Natural Cleaning Recipes
Is your home ready for a spring refresh? Spring cleaning is more than just tidying up; it's an opportunity to refresh your living space and create a healthier environment for your household. Ready to ditch the harsh chemical cleaners? I would love to share some recipes for a sparkling clean home using the power of essential oils. Why opt for essential oils? Unlike commercial cleaners laden with harsh chemicals, essential oils offer a safe yet powerful way to tackle dirt, grime, and lingering odors, while they boast invigorating and purifying properties. Not only can you customize the scents to your liking, but you may also find that these homemade alternatives are safer and more enjoyable to use. Plus, they might even save you some money in the long run.
You can make effective cleaning products with just a few basic ingredients—baking soda, distilled white vinegar, distilled or filtered water, rubbing alcohol, and essential oils. While it may require a bit of time to whip up your own cleaning products, the benefits far outweigh the minimal inconvenience. Do keep in mind that when a recipe contains water, it's best to use it within a couple of weeks to prevent it from "going off." Unless your recipe includes at least 25% high-proof alcohol as a preservative, it's wise to make smaller batches to ensure freshness and safety.
Dr. Bronner's Castile soap and Sal Suds are both favorites of mine, offering versatile cleaning solutions. Castile soap, primarily crafted for personal care, can also be used for household cleaning tasks. However, it may leave behind a residue called "soap scum" when used in hard water. In contrast, Sal Suds doesn't react with hard water, ensuring both soft and hard surfaces remain clean without residue. Castile soap shines in personal care, pet care, and pest control, while Sal Suds excels in dishwashing, cleaning, and laundry tasks. Otherwise, they can be used interchangeably as both are surfactants.
For products containing essential oils, consider using dark glass containers and always label your containers for safety and organization. Each essential oil offers a unique profile of benefits; let's look at some nice options for cleaning.
Essential Oils for Cleaning:
Antimicrobials: Tea tree, lavender, grapefruit, lemon, lemongrass, patchouli, thyme, rosemary, cedarwood, Siberian fir, and cypress. These oils are great options for cleaning surfaces such as countertops and cutting boards, as well as cleaning the air.
Deodorizers: Lemon, bergamot, grapefruit, lavender, patchouli, Siberian fir, and cypress. These oils remove unpleasant odors, replacing them with a fresh, clean aroma.
De-Greasers/De-Grimers: Lemon, lemongrass, orange, lavender, tea tree, and peppermint essential oils cut through grease and grime with ease. Blend with one or more of these oils when creating a cleaner for tackling your stovetop, oven, and neglected microwave.
Air Purifiers: Spearmint, lemon, bergamot, grapefruit, thyme, tea tree, rosemary, lavender, cypress, and cedarwood. There is also a great variety of preblended options available for air purification purposes: Edens Garden's Breath of Fresh Air, Aromatic International's Mountain Bandits, Plant Therapy's Germ Fighter
Recipes
Glass and Mirror Cleaning Spray: Create a streak-free shine with this simple recipe
3 Tbsp - 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
1 Tbsp 90% rubbing alcohol - reduces streaks
5-10 drops of your preferred citrus essential oil, or blend citrus and conifer essential oils
distilled or filtered water
8 oz glass spray bottle
Add the vinegar, alcohol, and essential oil(s) to the bottle, blend, and then top off with water. Shake/swirl well before each use, it is best if used within about 2 weeks. If you cannot use this recipe within 2 weeks, scale down the recipe to a more appropriate amount, or increase the rubbing alcohol to 2 oz.
All-Purpose Cleaning Spray: Tackle various surfaces with ease
4 Tbsp castile soap
20 drops of lemon essential oil
20 drops of Scotch pine or Balsam fir essential oil
distilled or filtered water
8 oz glass spray bottle
Add the castile soap, and essential oils to the bottle, blend, and then top off with water. Shake/swirl well before each use, it is best if used within about 2 weeks. If you cannot use this recipe within 2 weeks, scale down the recipe to a more appropriate amount, or add 2 oz of high-proof alcohol (190-proof grain alcohol, or 90% rubbing alcohol). This can be used on counters, bathroom surfaces, refrigerators, walls, and more, but be sure to do a small patch test first.
