Essential Oils For Cleaning And Disinfecting

DIY Cleaning Recipes That Actually Clean With Amazing Results!

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE essential oils, and while I may not LOVE to clean, I do thoroughly enjoy living in a clean space. Not only does cleaning and disinfecting with essential oils make your home smell wonderful, but believe it or not, these are some DIY recipes that actually clean!

Cleaning your family’s home without excessive harsh, nasty chemicals can set your mind at ease. You can also save yourself a pretty penny as most of the ingredients are not expensive to buy. Amazing right?

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Why Essential Oils For Cleaning And Disinfecting?

Why essential oils? Not only do they smell amazing but they are very potent when it comes to cleaning! Citrus-based essential oils, in particular, can really do a job at breaking down all that grease and grime. They are natural, chemical-free, and equally as important, they are super effective! I mean, they ACTUALLY get the job done!

Lemon essential oil is an absolute MUST-HAVE in any DIY cleaning kit since it has disinfectant and anti-fungal properties. It can eliminate mold, mildew and all kinds of other gross stuff that you definitely don’t want hanging around your home. Nothing smells cleaner than lemon!

Be sure the essential oil you use is 100% pure and not just a perfumed oil. Also, be mindful of the concentration you use. These oils are potent and a little goes a long way!

Never use the essential oil straight out of the bottle when cleaning as doing so could risk damaging some surfaces. When using essential oils for any purpose they should always be diluted. Use a carrier oil, like jojoba (for topical use), or in this case with water for making your very own DIY cleaning recipes.

What Are The Best-Smelling Essential Oils For Cleaning?

Lavender is one of my all-time favourite essential oils for cleaning and disinfecting. Others include lime, lemon, wild orange, geranium, grapefruit, eucalyptus, peppermint, and thieves.

Experiment with different combos and see what you like best! The possibilities are endless.

Made with budget-friendly ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda, and plain old dish soap, these recipes are also very easy on your wallet.

If you have pets (especially cats), be careful which oils and the potency of the ratio you use as it could be seriously harmful to their health. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association can provide some excellent information on pet-safe essential oils.

There are also some essential oils that should not be used by pregnant women, so if this is a concern please consult your doctor or medical practitioner.

*NOTE* When making your essential oils cleaning recipes, always add the oils last and be sure to shake well.

Cleaning Supplies Start-Up List

• Spray Bottles (various sizes will work but be sure to get one large one ie. 28oz)
• Flathead Mop
• Flathead mop pads
• Microfibre cloths
• Baking Soda
• White Vinegar
• Dish Soap**
• Castile soap
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Essential Oils (eg. lemon, orange, tea-tree, lavender)
• ** if a recipe calls for dish soap do NOT substitute Castile soap. They are not interchangeable and Castile soap mixed with vinegar turns into a slimy mess.

So, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty, shall we? Here are some of my favorite DIY essential oil recipes for cleaning and disinfecting.

GROUT CLEANER

This one is super easy and so effective! My poor grout was filthy and this works without a lot of elbow grease. Just eyeball the ingredients on this mixture.

• In a small dish start with baking soda, then add hydrogen peroxide until you get a bit of a runny paste, like a slurry. DO NOT USE VINEGAR, as the acid can be too harsh and break down the grout.
• Add around 8 drops of peppermint, geranium, or thieves essential oil.
• Using a cleaning toothbrush simply rub it along the grout lines and let sit for 5-10 minutes.
• Scrub gently, then wipe away with a clean damp cloth.

You will be amazed at how well this works, and you will actually see the color your grout started out as!

ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER

This is an all-purpose cleaner that can be used on just about every surface of your home. It’s super versatile and safe.

• In your spray bottle start with 2 c. of hot water.

• Add 1/2 tsp of dish soap
• Add 20 or so drops of your favorite essential oil.
• I love lemon for this one lemon but a little lavender mixed in smells awesome in this as well.

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DIY THIEVES CLEANER

Of all my essential oils cleaning recipes, this is hands down my Go-To. I use thieves on just about everything!! This is a simple all-purpose cleaner that I can not live without.

If you prefer you can make your own Thieves from scratch but I usually use the Young Living brand.

• 2-ounce spray bottle ( glass preferably because essential oils can break down plastic but honestly I use plastic because I go through it so quickly!)
• 15 drops of Thieves essential oil
• 1 teaspoon witch hazel
• 2 oz hot water
• Shake well and spray away!
• Wipe with a damp non-scratch sponge or microfibre cloth.

* CAUTION * the scent can be highly addictive and you may just start carrying this bottle on your hip like a sidearm!

For Larger jobs grab yourself a bottle of this premixed Thieves cleaner concentrate. I use this on my ceramic tile floors and a little goes a long way!

Fridge Cleaner

We all know how crusty the fridge can get, and you definitely don’t want to spray harsh chemicals around your food!

In a clean spray bottle add:

• 1 c. hot water
• 1/2 c. white vinegar
• 1/2 Tsp. dish soap ( I like blue Dawn but really any quality dish soap is fine)
• 20 drops of lemon essential oil
• Shake well
• Start by spritzing the inside of the fridge liberally with the solution
• Let it sit for a few minutes to get the lemon to start breaking down the gunk. The more the product does the hard work, the less elbow grease YOU will have to apply!
• Then, simply wipe down with a clean damp microfibre cloth.

