Need some essential oil cleaning recipes? I have got you covered.
Contents
It’s recommended that you use a dark glass bottle to help the sunlight from oxidizing them and store them in a cool place away from the sunlight.
You can mix and match essential oils to your liking instead of using them the ways I mention in this article.
The following are essential oils that are commonly used for cleaning:
- Lemon. Lemon is the most popular essential oil used for cleaning. It has a lot of antibacterial and antiviral compounds in it. Lemon leaves the room smelling fresh and clean.
- Tea Tree. Tea Tree is one of the best essential oils to clean with. It has germ fighting, bacteria killing, anti-virus properties and it even protects against bugs which carry diseases. Is there anything tea tree essential oil can’t ward off?
- Rosemary. Rosemary is a great cleaning essential oil. It has a lot of antibacterial and antiseptic properties in it. This makes it great in dish soaps, household cleaners, and you can even use it with laundry detergent. Mixes nicely with peppermint when the two are combined which helps you stay focused, too.
- Orange. Orange is thought to be a scent that improves our mood. It’s been used to help relieve insomnia issues. However, it’s very good at helping clean grease and grime. Mixes quite nicely with floral and other citrus essential oils.
- Lavender. Lavender has so many uses and it should be no surprise that it’s great for cleaning. Cleaning supplies don’t have to smell bad and lavender is one oil that smells wonderful. It has many natural antibacterial properties in it. It mixes nicely with vinegar for cleaning and other citrus and floral essential oils.
- Eucalyptus. Eucalyptus is a natural germicide which makes it great for cleaning. It’s great for breaking down dust mites and killing air born germs. It’s commonly used in the kitchen and bathroom. Also, pest don’t like the smell of eucalyptus, either.
- Peppermint. Peppermint is a wonderful cleaning essential oil. It has a lot of antibacterial properties in it. Peppermint has an uplifting scent and it helps stimulate your mind. It has been used to help relieve pain, too. It’s one of the most useful essential oils.
- Cinnamon Leaf. Cinnamon leaf is awesome to clean with. It has natural antiseptic and antibacterial properties in it. Did you know that it’s actually used to kill mold? Also, just like eucalyptus bugs don’t like the smell of cinnamon leaf.
- Pine. Pine is a great household cleaner. It’s used in a lot of cleaning supplies like Pine-Sol. Did you know that pine can kill yeast spores, E.coli and a plethora of household germs.
- Thyme. Thyme is one of the most powerful cleaning essential oils. It is very good at killing germs and has even been thought to kill salmonella. It’s a great essential oil to use in the kitchens where you prepare raw meat because of it’s germ fighting properties.
All-Purpose Daily Cleaner
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon natural dish soap
- 60 drops of essential oil
I like to put the white vinegar in first. If I am using lavender and lemon as my essential oils I like to add 30 drops of lavender and shake it up when after I add the white vinegar in. Then I will add the dish soap and put in 10 drops of tea tree Lastly, I will add the water in and 20 more drops of lemon essential oil.
Make sure you shake it before using it for 3 seconds. You can use this daily cleaner in the kitchen, bathroom, living room, etc.
All Natural Household Cleaner
- 4 Cups Warm Water
- 2 tsp Borax.
- 1 tsp Washing Soda.
- 2 tsp Liquid Castile Soap.
- 8 Drops of Lemon
- 8 Drops of Lavender
Put it all in a spray bottle. This recipe is pretty big meaning it makes 32+ oz of household cleaner. Make sure that you are using a big enough spray bottle. Also, make sure you shake it before using it.
Easy Peazy Household Cleaner
- 3 Cups Vinegar
- 3 Cups Water
- 20 Drops Peppermint
- 20 Drops Rosemary
Mix it all up in a spray bottle. I like to put the water in. Then 20 drops, add vinegar and then 20 drops. Make sure you shake it before using.
Lemon Spray Degreaser
- 2 Cups Warm Water.
- 1 tbsp Baking Soda.
