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The most common natural cleaning mistakes are mixing ingredients that react, like vinegar with bleach, hydrogen peroxide or castile soap, and using vinegar or citrus on stone countertops. People also expect homemade cleaners to disinfect the way a registered product does. Below I walk you through what never to mix, which surfaces to be careful with, the cleaning habits that make the biggest difference, and how to store your homemade cleaners safely. Jump to what never to mix.
Looking for recipes? You'll find all my favorites in 20 essential oil cleaning recipes. This guide is the how-to-use-them-safely companion.
My golden rules for natural cleaning
- Mix one cleaner per bottle, and never combine cleaners on a surface.
- Keep vinegar and citrus off granite, marble and other natural stone.
- Test every new cleaner on a hidden spot first.
- Label every bottle with what's in it and the date you made it.
- Use a registered disinfectant when you truly need to sanitize.
Cleaning Ingredients You Should Never Mix
Natural doesn't mean nothing can go wrong. Some common cleaning ingredients react with each other, and a few combinations release harmful gases.
| Don't mix | What happens | Do this instead |
| Vinegar and bleach | Releases chlorine gas, which is dangerous to breathe. | Never use them together or one right after the other on the same surface. |
| Bleach and ammonia | Releases toxic chloramine gas. Many glass cleaners contain ammonia. | Keep bleach completely separate from other cleaners. |
| Bleach and rubbing alcohol | Forms chloroform and other harmful compounds. | Use one or the other, never both. |
| Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide in one bottle | Forms peracetic acid, which can irritate your skin, eyes and lungs. | Keep them in separate bottles. |
| Vinegar or lemon juice and castile soap | The acid breaks the soap down into a greasy, clumpy mess, so neither one works. | Clean with soap first, then rinse with vinegar if you want. |
| Baking soda and vinegar in a closed bottle | They fizz and build up pressure, which can pop the lid. They also cancel each other out once the fizzing stops. | Combine them only in the open, right where you're cleaning, like a drain or toilet bowl. |
Learn more about why castile soap and vinegar don't mix in my guide to the benefits of castile soap.
Surfaces to Be Careful With
A cleaner that works beautifully on one surface can dull, scratch or stain another. Here's my quick guide.
| Surface | Avoid | Use instead |
| Granite, marble, travertine and other natural stone | Vinegar, lemon juice, citrus-heavy cleaners and gritty scrubs. Acid can dull and etch stone. | Warm water with a little castile soap, then dry with a soft cloth. |
| Hardwood floors and furniture | Soaking wet mops, vinegar left sitting, and cleaners that leave oily buildup. | A barely damp mop or cloth, and the finish maker's recommendations. |
| Stainless steel | Abrasive pads, salt scrubs and bleach. | Mild soap and water, wiping in the direction of the grain. |
| Glass and mirrors | Castile soap, which can leave a film. | A vinegar or rubbing alcohol spray with a microfiber cloth. |
| Glass cooktops | Salt and scouring pads, which can scratch. | A baking soda paste and a soft cloth on a cool cooktop. |
| Fiberglass tubs and showers | Heavy scrubbing with salt or scouring pads. | A gentle baking soda paste and a soft sponge. |
| Plastic, painted and finished surfaces | Undiluted essential oils, especially citrus, which can soften or cloud some finishes. | Properly diluted cleaners, tested on a hidden spot. |
| Electronics and screens | Spraying anything directly on the device. | Follow the maker's cleaning directions, and spray your cloth, not the screen. |
Cleaning Habits That Make a Big Difference
Not shaking the bottle
Essential oils float on top of water and vinegar. Give your spray a good shake every time you use it so the oils are spread through the cleaner.
Spraying and wiping right away
For stuck-on grime, soap scum or grease, let the cleaner sit for 5 to 10 minutes before you wipe. That dwell time lets it loosen the mess, so you scrub less.
Wiping in circles
Circles tend to push dirt around. Wipe in overlapping "S" strokes from the clean side to the dirty side, and fold your cloth to a fresh side as you go.
Using dirty or softened cloths
Wash microfiber cloths often, and skip fabric softener and dryer sheets, which coat the fibers so they don't grab dirt as well.
Using too much
More soap means more rinsing and more residue. More essential oil doesn't clean better either. It can leave surfaces slick and make the scent overwhelming for kids and pets. Stick to the amounts in the recipe.
Skipping the spot test
Before using a new cleaner on wood, upholstery, stone or anything you love, try it on a hidden spot. If you see dulling or discoloration, switch to plain soap and water.
Storage Mistakes to Avoid
- Not labeling bottles. A clear liquid in a spray bottle could be anything a month from now. Write the ingredients and the date on every bottle.
- Reusing old cleaner bottles without washing them. Leftover residue, especially bleach, can react with your new cleaner. Wash bottles well, or start with new ones.
- Storing hydrogen peroxide in a clear bottle. Light breaks it down. I keep it in its original brown bottle and just swap on a spray top.
- Keeping water-based cleaners too long. Cleaners made with soap and water can spoil. Make small batches, and toss anything that looks cloudy or smells off.
- Storing essential oil cleaners in thin plastic. Essential oils can break down some plastics over time, so I use glass spray bottles.
- Leaving cleaners within reach. Homemade doesn't mean safe to swallow. Store every cleaner and essential oil out of reach of children and pets.
When Homemade Cleaners Aren't Enough
Homemade cleaners are wonderful for everyday dirt, grease, soap scum and odors. Soap and a good cloth lift dirt and germs off surfaces so they can be wiped or rinsed away. But homemade mixes aren't tested or registered as disinfectants, and essential oils aren't a substitute for one.
When you need to sanitize, I reach for a registered disinfectant and follow the label, including how long the surface needs to stay wet. That includes:
- Cutting boards and counters after raw meat, poultry or eggs
- When someone in the house is sick
- Mold that covers more than a small spot or keeps coming back (and fix the moisture source)
Essential Oil Safety When Cleaning
- Follow kid ages for the oils in your cleaners. I don't use peppermint or rosemary around children under 6, or eucalyptus around children under 10.
- Let surfaces and floors dry before kids and pets touch them. Cats are especially sensitive to essential oils like tea tree and citrus.
- Wash your hands after mixing cleaners, and wear gloves if your skin is sensitive.
- Never ingest essential oils.
Find more in my essential oil safety tips. Older oils that have passed their prime for skin care are great in cleaners. Here's how to tell if your essential oils have expired.
Making the Switch to Natural Cleaning
You don't have to clear out your cleaning cabinet overnight. I suggest finishing each store-bought bottle and replacing it with a homemade version when it runs out. That keeps things from feeling overwhelming and doesn't waste anything.
Start with one easy recipe, like an all-purpose spray, and build from there. My top 5 essential oils for cleaning is a great place to choose your first oils.
More Natural Cleaning Posts
- 20 Essential Oil Cleaning Recipes
- Top 5 Essential Oils for Cleaning Naturally
- Benefits of Castile Soap
- Essential Oils and Castile Soap Recipes
- Lemon Essential Oil for Cleaning
- Fall Essential Oil Cleaning Spray
Ready to make your own cleaners? My Aromatherapy Supply Kits have the glass bottles and supplies you need, and my free essential oil guides are full of recipes.
