth, or with a sponge and water.

Trash Can Deodorizing Tablets (Yield: 6 to 8 tablets)

• 2 cups baking soda
• 1 to 2 cups distilled vinegar
• 5 drops peppermint essential oil
• 5 drops grapefruit essential oil

DIRECTIONS: Add the baking soda to a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the water and essential oils and add them to the baking soda by slowly stirring the achieve the desired paste. Transfer mixture into silicone molds or a muffin pan and allow to dry overnight, or until the tablets have hardened. Place 1 to 2 tablets into trash cans throughout the house. The tablets are good for 30 days. Store unused tablets in an airtight container.

NOTE: When you are ready to replace it, take the OLD tablet and crumble it into a load of laundry to help deodorize there as well.

Automatic Dishwashing Powder (Yield: 24 loads) 

• 3 cups washing soda
• 15 drops lemon or lime essential oil
• 1 cup baking soda

DIRECTIONS: Combine all ingredients and store in a sealed container. To use, add approximately 2 Tbsp to the soap compartment of your dishwasher. If the glasses start to accumulate residue, decrease to 1½ Tbsp of powder.

Fruit and Vegetable Wash (Yield: 1 wash) 

• 4 cups filtered water
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 10 drops lemon essential oil

DIRECTIONS: In a large bowl mix filtered water, vinegar and essential oi. To use, submerge produce in the bowl. Stir the produce around with your hand to make sure all of the produce comes in contact with the lemon essential oil. Let the produce sit for 30 to 60 seconds. Rinse with filtered water in a strainer.

Bathroom Cleaning Recipes

Toilet and Tub Soft Scrub Cleaner (Yield: 2 applications)

• 1 cup baking soda
• 10 drops melaleuca essential oil
• 1 tsp vegetable glycerin
•  ½ cup unscented liquid Castile soap

DIRECTIONS: Add baking soda, essential oil, and vegetable glycerin to a bowl and slowly add the Castile soap until a paste is formed.

TO USE: Apply the soft scrub paste to soap scum in bathtubs, toilet bowls and sinks. Let sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Scrub well with a brush or sponge and rinse off.

Homemade Bathroom Cleaning Powder (Yield: 10 to 12 applications)

• 2 cups borax
• 1 cup baking soda
• ¾ cup kosher salt
• 10 drops melaleuca essential oil
• 10 drops lemon essential oil

DIRECTIONS: Combine all of the ingredients into a mason jar or other shaker bottle. I recommend using an empty large spice container.

TO USE: Dampen the surface area with water or vinegar and sprinkle the cleaning powder over the area. Let sit for 10 to 15 minutes and scrub with a sponge or brush. Rinse clean.

Multiple-Purpose Cleaning Spray (Yield: 12oz spray bottle)

• 1 cup distilled white vinegar
• 2 cups distilled water
• 5 drops melaleuca essential oil
• 5 drops lemon essential oil

DIRECTIONS: Add all ingredients to a 12oz spray bottle and shake well. Use as you would any other all purpose cleaner for countertops, porcelain surfaces, mirrors, tile, and other household surfaces. Wipe with a microfiber cloth or clean sponge. If unsure of whether this should be used on a certain surface area, test the cleaner on a small area first.

NOTE: For tougher areas of the house, leave the spray solution on that surface for 30 minutes before rinsing.

Mold and Scum Prevention Spray (Yield: 12oz spray bottle)

• 3 cups water
• 1 Tbsp rubbing alcohol
• 25 drops melaleuca essential oil
• 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil

DIRECTIONS: Add all ingredients to the spray bottle and shake well. Spray directly on mold or scum buildup in the shower, tub or anywhere else in the bathroom. Do not rinse. Repeat daily or weekly as needed.

Window and Mirror Spray Cleaner (Yield: 16oz spray bottle)

• 3 cups distilled water
• 3 Tbsp distilled white vinegar
• 2 Tbsp rubbing alcohol
• 5 drops lemon or grapefruit essential oil

DIRECTIONS: Add all ingredients into the spray bottle and shake well. Spray windows and mirrors and wipe down wih a microfiber cloth, newspaper, or paper towels. Store unused solution for up to 2 to 3 months.

Laundry Cleaning Recipes

Laundry Stain Remover (Yield: 8oz spray bottle)

• 2 cups distilled white vinegar
• 25 drops lemon essential oi

DIRECTIONS: Combine ingredients into the spray bottle and shake well. Spray solution on the stain, let sit for 5 to 10 minutes, and wash.

DIY Dryer Softener Balls (Yield: 4 to 6 dryer balls)

• 1 skein 100% wool yarn
• pantyhose
• 6 to 8 drops lavender, bergamot orange or lemon essential oil per dryer ball

DIRECTIONS: Take the end of wool yarn and wrap it around your index and middle finger 10 to 15 times. Next, remove yarn from the two fingers and then wrap 2 to 3 times around the middle. It should look like a little bow. Continue to tightly wrap the yarn around, making a round shape the size of a tennis ball. Once the size of a tennis ball, cut the ends and tuck them into the ball. Repeat the directions for 3 to 5 more balls.

Cut one leg off the pantyhose. Place one yarn ball into the bottom of the pantyhose and tie a knot above the ball to secure the shape of the ball. Repeat until all of the balls have been added and secured. Once all of the yarn balls are secured, then wash and dry them on the highest heat setting in the dryer.

When the dryer balls are completely dry, remove the pantyhose and add 6 to 8 drops of your favorite essential oil to each ball. For best results, toss 4 to 6 balls into dryer with clothes.

Liquid Fabric Softener (Yield: 18 loads)

• ½ gallon distilled white vinegar
• 1 cup baking soda
• 30 drops lavender essential oil

DIRECTIONS: Combine ingredients into 1 large storage container and add ½ cup to each lead of laundry in the washer. The laundry with soften and smell great too.

Laundry Soap Recipe (24 to 48 loads, depending on load size)

• 1 finely grated bar baby mild unscented Castile soap
• 1 cup washing soda
• 1 cup borax
• 10 drops lemon essential oil
• 10 drops grapefruit or wild orange essential oil

DIRECTIONS: Mix grated Castile soap, washing soda and borax together in a bowl with a spoon, add essential oil and stir completely. Store in a airtight sealed glass jar. Use 1 to 2 Tbsp per load, depending on load size.

NOTE: This recipe is safe for high-efficiency washers. For extra dirty loads of laundry, consider adding an oxygen booster to the washer along with this recipe.

SOURCE: Smart Mom's Guide To Essential Oils by Dr. Mariza Snyder
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