The Best Essential Oils for Cleaning Your Home Naturally
If you’ve heard of essential oils, it is likely that you associate them with self-care routines like aromatherapy and relaxing massages. You may be surprised to learn, however, that these little oils can also be powerful cleaning tools that can be used around the home. Essential oils have antifungal, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties that make them incredibly effective at domestic cleaning.
The quality of essential oils varies wildly, though, so it is important that genuine essential oils are used for the best results in the home. Read on to learn all you need to know about some of the best essential oils for your home and the different ways you can use them.
Best Essential Oils for Natural Cleaning
While all essential oils have their own beneficial properties, some are simply better than others at household cleaning. Let’s take a look at some of our favorites:
1. Lavender
Lavender essential oil has a beautiful floral fragrant scent made through the distillation from the flowers. This oil is widely known for its relaxing properties and has been used in cosmetic skin care products as well as in sleep-inducing massage oils for many years. Beyond its captivating and relaxing scent, it is also filled with antibacterial and deodorizing properties which are great for household cleaning. It can be a great alternative if you don’t like the medicinal scents of other essential oils.
How to use: For cleaning, you can use a few drops with water in a spray bottle to create your go-to disinfecting spray. If you’re used to wiping down food surfaces like the dining table or your baby’s high chair with chemical spray, then lavender is your natural alternative. It can also be fantastic for deodorizing your rugs and carpets. Simply add a few drops to baking soda and sprinkle over your carpet and leave it for a few minutes. Vacuum it up and enjoy the new and refreshing floral scents in your home.
Best Lavender Oil: Our favorite choice of lavender oil is Majestic Pure Lavender Oil. This oil is steam distilled, 100% pure, and contains high-grade therapeutic quality lavender from France and Bulgaria. The generous 4 fl.oz bottle includes a dropper for easy transfer of the oil to smaller vessels, making it simple for use around the home.
| Lavender Essential Oil | Majestic Pure Lavender Oil |
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2. Lemon
This fresh, citrus delight is a wonderful essential oil and fundamental to natural cleaning routines. It has antibacterial properties that make it handy for cleaning surfaces. In fact, studies have shown that lemon essential oil can prevent the growth of harmful bacteria like listeria. For this reason it is a must-have for keeping your kitchen free from germs. Lemon oil, like lemon juice, is widely known for its anti-grease capabilities, making it effective at removing stubborn stains. The clean scent of lemon also makes it perfect for neutralizing bad odors.
How to use: For cleaning you can use a few drops with olive oil to make a natural wood polish. It is also wonderful for deodorizing the refrigerator, destroying undesirable smells, and getting stubborn stains out of clothing. A few drops on the affected area or directly into your detergent before washing will produce wondrous results. A few drops in a water mister makes an effective bathroom and kitchen air refresher to keep your home feeling clean and uplifting at all times.
Best lemon oil: If you are looking for a high-quality lemon oil, ArtNaturals Therapeutic-Grade Lemon Essential Oil is our top choice. This vegan-friendly essential oil is cold-pressed, pure and undiluted, and features a built-in dropper and leak-proof cap to make it perfect for use all around the home.
| Lemon Essential Oil | ArtNaturals Therapeutic-Grade Lemon Essential Oil |
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3. Tea Tree
Tea tree oil, also known as Melaleuca alternifolia, is made from the distillation of leaves from the tea tree plant. It is a potent oil with antibacterial and antiviral properties, which means it can help fight germs and bacteria in the home. It has a fresh, woody, and clean smell that some may find to be medicinal; this well-rounded cleaning agent, though, is worth having at your disposal. It is also a useful insecticide and can help ward off any unwanted creepy crawlies.
How to use: For household cleaning, you can make an all-purpose cleaner by combining 1 part white vinegar, 1 part water, and a few drops of tea tree oil. You can use this as a disinfecting spray to clean surfaces at home. In addition, if you have a problem with insects, then putting a few drops in some water and spraying it around the home is a good alternative to pest control products to keep lice and other creepy crawlies at bay. It is also a fantastic shower cleaner with a powerful ability to keep away mold. Simply combine it with white vinegar, castile soap, and a few drops of tea tree essential oil.
Best tea tree oil: We recommend Eve Hansen Organic Tea Tree Oil as our top choice for use around the home. This USDA certified organic essential oil has been rigorously tested to ensure the only the highest quality grade of oil makes the bottle. It is also cruelty free, vegan friendly, and doesn’t contain any parabens or sulphates.
| Tea Tree Essential Oil | Eve Hansen Organic Tea Tree Oil |
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4. Peppermint
Peppermint is a delightful and revitalizing mint fragrance. It has a pleasant and uplifting aroma which can help open the airways and act as a wonderful air deodorizer. Like many essential oils, it also has antibacterial properties which make it a useful addition to your home cleaning cupboard.
Much like tea tree, peppermint is a strong scent that insects such as ants and cockroaches dislike, which makes it particularly handy in hot or humid climates which are prone to household insect infestations. Peppermint is a fantastic cleaning agent on its own, but when mixed alongside eucalyptus oil, this compound is highly effective and will leave you in need of little else for household chores.
How to use: To keep insects away, simply shake a few drops in a bottle with water and spray into any nooks and crannies where ants and spiders are to be found. For general antibacterial cleaning benefits, simply spray this formula on surfaces and wipe down. You can also use this spray on clean linen to freshen rooms in your home and create a positive and uplifting atmosphere.