- 1 oz Castile Soap
- 20 Drops Lemon
Put it all in a spray bottle. This recipe is a little over 16 oz. So make sure you put it in a spray bottle that is at least 20 oz. Whenever you have those dishes that have a lot of grease on them. This is a very easy way to spray them down and clean them. Make sure you shake before using it and allow it to sit on dishes for at least 2-3 minutes before scrubbing it off.
Degreaser Paste
- 4 oz Baking Soda.
- 2 oz Castile Soap
- 25-30 Drops Lemon or Orange Essential oil.
Put it in a squeeze bottle. This recipe makes 6 oz of degreaser paste. Make sure you use a squeeze bottle that is at least 8 oz. This is a much thicker paste but works excellent for dishes that have a lot of grease on them. Make sure you shake before using. Also, allow it to sit on the dishes for 3 minutes before scrubbing it off.
After Shower Spray Cleaner
- 1 1/2 Cups of Water.
- 1 1/2 Cups of White Vinegar.
- 10 Drops of Eucalyptus
- 10 Drops of Orange
Put all the content into a mixing bowl. Then, use a funnel to pour the contents into a spray mixer. I like to buy a couple bottles of some cheap chemical that is a 32 oz bottle. I know that this mixture will make 24 oz of shower spray cleaner. After you are done taking a shower you can spray the inside of the shower, doors, faucets, walls, etc. Make sure you shake before spraying.
I like the Peppermint and Eucalyptus combination.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
- 1 Cup Baking Soda.
- 1/2 Cup White Vinegar.
- 20 Drops of Tea Tree Oil.
- 10 Drops of Lavender Oil.
Make sure you combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Use a funnel to pour the contents into a bathroom pouring container. Also, I like to buy some cheap ones at the grocery store and use those containers. Once all the contents are in you can use a toilet brush and quickly clean the inside of the toilet bowl. Make sure you shake before using.
Also, check out my how-to guide on homemade Poo Pourri spray.
Furniture Polish
- 1/2 Cup Olive Oil.
- 10 Drops of Lemon Essential Oil.
- 4 oz Glass Lotion Pump.
It’s easier if you pour the contents into the bottle using a funnel. Olive Oil is dense. Then you add your drops of lemon essential oil. I would recommend using a microfiber cloth to clean your wooden surface. You should only clean your wooden surfaces once or twice a month. Shake for about 30 seconds before using it.
Window & Mirror Cleaner
- 1/4 Cup Rubbing Alcohol.
- 1/4 Cup White Vinegar.
- 3 Cups Water.
- 20 Drops Peppermint
Personally, I don’t like using Windex because it contains a lot of toxic chemicals.
Mix all the contents into a spray bottle. You can use any essential oil that you want your mirrors and glass to smell like. I like using peppermint because it’s uplifting. Also, make sure you shake before using.
This will certainly change the way you see cleaning mirrors and glass!
Laundry Detergent
- 5 Cups Liquid Castile Soap.
- 1/2 Cup White Vinegar.
- 2 Tbsp Vegetable Glycerin
- 1 1/2 Cup Water
- 20 Drops Rosemary
- 20 Drops Tea Tree
Mix all the contents in a bowl or use a funnel. I like to use old cheap bottles of laundry detergent that I buy at Aldi’s. This recipe does make 48+ oz of laundry detergent. Optionally, you can use eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, etc. for your natural homemade laundry detergent. Make sure you shake before using.
If you want you can use regular liquid detergent and put in 3-4 drops (per load) of your favorite essential oil, rather than making your own.
Pre Treat Stains
- 1 Cup Vinegar
- 1/2 Cup Salt
- 3 Drops Tea Tree
Mix together in a small spray container. Spray the clothing about 5 minutes before you put in into your washer. You can gently scrub the stain if you want. Make sure you shake the bottle before using.
Carpet Cleaner
- 3 Cups Water
- 1 Cup Castile Liquid Soap
- 10 Drops Peppermint
- 5 Drops Rosemary
Mix all the ingredients in a container. You can spray it on the carpet and then use a soft bristle brush to scrub the carpet. You can then use your vacuum cleaner to go over it. It will leave your carpet smelling fresh and the oils help kill the bacteria. Make sure you shake it before you use it.
