Looking for a safe and natural way to clean your home? You can get rid of all the toxic chemical cleaning products and enjoy natural cleaning with just use a few natural ingredients. Here you will learn all about natural cleaning plus get 20 DIY Essential Oil Cleaning Recipes!
Natural ingredients are not just better for your health but also much easier on the budget, saving you money! These inexpensive, non-toxic cleaning solutions will also leave your home smelling fresh and clean. What chemical cleaner can say that?
While cleaning is not one of my things, homemade cleaning can actually be fun. I enjoy any reason to use my essential oils so having DIY cleaning recipes using essential oils makes me happy.
Once you make over your cleaning routine you will enjoy a naturally clean home that is environmentally friendly and safe for your family.
Must-Have DIY Natural Cleaning Ingredients
Here is a list of ingredients we use in our homemade cleaning essential oil recipes, you may have some already in your home.
Castile Soap
Lifts dirt and grime, cuts grease and tough stains. This is a must-have for any DIY soap recipes. Perfect for foaming soaps, laundry detergents, homemade dish soaps, and other natural cleaning recipes. Dr. Bronner's is my favorite unscented castile soap. It will last a while and is very cost-effective. Buy Here
Baking Soda
Baking soda is great for absorbing and eliminating odors around the home. It also offers gentle scrubbing action so you can also use it for cleaning countertops, sinks, and tubs. Buy Here
White Vinegar
Buy the big jug of this stuff because you will need it, plus it is a super cheap cleaning ingredient. White vinegar is used in many natural cleaning recipes because it is naturally antibacterial and antifungal. Plus it can cut grease and grime and dissolve mineral deposits. Avoid using on natural stone surfaces like granite, marble, or soapstone because the acid can damage these natural surfaces over time. Buy Here
Olive Oil
You probably have this ingredient in your kitchen. I use a local olive oil for cooking, but would not use my specialty brand for cleaning. Use olive oil as a natural cleaner and polisher for wood and leather surfaces. Buy Here
Microfiber Cloths
You can use microfiber cloths on a variety of cleaning jobs. They are especially useful for windows, mirrors, dusting, and countertops. These clothes absorb better than regular towels and leave a streak-free surface. They are also soft and non-abrasive so they will not scratch paint or other surfaces. Buy Here
Glass Spray Bottles
Glass spray bottles are best for cleaning. 8 oz is the perfect size to use because it is enough for several cleaning sessions and not too big and bulky. I like to make new cleaners every 1-2 months so this size fits within that timing. Buy Here
Salt
Table salt is effective for scouring hard surfaces because it is naturally abrasive. Salt can get out rust, soap scum and grime. It is also good for erupting overflowing bubbles, like from a wash machine or dishwasher, just sprinkle on the bubbles.
Borax
While the name always made me think this was a toxic ingredient, I found out it was a naturally occurring mineral (aka sodium borate). Borax has been used for over 100 years household cleaning and use in laundry. It doesn’t harm the environment or absorb through the skin. It can be toxic if ingested so keep away from kids. Use as a laundry booster, stain remover, toilet cleaner and more. Buy Here
Vodka
Vodka is a natural disinfectant. It can help clean the surface and naturally eliminate odors. I prefer over using vodka over rubbing alcohol in my recipes. I just use the cheap stuff for my DIY recipes. I also will use grain alcohol as a preservative for room sprays and air fresheners.
Vegetable Glycerin
Vegetable glycerin is useful in essential oil recipes. It can thicken DIY recipes and moisturize the skin. Frequently used in soaps, air fresheners, Poo Pourri's, and more. Buy Here
Some other ingredients used frequently in DIY cleaners are lemon juice, washing soda, and hydrogen peroxide.
Best Essential Oils for Cleaning
Essential oils offer natural cleansing and purifying properties. Best essential oil for cleaning is any citrus oil
- Lemon essential oil
- Orange essential oil
- Lime essential oil
- Lavender essential oil
- Tea tree oil (melaleuca)
- Peppermint essential oil
- Spearmint essential oil
- White fir essential oil
- Eucalyptus essential oil
20 DIY Essential Oil Cleaning Recipes
Looking for ways to clean your house naturally? Check out these 20 essential oil cleaning recipes! From all-purpose cleaners to carpet fresheners, there's sure to be a recipe here that fits your needs. Plus, using essential oils for cleaning is a great way to get the benefits of aromatherapy while you work!
