5 Simple Homemade Cleaning Products with Essential Oils

If you’re using gentle skin care products and cosmetics but still experiencing acne and skin irritation, then you may be very frustrated and wondering, what am I doing wrong? 

The culprit might be your household cleaning products. A lot of products sold in stores contain ingredients such as ammonia, sodium hypochlorite, and sodium or potassium hydroxide. (See webMD’s article which includes a full list of ingredients to avoid if you have sensitive skin here.)

So, if you’re looking for safer products that won’t irritate your skin, look no further. Here are five easy, safe and effective cleaning sprays all tested by me!

My finished cleaning supplies in glass bottles 🙂

All-Purpose Cleaning Spray

This multi-purpose cleaning spray can be used to clean most countertops, showers, toilets, etc. In my experience, it is just as good as store-bought sprays, but without the artificial smell and ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 13 oz. distilled water (tap water can leave behind streaks)
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 15 drops essential oil (something with a fresh, clean scent such as grapefruit, lemon, or eucalyptus)

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients together and pour into a spray bottle.

Gentle All-Purpose Cleaning Spray

Acidic ingredients such as vinegar and lemon can leave dull spots on soft surfaces like marble and can erode sealant on granite countertops. For a more gentle spray to use on these surfaces, use the following ingredients instead.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup vodka
• 2 3/4 cup distilled water
• 10 drops tea tree oil

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients together and pour into a spray bottle.

Air Freshener Spray

This air freshener spray is perfect for musty rooms and can be made with the essential oil of your choosing. I used my personal favorite, ylang ylang oil.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. distilled water (tap water is also fine here)
• 2 tbsp. 60+ proof vodka or rubbing alcohol
• 5 drops of essential oil (you can add more if you like)

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients together and pour into a spray bottle.

Garbage Disposal Deodorizer

Garbage disposals work hard, so it’s important to keep them clean and odor-free. Use 1/3 of this bottle every few weeks to keep your garbage disposal smelling fresh!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups white vinegar
• 1 tbsp. baking soda
• 5 drops tea tree oil

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients together and pour into a bottle or jar.

To use:

Pour 1/3 of the bottle into your garbage disposal and let the appliance run for 1 minute. (If you like, you can add a few extra drops of tea tree oil to the garbage disposal when you’re finished.)

Laundry Detergent

For DIY laundry detergent, you don’t need essential oils, all you need is Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds. This all-natural concentrated cleaner contains just a few ingredients, including fir needle oil and spruce oil. It is made without an artificial dyes, fragrances, or preservatives, which makes it safe for even the most sensitive skin.

(Sal Suds can also be used for other purposes such as mopping your floor or cleaning your bathtub or shower. For more uses, check out drbronner.com.)

Instructions:

Add 2 tablespoons Sal Suds per 1 load of laundry, or 1 tablespoon per load if you have a high efficiency washing machine.

Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds

A Guide to Choosing Essential Oils

When you know the scent profiles of essential oils, you can get creative with which oils you use in your DIY products.

Below are the profiles of some popular oils and a chart for some different ways you can blend them together. These blends can be helpful not just for making cleaning products but also for putting in your diffuser, adding to your bath, or even making your own all-natural perfume!

Cooling/Calming Essential Oils

• Chamomile
• Rose
• Lavendar
• Ylang ylang
• Frankincense
• Jasmine
• Bergamot
• Clary Sage

Fresh/Invigorating Essential Oils

• Lemon
• Grapefruit
• Orange
• Spearmint
• Peppermint
• Tea Tree
• Eucalyptus
• Basil
• Cedarwood

Photo Courtesy of Hello Glow