Label Remover
- 2 oz Vegetable Oil
- 6 Tbsp Baking Soda
- 10 Drops Lemon Essential Oil
Mix all the contents together in a bottle. For this recipe, I like to use old bottles that I have cleaned that my old essential oils were in. Like the ones that I bought from Green Health Artnaturals, and Radha Beauty and poured down the toilet (got to get some use out of the bottles!). Make sure the container is sealed and you will have label remover for quite some time. Shake before you use it.
Automatic Dishwasher Cleaner
- 4 oz Washing Soda
- 6 1/2 Cups Water
- 8 oz White Vinegar
- 2 oz Citric Acid Powder
- 2 Cups Kosher Salt
- 50 Drops Lemon
- 30 Drops Lavender
Mix together in an old dishwasher cleaner bottle. I buy cheap stuff from Aldi’s and dump it out so I have a bottle. This recipe will make about 60 oz. Make sure you mix it together really good. Use about 1 to 2 tablespoons per load. Shake before you add it to your dishwasher.
Air Fresher Spritzer
- 1 Cup Water
- 2 Tablespoons Witch Hazel
- 10 Peppermint
- 8 Orange
Mix together and add to an 8 oz glass bottle. These are for quick air fresher air spritzers. You can spray them on rugs, furniture, etc. The smell will linger around for 45 to 60 minutes or so. Make sure you shake before spraying your air fresher spritzer.
Here are some good combinations:
- 5 Orange + 5 Lemon + 5 Lime + 5 Grapefruit
- 6 Orange + 5 Cinnamon + 5 Clove
- 10 Lavender + 8 Lemon
- 4 Tea Tree + 8 Lemon + 6 Eucalyptus
- 7 White Fir + 6 Cedarwood + 5 Frankincense
- 10 Peppermint + 8 Rosemary
Now you have several ways to make your own cleaning recipes with essential oils. It’s much better to use essential oils and these recipes because regular cleaners have a lot of chemicals that are toxic to the body.
Happy cleaning.
Please leave a comment down below if you have any questions.
27 thoughts on “15 Best Essential Oils Cleaning Recipes”
Hi! What great simple recipes you have posted! I’ve never even considered making my own window and mirror cleaner before, likewise, to the label remover as well! I will have to try both of those!
I’ve been making simple all-purpose cleaners with essential oils for a while but I always had trouble putting together laundry soap. A question about your recipe though. Wouldn’t it be better to keep the vinegar out of the soap and use it as a fabric softener instead?
Also, you use Castile soap in most of your recipes. Do you have a particular brand you recommend?
Hey Tina,
You should really consider trying them out. The window and mirror cleaner is awesome. The label remover works like a charm, too.
You could always leave the vinegar out and use it as a fabric softener. I’m surprised that I never thought about doing that! Good idea!
I do recommend Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soap. The unscented kind because you can add essential oils to it.
Hey,
I used to think of using essential oil to help me relax and sleep better. Never thought that they can be used for cleaning.
It could be more expensive to use essential oils for cleaning, yet I believe it’s more healthy especially for surfaces that can be reached by kids.
Thank you for sharing.
Brian
Hey Brian,
There is so much more to essential oils other than just putting them into a diffuser. You can use them topically, and some you can even ingest.
It’s actually not any more expensive to make your own household cleaner. It’s actually cheaper. I have so much cleaner around I could literally clean 20-30 houses. Not to mention I’ve gotten so many essential oil bottles.
Which brand of essential oils do you recommend to clean with? There are so many brands out there to choose from.
Hey Chris,
I know right there are a ton of essential oil brands to choose from. There are some which are poor because they are actually synthetic. For instance, Radha Beauty and Green Health are synthetic. I would avoid them altogether.
However, two brands I recommend cleaning with are NOW and Plant Guru. Both of those brands are high-quality essential oils and don’t cost as much as Plant Therapy, Young Living, and Aura Cacia.
I LOVE your site! I have little ones running (and crawling) around at home and am always looking for safer products to bring in to our home. I never thought about making my own until now.
I do have a quick question for you? How long will the household cleaner last?
