Essential oils that can be used to make your own natural cleaning and laundry products ~

1 – Lemon
Lemon essential oil has a clean, fresh scent that is often associated with house cleaning. It is perhaps the most common scent of household cleaners, because it’s scent is often associated with a feeling of freshness and cleanliness. Lemon blends well with other citrus and floral essential oils, and also with many other essential oils. Like most citrus essential oils it is very good at cutting grease and mould which is another reason they are often used in cleaning recipes. Lemon essential oil is antiseptic, antimicrobial, and bactericidal. SHOP >

2 – Cinnamon
Cinnamon essential oil, also known as cinnamon leaf or bark essential oil, has a spicy and sweet scent. It blends well with orange, and can also make a room feel like it’s Christmas time. Generally, cinnamon should not be used alone in a homemade cleaner, but just added for an additional warming touch in small quantities. Cinnamon essential oil has antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. A recent study showed that cinnamon zapped E. coli dead. SHOP >

3 – Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus essential oil has a sharp, fresh smell with a bit of camphor and woody smell mixed in as well. Eucalyptus oil blends well with pine, rosemary and tea tree oils, and also lavender and lemon essential oils. It’s a bit of an all-rounder because it has so many great properties that make it fantastic for cleaning – it’s an anti fungal, antibacterial, antiviral and deodorizer. SHOP >

 
4 – Lemongrass
Lemongrass has a fresh lemony scent, with hints of grass and hay. Lemongrass oil blends well with most floral and citrus essential oils, and also with rosemary. It should be used in moderation, most usually blended with another oil.It also has some antiseptic and deodorizing properties, which are helpful in homemade cleaners. SHOP > 

5 – Peppermint
Peppermint essential oil is a favourite for many people that make their own cleaning products, because of it’s refreshing, bright minty smell.It blends well with several other popular essential oils for cleaning, including lavender, eucalyptus, lemon and rosemary. An added use of peppermint oil is as a natural pest deterrent. The cleaning power of peppermint oil is due to it’s antiseptic properties. SHOP >
 
6 – Clove Bud
Clove essential oil has a sweet, spicy fragrance that is stimulating and revitalising. It is an excellent mould killer due to having the highest eugenol content of all essential oils. It is the eugenol that attacks and kills the spores rather than just bleaching them, thus preventing mould build-up. The eugenol in clove bud has antifungal, antimicrobial and antiseptic properties. SHOP >
 
7 – Tea Tree

Tea tree essential oil is a very useful essential oil for cleaning because of its antiseptic, antimicrobial and antifungal properties. It has a scent that is warm and spicy, but also has a camphor, medicinal undertone. Therefore, I suggest that it be blended with another essential oil for fragrance. Tea tree oil blends well with other common essential oils for cleaning, such as lavender, pine and eucalyptus. SHOP >
8 – Grapefruit

Pink grapefruit essential oil is a citrus oil that smells clean, light and a bit sharp, but still fruity. Grapefruit oil blends well with other citrus oils, and also with rosemary and lavender oil. Many people enjoy the scent of grapefruit in their cleaner because it is also reviving and refreshing. Like most citrus oils it is also good for cutting grease. SHOP >


9 – Lavender
Lavender essential oil has a clean, floral, fresh scent which soothes, calms and relaxes. Lavender is the most popular floral scent for cleaning supplies, and it is probably also one of the most popular oils for aromatherapy uses as well. One of the reasons for this, beside its nice scent, is that lavender blends well with many other essential oils, including citruses and other florals. It’s antiseptic, antiviral, bactericidal, and fungicidal actions make it particularly effective for cleaning. Lavender is commonly used to help scent laundry. SHOP > 

10 – Pine
Pine essential oil is another very common scent for homemade cleaning products, and has a distinctively pine needle scent. Pine oil has antimicrobial properties, and can also act as a deodorizer. It blends well with eucalyptus, lemon and lavender. SHOP >

11 – Rosemary
Rosemary essential oil has an herbaceous smell, and is antiseptic in nature so it can be useful for cleaning in your home. It blends well with lavender and pine. SHOP >

12 – Orange
Sweet Orange essential oil has a sweet, fresh fruity scent, which has a refreshing and cheerful fragrance. It blends well with other citrus essential oils, and also with geranium. Orange oil is also a powerful cleaner, so it can be useful in cleaners needed to remove tough stains and grime. SHOP >

Some simple DIY recipes you might like to try : 

Air Freshener :  Mix a quarter of a teaspoon (about 15 drops) of essential oil with half a teaspoon of vodka or natural dispersing agent. Place in a large atomiser/spray bottle and add 2 cups of water.

Floor Cleaner : Add approx 20 drops of essential oil to a bucket of hot water then mop the floors. You can also add some white vinegar or natural castile soap.

Surface Spray :  Mix
approx 20 drops of essential oil like orange with a half a cup of white vinegar, place in a large atomiser/spray bottle and fill with water. Shake well before use.

Mould Remover / Preventer :  Add 10 drops of essential oil like clove, lemon or eucalyptus to a cup of hot water – use to wipe down all the surfaces in your bathroom or fridge or wherever you’re prone to finding mould. Can also be used in a spray bottle with some water and vinegar (see recipe).

Adhesive Remover : Use straight essential oil like orange to remove sticker/decal residue from glass.

Toilet Disinfectant :  Mix 50ml of essential oil like eucalyptus with a litre of water. Try to avoid essential oils directly touching plastic surfaces as they may deteriorate over time.Linen Spray :  Add 10 drops essential oil like lavender and 2 tablespoons of witch hazel to a small 100ml sized spray bottle and fill with water. Shake well. Spray onto clothes when ironing.

Stain Remover : Lemon essential oil can be rubbed on laundry stains prior to washing and to also help remove greasy/oily smells. 
Kill Dust Mites :  Add
about 20 drops of essential oil like eucalyptus or lavender to your
washing cycle when washing linens, towels, quilts, blankets or pillows.
Add some white vinegar to the rinse cycle to help soften laundry. Try to
avoid essential oils touching plastic surfaces by adding them directly to the wash. 
Dryer Sheets :  Put a couple of drop of essential oil on a dish cloth or face washer and place it in the clothes
dryer to make both the linen & the house smell fresher.

Pest Deterrent : Put 3 or 4 drops of eucalyptus or peppermint on a cotton ball and place in the areas where ants, cockroaches, spiders, moths, and silverfish hang out.

Whilst essential oils are natural, they should still be used with caution.
Please refer to directions of each essential oil before use.  
 
 
Please note this information is for educational purposes only.

© Aromatherapy For Australia
Please feel free to share this article but do not claim this information or graphics to be your own.
 

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