Best Peppermint oil: If you would like to give peppermint oil a try in your home, Healing Solutions Peppermint Oil is our top pick. This therapeutic grade, 100% pure essential oil undergoes stringent tests in FDA approved facilities to ensure the best quality results. Because it is such a high-grade oil, the scent and concentration are very strong, so you won’t need to use much to get the effect you want.
| Peppermint Essential Oil | Healing Solutions Peppermint Oil |
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5. Oregano
This essential oil is made from the dried leaves and shoots of the oregano plant. The oil is extracted and concentrated by steam distillation, which is a common process in the making of essential oils. Oregano essential oil contains compounds which have powerful antioxidant properties. The antibacterial properties in this oil are particularly profound and therefore can have a positive impact on your home cleaning routine. It is strong enough to inhibit the growth of potentially fatal bacteria such as E coli, which makes it perfect for cleaning your kitchen surfaces before preparing food.
How to use: To make a natural oregano oil disinfectant spray, you can use a few drops in a spray water bottle and use it to wipe down surfaces that come into contact with food. Studies have also shown it to be very effective at eliminating harmful bacteria when used in hand soap. You can also use it as a general disinfectant in your bathroom, as well as an overall air freshener.
Best Oregano oil: Our favorite oregano essential oil is Ola Prima Oregano Essential Oil. Coming in a large 4 oz bottle, this oregano essential oil is of therapeutic grade and comes packaged in a UV resistant glass bottle to extend shelf life; a handy dropper is also included for ease of use.
| Oregano Essential Oil | Ola Prima Oregano Essential Oil |
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6. Eucalyptus
This refreshing scent has been long used to help soothe coughs and colds. For this reason, it is often found in flu remedies. Diffused in the air, eucalyptus can relieve blocked sinuses effectively, clear your head, and help you breathe easier. In addition, it has potent cleaning properties which can be used around your home as an alternative to chemical products. It has pain relieving, antiviral, antibacterial as well as antiseptic benefits, so if you’re looking for a multi-tasking essential oil for the home, eucalyptus is definitely a must-have.
How to use: This fabulous oil works wonders ondirty hard floors. Simply add a few drops to hot water and mop away. Not only will it disinfect your floor, but it will also leave it feeling fresh and clean. Since eucalyptus is a great germ killer, it’s also extremely useful in the bathroom – dilute a few drops with water in a spray bottle and use it to clean regularly around your sink and bathtub. For tougher dirt, combine it with white vinegar and baking soda for a stronger effect.
If you have a dog that is regularly attracting fleas, eucalyptus essential oil is effective for keeping fleas at bay. Simply add a couple drops to your pets shampoo and you will no longer have to worry about these biting pests – just be sure to rinse from the fur thoroughly. For cats, however, many essential oils, including eucalyptus, are toxic and therefore should not be used.
Best Eucalptus oil: Our recommended choice of eucalyptus oil is Handcraft Eucalyptus Essential Oil. 100% pure and natural, Handcraft Eucalyptus Essential Oil isn’t diluted with carrier oils or artificial fragrances. It comes in a UV resistant bottle to protect the quality of the oil inside. It is also cruelty and paraben free and is manufactured in an FDA approved facility for peace of mind.
| Eucalyptus Essential Oil | Handcraft Eucalyptus Essential Oil |
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How To Choose Quality Essential Oils for Your Home
Not all essential oils are equal. In fact, qualities differ greatly between different brands. To ensure quality, check that the label states 100% pure and that there are no additional ingredients, including other oils. Lower quality oils will have other cheaper base oils included, which is not what you need.
It is also advisable to opt for organic oils if they are available. This limits the risk of contamination from pesticides and ensures the purest and most natural oils. After all, anything that will come into contact with your home and family should be the highest quality. Remember also that essential oils differ greatly from other home freshener products. These are usually synthetic and don’t have the properties you’ll need for cleaning your home.
Essential Oils for Cleaning – Risks & Precautions
They may be natural, but essential oils are incredibly potent and should be used with care. When used on the skin, they should always be diluted with water or mixed with a base oil. When you are using them for cleaning, it is important that you wear gloves.
Essential oils may not always be suitable around children in their pure form. Make sure you look into this and check with your physician before using essential oils when children are around. Moreover, many varieties are poisonous to pets, especially cats, due to the fact they are more sensitive to toxins. Therefore, keep all essential oil bottles, as well as the diluted versions, away from the reach of pets and children. Lastly, if you’re expecting, it is important to consult your physician before using essential oils in your home because many essential oils are not suitable in pregnancy.
Final Thoughts
Essential oil cleaning is a great alternative to expensive and potentially harmful chemical cleaners around your home. If you have been wondering how to transition to greener cleaning habits, then hopefully this guide has given you a better idea of where to start.
As we have seen, essential oils like lemon, tea tree, and eucalyptus are wonderfully refreshing and can effortlessly tackle stubborn grease and dirt stains. Meanwhile, lavender and oregano are great all round air fresheners and germ-killers, and peppermint is a wonderfully uplifting and pest-deterring choice.
If you’re concerned about the chemicals in your regular household cleaning products and the effect on human health, then essential oils are a fantastic natural and green alternative.