Hey Montana,
Most essential oils are good for 2 years from the time you open them. As soon as they are opened they start to oxidize. You should store them in the refrigerator which does double their lifespan.
As far as how long the cleaners will work after you mix them I would say 8-12 months is a good ballpark figure. However, make sure you store them in a cool place. Most importantly make sure they are not exposed to sunlight.
Once we start to learn about essential oils and how to use them it soon becomes a love story. Their aroma, their taste and all the specific healthy uses we have at our disposal. Your article is awesome. I love it.
Just to add my two cents. In winter I use a lot of thyme and black pepper in my food it helps against viral infections like the flu and the common cold. And since I am doing that, I never had a cold any more. The black pepper adds to the thyme and other herbs as well. It is very good for prostate problems also.
Hey Almond,
Just to clarify if you ingest essential oils you should only do it 1-2 drops. Also, you should let your doctor know and most importantly don’t do it every single day. Essential oils are powerful and you have to respect them.
However, if you are using the herbs thyme and black pepper in food that is fine. They do have a lot of properties that prevent you from getting sick.
I would highly recommend checking out my article on the Thieves blend. It’s a great blend you can use to keep you from getting sick. I have written about it here:
https://myscentedoils.com/thieves-essential-oil-recipe-and-health-benefits
I have been cleaning with essential oils with doTERRA for several months. It’s crazy because I actually enjoy cleaning now. It used to seem like a chore. But, I have been using rosemary and lemon, which is an awesome combination. It just so happens these two essential oils are on your list, too.
I’m going to have to try using eucalyptus. I love it and didn’t realize it could help kill air born germs.
Oh my! I will be honest, I learn a LOT about essential oils from your website. I keep coming back again and again.
Not only did I start using essential oils to make my post-surgery recovery process smoother (thanks to your tips and advice) but apparently I can make my own cleaners? Amazing.
Here’s the thing about me. I always preferred more natural ways to everything (e.g. drinking warm water with lemon and honey when I am sick instead of taking drugs from the pharmacy).
But lately I became even more health-conscious when I realized how many things around us have chemical components in them. Like I was extremely mad when I found out that my favourite baby powder from Johnson&Johnson, actually had a cancer-causing component responsible for women’s reproductive organs problems. (Needless to say, there was a huge scandal/lawsuits around this).
Point is:
I became disappointed/sceptical of global companies claiming their products are safe and slowly trying to incorporate more natural ways to do stuff, whether it’s relieve my ankle/back pain using diffusers, make an ecologically clean shampoo or create my own cleaners with essential oils.
Usually, I have a lot of questions when I read guides but you made it all clear that I don’t have one today 🙂 I just wanted to stop by and show you my appreciation for all the work you do.
P.S. Loving the essential oils, definitely a great way to relieve myself of pain after the surgery. The advice you gave me a while ago really helped!
Hey Zarina,
Awesome to see that you have found essential oils and the benefits they can have.
A lot of people are like you and realize that they aren’t just for a scent to diffuse. In fact, there is just so much more to aromatherapy than using them in a diffuser.
Cleaning is by far one of the best ways to use essential oils. About a year ago I completely quit using store-bought cleaning products. They can be very bad for our health and putting together my favorite blends is a great way to keep my house smelling good and clean at the same time.
Unfortunately, as you have learned there are lots of chemicals in products. Not to mention lawsuits that stem from the cancer-causing properties in them.
It’s actually quite fun for me to create cleaning products with essential oils. I have bottles and bottles of cleaning stuff and love them.
These are some amazing products that can work wonders. What I love about cleaning products is not only the fresh clean sent but its ability to be able to eliminate germs as well. I do like the smell of rosemary. What do you recommend I blend it with?
I have heard it mixes good with peppermint. Do you agree?
Hey Norman,
You are correct that rosemary does mix well with peppermint. It’s actually one of my favorite blends to mix it with.
Also, try mixing it with lemongrass and bergamot.
I had absolutely no idea essential oils could be used for cleaning! It’s always something I associated more with relaxation and beauty.
This is a brilliant article and I will definitely start looking more into it, this article has been really helpful and made me consider making my own cleaning products instead of spending lots of money buying products.
