5 Essential Oil Recipes for Household Cleaning

Essential oils offer a natural way to clean your home without the left over residue of harmful chemicals. Try these DIY cleaning recipes the next time your tidying up. You will be surprised with how effective they really are. 

Homemade Lavender  Fabric Softener

Safely soften your laundry with a natural vinegar and baking soda based fabric softener for the rinse cycle. Lavender essential oil imparts a fresh, natural scent to this simple recipe.

• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 2 tbsp baking soda
• 60+ drops lavender essential oil

Safely soften your laundry with a natural vinegar and baking soda based fabric softener for the rinse cycle. Lavender essential oil imparts a fresh, natural scent to this simple recipe.

DIRECTIONS: 

1. In a measuring cup, dissolve the baking soda in the vinegar.

2. Stir in the lavender essential oil.

3. Add mixture to rinse cycle, using 2 tablespoons for a small load, 4 tablespoons for medium, and 8 tablespoons (1/2 cup) for large.

Surface Cleaning Spray  with Lemon Essential Oil

A simple homemade surface cleaning spray recipe  made with lemon and lavender essential oils

• 1 2/3 cups water
• 1/2 tsp sodium borate (Borax)
• 1/4 teaspoon unscented castile liquid soap
• 75 drops lemon essential oil
• 75 drops lavender essential oil
• 16-ounce spray bottle 

DIRECTIONS: 

1. In bottle, combine all ingredients

2. Replace lid and shake until well blended.

3. To use, shake bottle and spray into a cloth  or onto a surface, then wipe clean

Fizzy Toilet Refreshers

Easy to make and great for keeping your toilet  clean and fresh in between cleanings.

• 1 cup of Pure Baking Soda
• ¼ cup of Citric Acid
• 1 tbsp of Nature Clean Dish Detergent
• 20 – 30 drops of NOW® Essential Oil(s) of choice Silicone Ice Cube Tray
• Airtight Jar or Container

DIRECTIONS: 

1 Mix baking soda and citric acid in a bowl

2. Slowly stir in liquids (whisks work well)

3. Pour mixture into the silicone mold and pack down firmly

4. Allow to dry 4 - 6 hours

5. Gently pop out from molds and place in airtight container

6. Drop in toilets when they need to be freshened between cleaning (ie. before bed) 

Multi-Purpose  Spray Cleaner

Just 4 simple ingredients: water, Borax, liquid soap and lavender essential oil create a multi-use cleaner that will purify your home with a fresh, sweet scent.

• 2 cups water
• 1/2 tsp sodium borate (Borax)
• 1/4 tsp unscented castile liquid soap
• 2 tsp lavender or tea tree essential oil 

DIRECTIONS: 

1. In a spray bottle, dissolve Borax into water.

2. Stir in lavender essential oil.

3. To use: shake bottle and spray into cleaning cloth or onto surface, wipe clean.

4. Alternatively, you can substitute 2 teaspoons of purifying tea tree essential oil for the lavender if you prefer.

DIY Natural Cleansing Wipes

• 1/4 Cup Vinegar (or 1 Cup white vinegar)
• 1 ¾ cup boiled or distilled water (only 1 cup if using white vinegar)
• 1/4 Cup Isopropyl Alcohol
• 1Tbsp Dish Soap Or Castile
• 30 drops Essential Oil of choice (Tea Tree, Lemon, etc.)
• Air Tight Empty Container ( Ex. Jar / Wipe Dispenser)
• Reusable option - 100% cotton t-shirt cut pieces
• Disposable Option - Paper Towel - high quality

DIRECTIONS:

1. Prepare paper towel by cutting roll in half with sharp knife and placing one half in container. 

2. Combine liquid ingredients in separate bowl and mix well.

3. Pour mixture on top of the towels to saturate.

4. Remove cardboard paper roll from the middle of paper towel once it is soaked and pulls out easily. Pull the first towel from the middle of the roll for easy access. 

5. Place lid on top and use wipes as needed. For cotton pieces, pre-cut into desired sizes and place in container before pouring liquid in.

6. Easily toss in with laundry and reuse again and again. Warning: For external use only.

Do not get in eyes. In case of contact, rinse eyes thoroughly with water. If swallowed, seek medical assistance and or contact a poison control centre. Keep out of reach of children. Flammable. Keep away from open fl ames.