Essential Oils for Cleaning
Essential oils for cleaning include Tea Tree, Lemon, Lavender, Orange, Peppermint, Grapefruit and Scots Pine Essential Oils. These seven oils are popular additions to DIY household cleaning routines because their fresh herbal, citrus, floral, minty and woody aromas work well in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry areas and other washable household surfaces. Lemon, Orange and Grapefruit are especially useful in preparations for greasy or sticky residue, while Tea Tree, Lavender, Peppermint and Scots Pine add the crisp, fresh aromas commonly associated with a clean home.
Choosing an essential oil depends largely on the aroma you prefer and the surface you want to clean. Always use essential oils sparingly, follow the manufacturer’s care instructions, and test a new mixture on a small, inconspicuous area first.
Best Essential Oils for Cleaning
- Tea tree essential oil has a strong, crisp, medicinal aroma. It can be added in small amounts to homemade cleaning mixtures for washable bathroom surfaces, floors, garbage containers, window ledges, and areas beneath sinks. Add a few drops to a compatible cleaning preparation and shake thoroughly before each use. Tea tree oil may also be added sparingly to an unscented laundry product when permitted by the appliance and product manufacturers.
- Lemon essential oil has a bright, cheerful aroma frequently associated with a freshly cleaned home. It is especially popular in homemade preparations for loosening greasy or sticky residue from compatible surfaces. Add 2–3 drops to a water-based spray for light household cleaning, shaking well before each use. Lemon may also be added to compatible laundry or carpet-cleaning products when allowed by the manufacturer. Combining lemon with lavender creates a fresh citrus-floral aroma.
- Lavender essential oil offers a familiar floral and herbaceous scent. It works especially well in linen sprays, laundry preparations, and gentle household cleaning mixtures. Add a small amount of lavender to a properly prepared mixture for compatible washable surfaces. It can also be combined with lemon for a clean, uplifting fragrance.
- Orange essential oil has a sweet citrus aroma and is often used in household preparations designed to loosen greasy residue and product buildup from sinks, counters, and tubs. Citrus oils can affect certain plastics, finishes, painted surfaces, and natural stone, so always test your preparation on a hidden area before cleaning.
- Peppermint essential oil contributes a strong, cool, minty aroma to household cleaning mixtures. Add a small amount of peppermint to a properly prepared spray for compatible surfaces, shaking well before each use. Because peppermint oil is highly concentrated, use it with adequate ventilation and avoid applying it where children or pets could come into direct contact with it.
- Grapefruit essential oil has a bright, sweet, slightly sharp citrus aroma that works well in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry areas. Use a few drops in compatible cleaning preparations to add a refreshing scent. As with other citrus oils, test the mixture on a hidden area before applying it to plastic, painted, polished, or finished surfaces.
- Scots Pine essential oil provides the familiar woody, balsamic aroma often associated with household cleaning. Add several drops to a properly prepared mixture for compatible countertops, bathroom fixtures, appliances, or floors. Shake before use and wipe the surface with a clean cloth. To freshen a garbage container, place one or two drops of pine or lemon oil on a cotton ball and position it beneath the liner, completely out of the reach of children and pets.
Essential-Oil Cleaning Safety
Essential oils are highly concentrated. Use them carefully even when they are intended only for household cleaning.
- Test every preparation on a small, hidden area first.
- Follow the surface or appliance manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.
- Do not mix essential oils or homemade cleaners with bleach, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, or other household chemicals.
- Do not use essential-oil mixtures as disinfectants or sanitizers.
- Use adequate ventilation while cleaning.
- Avoid spraying essential oils into the air around children, pets, or anyone with respiratory sensitivities.
- Keep undiluted oils and cleaning mixtures away from children and animals.
- Label every homemade preparation clearly.
- Shake water-based preparations before each use because essential oils do not dissolve in water.
- Avoid using citrus oils on surfaces that may be damaged by concentrated oils or solvents.
- Wash food-contact surfaces thoroughly with potable water after cleaning.
Questions and Answers About Essential Oils for Cleaning
Can essential oils disinfect household surfaces?
Essential oils should not be relied upon to disinfect or sanitize household surfaces. Although individual essential-oil constituents may be examined under laboratory conditions, that does not establish that a homemade preparation will safely or effectively disinfect a surface. Use an EPA-registered disinfectant according to its label whenever disinfection is needed.
What is the difference between cleaning and disinfecting?
Cleaning removes dirt, grease, residue, and some germs from a surface. Disinfecting uses a registered product to kill specified microorganisms when the product is applied exactly as directed. An essential-oil cleaning mixture may help with routine cleaning and freshening, but it should not be presented as a disinfectant.
Do essential oils dissolve in water?
No. Essential oils do not dissolve in water and will usually float on its surface. Water-based preparations must be shaken before and during use, but shaking does not create a permanently diluted or preserved product.
Can I use essential-oil cleaners on every surface?
No. Essential oils—particularly citrus oils—may damage plastics, paint, varnish, natural stone, or other delicate finishes. Check the manufacturer’s instructions and test the mixture on an inconspicuous area first.
Can I add essential oils to my laundry?
A small amount may be added to certain compatible laundry products, but never pour undiluted essential oil directly onto clothing or into an appliance. Essential oils can stain fabric, irritate skin, create flammability concerns, or damage appliance components. Follow the instructions supplied by the essential-oil and appliance manufacturers.
Are essential-oil cleaning mixtures safe around children and pets?
Natural does not automatically mean harmless. Essential oils can cause irritation or other adverse effects when swallowed, inhaled in concentrated amounts, or placed directly on the skin. Cats, birds, and other animals may be particularly sensitive to certain oils. Store all preparations securely and consult a veterinarian before using essential oils in areas regularly occupied by pets.
How long can I keep a homemade water-based cleaner?
Water-based mixtures can become contaminated over time unless they are properly formulated and preserved. Make small quantities, use clean containers, label and date each batch, and discard the mixture if its appearance, odor, or texture changes.
References
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Antimicrobial Pesticide Registration
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Selected EPA-Registered Disinfectants
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Minimum-Risk Pesticides
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: When and How to Clean and Disinfect Your Home
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Essential Oils
- National Capital Poison Center: Essential Oils—Poisonous When Misused
Disclaimer
For educational purposes only. Essential-oil cleaning mixtures are intended for routine cleaning and freshening and should not be represented or used as disinfectants, sanitizers, mold treatments, or pest-control products. When disinfection is needed, use an EPA-registered product according to its label. Always follow surface and appliance instructions, provide adequate ventilation, and keep essential oils and cleaning preparations away from children and pets.