I always assumed it would be quite complicated to make my own but it doesn’t actually sound that bad, you’ve really made it quite simple.
Hey Hannah,
Yeah, a lot of people are actually surprised that you can use essential oils to clean with. Aromatherapy is so much more than just putting in a diffuser. For instance, as you have stated many people think they are for relaxation, but they can be used to reduce anxiety, too. I have written about anxiety and stress, which you can check out here.
Hope it helps!
This is a great list!!! I just love essential oils, and I have a ton of bottles all over the house. I usually use them in several electronic diffusers I have in different rooms.
However, I love the exhaustive list you have just provided and with all the simple recipes, I will definitely try out some of them! They are a great natural way of getting things cleaned and what is even better is the smell that the essential oils will bring with it!
However, when using the daily cleaners are you supposed to spray and let it sit or just wipe the surface off?
Hey Denis,
I know what you’re talking about. I got hundreds of essential oils bottles and more than 5 electronic diffusers.
But, to answer your question that depends on what you are cleaning. For instance, if I am cleaning the bathroom I let it sit for 5 minutes. The essential oils will help break down the grime. Also, with degreaser I let it sit for a bit, too.
Another great thing about cleaning with essential oils is it leaves a nice scent afterword, which can have some therapeutic benefits.
This is an informative post. I truly learn a lot from reading your post. One thing that I really find it fascinating is how you could even use tea tree to clean with. Not only it is good for cleaning but it’s very good at killing all the bacteria, viruses and germs on the surfaces. This is unbelievable. I feel that I should give it a try. Are there different tea tree oils available? If so could you recommend the best one for me? Thanks.
Hey Kuu,
Tea tree is one of the best essential oils for killing germs. Did you know that diffusing tea tree can kill airborne germs?
There are a lot of different brands of tea tree essential oil, though.
There are a lot of brands that sell synthetic or adulterated essential oil. I have actually written an article on the best essential oil brands. Every company I mention sells quality essential oils.
Hope this helps.
Wow, this is crazy! I never knew essential oils could be used to clean with. My girl friend uses them. She swears that they actually help her emotionally, but I am not completely sold on it. Do you believe essential oils really help or is all just hype?
I have to admit I do like peppermint and bought my own and use it at home. My girlfriend made fun of me and told me now I was acting girly. But, I do love the smell and it seems to give me some sort of energy that I can’t describe.
Hey Kemdi21,
There is a lot of debate on whether or not essential oils help with emotions. I commonly hear that it’s just hype, a scam, or something that just completely made up. However, I have to say the people that say that don’t understand that there have been lots of studies on essential oils and emotions, moods, etc.
Essential oils can really help with stress and anxiety. I have actually written about it already.
Peppermint is actually a stimulating oil. This can explain your increased energy. It’s one of my favorite essential oils. Try mixing peppermint with rosemary when you are working or studying. It will help increase your focus and productivity.
Thanks for this. I have been looking for natural ways to use household cleaners and have used your homemade household cleaner. I used a combination of lemon and lime. I love the smell of it. It doesn’t smell like your typical household cleaner which is a good thing!
I will certainly be trying essential oils out in my laundry, too. I wasn’t even aware that you could use them for that.
Hey Paola,
Lemon and lime is an awesome mixture for cleaning with. It’s an uplifting scent, too. Personally, I love that combination.
Try out essential oils in your laundry and let me know how it works out for you.
Thanks a lot for these recipes for cleaning with essential oils. I am certainly going to have to try them out.
This weekend I am going to be shining up my floors. Can you use essential oils for cleaning floors, too? What would you recommend for cleaning the floors with, though?
Hey Chris,
There are ton of combinations you can use to clean floors with. It depends on what you want to do though. Here are some good combinations:
Lavender + Lemon.
Orange + Clove.
Eucalyptus + Grapefruit.
Peppermint + Orange.
Ingredients:
1 cup of white vinegar.
1 tablespoon of castile soap.
15-20 drops of essential oil.
I have found that mixing it all up in a spray bottle and then scrubbing the floor works better than using a bucket, though.