1. Lime Essential Oil Soft Scrub |
Directions: Mix ingredients together in a bowl, use immediately to clean stovetop, sinks, tubs. Store any leftover mixture in a glass jar. |
2. Peppermint Daily Shower Spray |
Directions: Combine all ingredients into the glass spray bottle and shake to mix. To use, shake well, and spray in the shower and on walls every day, no rinse required. |
3. Homemade All-Purpose Surface Cleaner |
Directions: Combine all ingredients in a glass spray bottle and shake to combine. To use, shake well and spray on the desired surface and wipe clean. |
4. Tea Tree Toilet Cleaner |
Directions: Add vinegar to the glass spray bottle, set aside. Add baking soda, salt, and tea tree oil together in a shaker container and mix together. Spray vinegar in the toilet bowl, then sprinkle in the powder mix. Let fizz reaction occur, add more vinegar if needed. Let sit for 15 minutes. Scrub with a toilet brush. Flush when done. |
5. Tea Tree Cleaning Wipes |
Directions: Cut paper towel in half with a serrated knife, using half now. Save the other half for the second batch you make. Combine water, essential oil, and castile soap in a small bowl. Place paper roll half into the container with a lid. Pour mixture over paper towels and let soak in for 10 minutes. Turn the container over and let sit for another 10 minutes. Remove the cardboard tube from paper towels and discard them. Pull wipes from the center of the roll when ready to use. Keep covered with a lid when not in use. If no container available, you can use a large ziplock bag for wipes. |
6. Pine Floor Cleaner |
Directions: Place all ingredients into a mop bucket or kitchen sink with a closed drain. Use the mop to clean floors with cleaning solution, no need to rinse off, allow to air dry. |
7. Dusting Spray |
Directions: Combine all ingredients except water in a spray bottle. Swirl to combine. Fill the rest of the bottle with water. Screw on top and shake to combine. To use, shake and lightly mist onto microfiber cloth. Wipe down desired area. |
8. Simple Furniture Polish |
Directions: Mix together in bottle and shake to combine. To use, squirt several pumps on microfiber cloth and wipe wood surface clean. Furniture polishing only needs to be done every 1-2 months. Keep clean between times with dusting spray above or wiping down with a damp microfiber cloth. |
9. Stain Remover Spray Recipe for Clothes |
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10. All Natural Disinfecting Spray |
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11. Window Spray Cleaner |
Directions: Combine all ingredients except water in glass bottle, swirl to combine. Fill rest of bottle with water. Place on spray top, shake to combine. Use with microfiber clothes for best results. |
12. Refrigerator and Microwave Cleaner |
Directions: Combine the ingredients in glass bottle. Shake well and spray mixture inside fridge or microwave, then scrub and wipe using damp cloth. Alternative method for microwave cleaning: Heat a cup of water in microwave safe container with 3 drops of Lemon oil for 4 minutes or until the point of steaming. Let sit for about 5 minutes, then remove the cup. Caution-HOT. Wipe down the microwave with a clean cloth |
13. Mold & Mildew Cleaner |
Directions: Combine all ingredients in glass bottle and shake to blend. Shake well before use. Spray on problem area and let sit for 15 minutes. Wipe clean with damp microfiber cloth. |
14. Homemade Citrus Dish Soap |
Directions: Place all ingredients in a glass bowl and gently whisk until blended together. Using a funnel, pour into the 8 oz. bottle. To use, add a few squirts to dish water as the sink is filling or place a small amount on a washcloth to handwash dishes. |
15. Shower Head Cleaner |
Directions: Remove shower head and place into ziplock bag, add vinegar and lemon oil to bag and let soak for a few hours. If you are unable to remove the shower head, you can place the vinegar and oil in bag and then put the bag over the shower head and use a rubber band to hold in place while it soaks (be sure not to over fill the bag, you only need enough to cover the head) |
16. Bed Bug Mattress Spray |
Directions: Combine all ingredients into the glass spray bottle and shake to mix. To use, shake well and spray on the mattress, let air dry. Once dry. |
17. Garbage Disposal Cleaning Bombs |
Directions: Combine baking soda and salt in a bowl, mix together. Add soap and essential oils into the mixture, blend together. Slowly add water to mix while stirring, the goal is a consistency like damp sand. You want the mixture to stay together when pressed together. Too wet? Add more baking soda. Too dry? Add more water. Do this until the consistency is correct. Form the mixture into balls with hands or use a tablespoon, pack it full of mixture and then place on wax paper. Let balls or spoonfuls dry until harden, usually done in 24 hours. Store in a large, recycled glass container and use the next time your disposal needs a cleaning! Just place one bomb into the disposal, turn on the water, and then turn on the disposal. |
18. Grime & Grease Remover |
Directions: Place 1 cup of vinegar into glass spray bottle, set aside. Mix lemon and baking soda together and place in to empty spice shaker, set aside. First, spray the grime built up area with vinegar spray. Second, sprinkle essential oil baking soda onto area (perfect for under appliances like microwave, refrigerator, tops of kitchen cabinets). Then spray area again with vinegar spray and allow reaction to occur. Let sit for 15 minutes. Lastly, wipe clean with paper towels. Repeat if needed for any stubborn areas. |
19. Natural Stovetop Cleaner |
Directions: Stir all ingredients together until they form a paste and spread it over the stove top and burners. Leave it on for 15 minutes or longer for hard-to-remove stains. Using a sponge, scrub the mixture into the grime. Remove excess cleaner and wipe surface clean. |
20. Lavender Foaming Hand Soap |
Directions: Add soap, essential oils and olive oil into bottle, swirl to gently mix together. Add water to bottle and place pump top on bottle. Shake well to mix. To use, pump twice into palm of hand and lather well, rinse off and dry hands. |
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