Lemon essential oil cuts grease wonderfully and your fridge will smell amazing. Say goodbye to stinky fridge odor!

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HARDWOOD

Now listen, I understand if you have brand-new flooring and aren’t super comfortable using a DIY cleaner on them. However, if you are like us and your floors have been lived on and loved over time this may be for you.

In a large spray bottle, combine:

• 2 c. Hot water
• 1/2 c. White vinegar
• 1/2 tsp. dish soap
• 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil. YL Thieves is my favorite for this recipe!
• Spritz a section of the floor LIGHTLY
• Using a flathead mop, go over the floor in an up and down “V” pattern going the same direction as the grain. This prevents you from going over the clean part with the dirty mop.
• If your floor is particularly dirty you may have to use a few mop pads.
• When finished you can go over the entire floor with a microfibre cloth on the flat mop head to give it a good shine.

Homeocan Essencia Pine, Fir, and Eucalyptus Mist Refreshing mist with icy eucalyptus notes mixed with the green scent of pine and fir needles.Spray freely to help clear respiratory passages and purify the air.    Ingredients:  Orange solution (Ethyl alcohol,Orange essential oil), Eucalyptus globulus essential oil, Fir essential oil,Isobornyl acetate, Pine essential oil

LAMINATE FLOORING

Laminate is NOT the same as hardwood and in order to prevent a haze from forming when the floor dries, use this recipe.

• 1/2 c. Hot water

• 1/2 c. Rubbing alcohol

• 1/2 c. White vinegar

• 10 drops of essential oil of your choice

You can do the same as above with the flathead mop or if you would rather, use a regular wet mop first then use a dry flathead mop with a microfibre cloth for a brilliant shine.

A TIP ON MICROFIBRE CLOTHS: Regardless of which brand you choose, always wash them separately from other towels and clothing and don’t use fabric softener on them. They are sort of in a class by themselves and mixing them up or using dryer sheets OR liquid fabric softener will lessen the quality of the fibers.

GRANITE CLEANER

Vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda are no-nos when it comes to granite. And regular dish soap can leave a dull film. And while most essential oils are fine when diluted down, I would personally not use lemon. Test in a small inconspicuous area first to be sure.

Again, just like I recommended for hardwood, if your counters are brand new and you aren’t comfortable using a DIY product on them, by all means, skip this one.

In a 16 oz. spray bottle combine:

• ½ c. rubbing alcohol ( you can actually substitute vodka here, I save the vodka for cocktails though)

• 1 and ½ c. water

• ½ tsp castile soap

• 7 drops wild orange essential oil

• 20 drops thieves essential oil

• Shake well to combine and also before each use. Spritz liberally on your granite counter and wipe gently with a microfiber cloth. Lastly, buff it up with a dry microfibre cloth to finish. It will be gleaming!

SOAP SCUM CLEANER TUB AND TILE PASTE

The best way to keep soap scum from building up is to use a good-quality squeegee on the tub and shower walls immediately after every shower! Then leave the curtain open with the fan running or a window open for a good half hour. I find this extends my time between deep cleaning the shower and tub.

But when you do need to get rid of that scummy scum, try this!

This is a one-time-use product so you can just eyeball the ingredients and just make as much as you need.

• In a small container mix up equal parts baking soda and dish soap
• Add enough hydrogen peroxide to make a paste consistency
• Add 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil
• Dip a damp sponge in the mixture and wipe it all over the tub and tiles
• Let sit for about 15 minutes
• Using a non-scratch sponge go over any stubborn areas
• To finish, simply rinse with hot water (If you have a handheld showerhead, this makes it super easy to rinse).

Using a daily shower spray and a squeegee can make a huge difference on how often you need to deep clean the shower and tub.

Tea tree oil is one of the MOST AMAZING essential oils for cleaning and disinfecting and will help prevent mold and mildew from forming.

DAILY SHOWER SPRAY RECIPE

In an 8 oz. spray bottle combine:

• 1/2 c. Water

• 1 c. White vinegar

• 20 drops of tea tree essential oil

• Shake well before each use and spray tub and tiles after every shower.

GLASS CLEANER

In a 16 oz. spray bottle combine:

• • 3 cups distilled water

• • 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol or vodka

• • 1/4 cup vinegar

• • 20 drops peppermint or spearmint essential oil

• Spritz glass surface generously then wipe with a microfibre cloth

Thymes Wood Cleaning Spray Frasier Fir Refresh wood surfaces while bringing a touch of the outdoors in.Biodegradable cleansing agents and extracts of fennel and parsley effectively remove dust while coconut oil safely conditions and adds shine to all your home’s sealed wood surfaces.

ESSENTIAL OILS ARE AMAZING FOR CLEANING & DISINFECTING!

If you are getting into the wonderful world of essential oils and looking for some of the best ones for cleaning and disinfecting, I hope you find something here that tickles your fancy. The great thing about these is that they are made with all-natural ingredients, smell amazing, and cost SO MUCH LESS than store-bought cleaning products.

The BEST thing about them is that THEY ACTUALLY CLEAN!

I hope you are inspired by these DIY recipes to get mixing and shakin’… just crank up the tunes and start cleaning!

What are some of your go-to essential oils for cleaning? We are always on the lookout for new DIY recipes and scent combos over here. Let us know in the comments!

Until next time, K.

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