Grease and Grime Be-Gone Spray: Add power to your cleaning elbow
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp 190-proof grain alcohol, or 90% rubbing alcohol
distilled or filtered water
8 drops of tea tree essential oil
6 drops of lemon essential oil
2 oz spray bottle
Add the lemon juice, alcohol, and essential oils to the bottle, blend, and then top off with water. Shake/swirl well before each use. This degreaser spray can be used to cut through grease and grime on stovetops, microwaves, and countertops, but do a small patch test on your countertop first to be sure it is a good fit for your countertop material.
Dusting Spray: Keep your furniture gleaming
1 tsp jojoba, sweet almond, or olive oil
2 Tbsp distilled white vinegar or witch hazel
1/4 - 1/2 tsp sal suds
2 drops of geranium or thyme essential oil
3 drops of cedarwood essential oil
distilled or filtered water
4 oz glass spray bottle
Add the oil, vinegar, soap, and essential oils to the bottle, blend, and then top off with water. Shake/swirl well before each use, it is best if used within 2 weeks. If you cannot use this recipe within 2 weeks, scale down the recipe to a more appropriate amount. Use a dusting cloth to dust wood furniture and other wood surfaces. If using on non-wood surfaces, do a small patch test first.
Countertop Spray: Maintain a clean kitchen and bathrooms
4 Tbsp rubbing alcohol or witch hazel
1 tsp castile soap or sal suds (optional)
3 drops of tea tree essential oil
2 drops of lemon or peppermint essential oil
distilled or filtered water
4 oz glass spray bottle
Add the alcohol, soap, and essential oils to the bottle, blend, and then top off with water. Shake/swirl well before each use. This can be used on various countertop surfaces, but to be sure that it is a good fit for your countertops, do a small patch test first.
Toilet Scrub: Say goodbye to stubborn stains
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup washing soda
5 drops of tea tree essential oil
5 drops of lavender essential oil
Sprinkle a small amount into the toilet bowl, allow it to sit for about 10 minutes, then use a toilet scrub brush to clean the toilet bowl. If you desire a more thorough cleaning, then you can add 1 cup of vinegar to the above mix, pour it into the toilet bowl, allow it to sit for a time, up to overnight, then scrub the bowl with a toilet brush.
Shower Spray: Keep your shower fresh and clean
1-2 oz rubbing alcohol or witch hazel
5 drops of black spruce essential oil
5 drops of lemon essential oil
lemon balm or spearmint hydrosol
4 oz glass spray bottle
Add the alcohol, and essential oils to the spray bottle, and top off with the hydrosol of your choice. Shake/swirl well before each use. Spray down the shower after each use, not necessary to rinse.
Soft Scrub: Restore shine to sinks and tubs
1 cup baking soda
3 Tbsp sal suds
10 drops of your favorite citrus essential oil
10 drops of your favorite conifer essential oil
5 drops of tea tree essential oil
1 Tbsp cornstarch, arrowroot powder, or tapioca starch
1 Tbsp distilled white vinegar
Mix all ingredients except vinegar into a bowl, and blend until a soft wet paste consistency. Slowly add the vinegar while blending. Store in a PET plastic container with a lid. Add more soap as needed to maintain a smooth consistency. This scrub is great for cleaning sinks, tubs, and grout.
Air Freshening Room Spray: Refresh your home with a delightful aroma
1-2 Tbsp high-proof alcohol (Everclear)
8-10 drops of your favorite citrus essential oil
6-8 drops of your favorite conifer essential oil
4-6 drops of thyme ct linalool or lavender essential oil
distilled or filtered water
2 oz glass spray bottle
Add the alcohol and essential oils to the bottle, blend, and top off with the water. Shake/swirl before each use. Spray around the room and on furniture as needed; a few spritzes per room usually suffices.
Enhance your cleaning routine with these natural recipes and enjoy a healthier, fresher home this spring! What are your favorite cleaning products and recipes?
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