You’ve probably heard of using essential oils for everything from relaxation to migraine relief, but did you know they can also be used as a natural way to clean your house? I love the way essential oils make my house smell as I use them instead of typical cleaning products that are filled with chemicals.
Cleaning with essential oils is easy, affordable, and completely free of harmful toxins. Once you get used to the delightful aroma of these non toxic cleaning products, you’ll never want to pick up Lysol again.
Choosing the right essential oils
Essential oils are concentrated essences of a variety of plants and carry great antimicrobial qualities. And honestly, they smell heavenly.
When you’re shopping for essential oils, make sure to search for pure essential oils that have oil as their only ingredient. Unfortunately, there are many brands that tend to mix essential oils with other products, thus reducing their potency.
You should be able to find pure essential oils at your local health and wellness store or holistic vendor. And if you’re ever in doubt about the quality of an oil, don’t be afraid to ask questions!
How to properly dilute essential oils for cleaning
I have found that most DIY cleaners made from essential oils require dilution with water so that the solution does not irritate your skin, your senses, or your furry companions. Always be sure to follow the directions on the label.
The general rule for cleaning with essential oils is to combine 10 drops of the oil with 1 cup of water. You can find small spray bottles at your favorite retailer that are labeled 237 mL (which is equivalent to 1 cup).
Another fun way to use these non toxic cleaning products is to try combining two or more essential oils for unique scents and multiple uses. For example, you can mix peppermint and eucalyptus for a great mood booster. You’ll be extra happy as you groove around your squeaky clean house.
5 essential oils to detox your household cleaning
While essential oils are versatile and can be used in a variety of ways, each essential oil serves a specific purpose when it comes to making your house shine. Here are my top 5 recommendations for cleaning with essential oils.
1. Eucalyptus essential oil
Eucalyptus oil not only smells clean–it proves to be a great natural germ killer. This makes it ideal for smelly bathrooms or neglected kitchens, where pests are sure to find those days-old crumbs.
Want to boost the scent of your clothes in the washer? Put a few drops of eucalyptus oil in your next wash cycle for a natural, clean smell.
You can also freshen up hard-to-clean items like your mattress and your little one’s favorite stuffed animals by combining eucalyptus essential oil with baking soda and scrubbing them gently.
Similar to eucalyptus oil, lavender oil smells wonderful and can soothe your worries while you are doing your household cleaning. You might even find yourself looking forward to this relaxing ritual.
2. Lavender essential oil
Since lavender oil is a natural antibacterial agent, you can use about 5-10 drops to wash your dishes. It’s much less likely to irritate your skin than a typical dishwashing liquid.
Combining 5 to 10 drops of lavender essential oil with a cup of white vinegar will help cut through grease and disinfect surfaces. White vinegar alone doesn’t smell that great, so adding lavender essential oil really helps reduce the potency of the vinegar smell.
3. Lemon essential oil
As both antiviral and antibacterial, this citrus bomb is sure to not only degrease surfaces and items around your abode, but also enliven your surroundings and revitalize your senses.
Try combining 5 to 10 drops of pure lemon essential oil with a cup of water in a spray bottle and simply spray around your house or let the mist fall onto porous surfaces like a fabric couch to awaken your room with a natural splendor.
Your kitchen can become grimy over weeks of cooking, so spray this same combination onto greasy or sticky areas. After letting it sit for a minute or so, use some elbow grease to scrub out the grime.
4. Pine essential oil
Maybe you’re accustomed to using Pine-Sol to clean floors and other surfaces. Well, pure pine essential oil is a non toxic alternative that can be used to do the same things.
Just place a few drops in some hot water and use it to clean your floors. It kills yeast spores, E.coli, and other common household germs. Not only that, you’ll bask in the natural and fresh scent that comes from the essential oil.
You can also use pine essential oil to take care of the mold and mildew that might be accumulating in your bathrooms. Make sure to get rid of any mold you see so that you’re not breathing in toxins from the mold spores.
5. Peppermint essential oil
A natural bacteria fighter, pure peppermint essential oil mixed with water makes a great standard spray cleaner for your house. Keep it handy for wiping counters after meals and cleaning up spills. You can use this same mixture as a natural deodorant as well.
If you have issues with ants or spiders, try combining 10-15 drops of peppermint oil with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Then, shake well and spray in the cracks and crevices of your house to deter these pesky critters without harming them.
Invite peace into your cleaning process
Exposing yourself, your children, and your pets to the harmful chemicals commonly used to clean a household can poorly affect your health and theirs, especially over a lifetime of use. And some of these cleaners are just too harsh, especially on your skin.
I hope this information inspires you to clean your house naturally and positively change your mood at the same time for a more peaceful cleaning process.
What essential oil is your new favorite?
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XO – Serena
