Essential Oils For Cleaning Your Home

Learn how common essential oils are used in cleaning with this essential oil use chart. This chart is not comprehensive, in that it does not list every single essential oil that is available. Instead, it gives you an overview of the essential oils that are most commonly used in cleaning recipes, because of their scent or cleaning properties.

For instance, essential oils that contain terpenes, such as citrus oils, pine and chamomile, have anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties and are used in sprays and ointments while those containing esters, such as lavender and clary sage, are used for their ability to sedate. Because many essential oils contain anti-microbial properties, they are used in a variety of cleaning products such as disinfectants, deodorizers and household cleaners.

In studies, cinnamon, clove, geranium, lemon, lime, orange and rosemary oils exhibited significant inhibitory effect. Cinnamon oil showed promising inhibitory activity even at low concentration, whereas aniseed, eucalyptus and camphor oils were least active against the tested bacteria.

Buying Essential Oils

One of the things you should look for is purity. There are many essential oil blends available in the market, some formulated and marketed by reputed companies in the field. If you have a definite purpose in mind, and you find a suitable blend, it may spare the trouble of buying several essential oils and then blending them yourself. There’s no such thing as a therapeutic grade essential oil, even though many products may be marketed under that label. It is up to you to source the best quality essential oil for therapeutic use. Instead of searching for a label that has no real meaning, you should look for the following questions when buying essential oils.

Essential oils can be made from different plants that share a common name, as in the case of chamomile oil. You have German chamomile and Roman chamomile, and they are not even closely related species. Their properties and therapeutic uses are different too. Fortunately, you can easily tell them apart, since German chamomile oil has an intense blue color as opposed to the pale yellow of the Roman version. But that may not be the case with others.

Always make sure that the Latin name of the plant is stated along with its common name. Essential oils of closely related species of plants can cause confusion, as in the case of many citrus family plants. For example, Orange oil can be derived from different types of oranges. Sweet orange oil comes from Citrus sinensis, while Bitter orange oil is usually derived from Citrus aurantium. Again, put your trust in the scientific name.

This can be even more confusing. The oil extracted from fresh ginger is different from that derived from dry ginger, both aromatically and in their therapeutic uses. The spice Cinnamon comes from the bark of the tree, and an essential oil is also extracted from it. But the leaves give another essential oil that has different smell and flavor. Citrus aurantium fruit gives Bitter orange oil, but two other types of essential oils are obtained from the same plant; Neroli from the flowers and Petitgrain from the leaves. Their common names are of help here. Don’t forget to check if the plant part is mentioned on the product label.

Finally, we come to the most important thing, the reliability of the essential oil producing company. Since it is next to impossible to verify the purity or quality of the essential oil––other than experientially––the best we can do is identify a reliable source. Avoid companies that sell all types of essential oils at flat rates. Also, beware of bargains that are too good to be true. Get the opinion of aromatherapists and people who frequently use essential oils.

Whatever you do, take your time doing your research before purchasing oils, especially if they seem to be a deal that is too good to be true.

Nice Combinations:

• Ginger Citrus (bath set from Carol)

Starter Oils

Here is a suggested method for choosing three essential oils to start with when making your own household cleaners.

1. First, tea tree essential oil for its antiseptic, antimicrobial and antifungal properties, because it is the biggest cleaner of the bunch, especially if you are looking for more natural ways to reduce germs in your home without chlorine bleach or other unnatural chemicals.
2. Second, choose one citrus essential oil for your starter kit, because citrus smells are such a common fragrance for cleaners because they smell clean, and are bright and fresh. The choices include lemon (the most popular), sweet orange, lime, grapefruit and tangerine.
3. And third, choose one of the following, a floral essential oil, minty essential oil, or an herbal or woodsy essential oil. The most popular of these are lavender, peppermint, and pine oil. (Just choose one from any one of these broad categories.)

Cinnamon Essential Oil

• Cinnamon essential oil, also known as cinnamon leaf essential oil, has a spicy and sweet scent, like cinnamon.
• It blends well with orange or tangerine, 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. Of all the oils listed in this essential oil use chart it is definitely the most optional one to use.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil

• Eucalyptus essential oil has a sharp, fresh smell with a bit of camphor and woody smell mixed in as well. People either love or hate its scent, generally.
• Eucalyptus oil blends well with pine, rosemary and tea tree oils, and also lavender and lemon essential oils.
• Remember that pure Eucalyptus Oil can easily burn sensitive skin. If you intend to use this antimicrobial oil topically, be certain to dilute it in a carrier oil before applying it to your skin – especially for dry, irritated, or sensitive areas.

Geranium Essential Oil

• Geranium essential oil is a floral scent, which smells a bit like roses.
• In fact, it is often blended with rose essential oils to make a romantic floral scent for your cleaning products and laundry supplies.
• Besides blending well with rose, geranium oil also blends well with lavender, rosemary, lemon, and orange.

Grapefruit Essential Oil

• 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, refreshing and helps to reduce tension, especially in the winter.

Lavender Essential Oil

• 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 on this essential oil use chart for aromatherapy uses too.
• One of the reasons for this, besides its nice scent, is that lavender blends well with many other essential oils, including citruses and other florals.

Lemon Essential Oil

Lemon essential oil is made with fresh lemons through cold pressing. It possesses antibacterial properties and is suitable for a number of cleaning jobs around the house.

• 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 its scent is often associated with a feeling of freshness and cleanness.
• It blends well with other citrus and floral essential oils, and also with many other essential oils.
• In addition, this essential oil, along with citrus oils in general, are very good at cutting grease which is another reason they are often used in cleaning recipes.
• Apart from disinfecting, use lemon essential oil to remove stains on your favorite surfaces.

Lemongrass Essential Oil

• Lemongrass essential oil is a good choice for those that want a outdoorsy smell, but that is not too woodsy. It 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.

Lime Essential Oil

• Lime essential oil has a clean, fresh scent with a citrusy and fruity smell.
• Lime oil blends well with other citrus essential oils, and also with lavender, geranium, and rosemary.

Peppermint Essential Oil

• Peppermint essential oil is a favorite for many people that make their own cleaning products, because of its 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.

Pine Essential Oil

• 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.

Rose Essential Oil

• Rose essential oil smells, obviously, like roses and gives any cleaning supply or laundry supply, such as fabric softeners and laundry detergents, a romantic touch.
• Rose blends well with other floral scents, but be careful because if you add too much it can become overpowering like a very strong perfume.

Rosemary Essential Oil

• Rosemary essential oil has an herby smell, and is antiseptic in nature so it can be useful for cleaning in your home.
• It blends well lavender and pine.

Spearmint Essential Oil

• Spearmint essential oil has a minty, fresh scent.
• It is used similarly to peppermint oil, and is an alternative minty scent that can be used in your homemade cleaners.
• It tends not to blend as well with other scents as peppermint though, and therefore I least recommend it among all the oils on this essential oil use chart.

Sweet Orange Essential Oil

• Sweet orange essential oil comes from the sweet orange tree, which is smaller than the bitter orange tree. It 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.

Tangerine Essential Oil

• Tangerine essential oil (also sometimes known as madarin essential oil) has a delicate sweet, fruity smell, and promotes restfulness, but is also cheering and bright.
• It blends well with other citrus essential oils, and also lavender and geranium.

Tea Tree Essential Oil

High in antifungal and antiseptic properties, tea tree is an ideal essential oil for your handmade disinfectants. The main source of this oil is the Australian Melaleuca tree. It is most effective against mold and mildew, and also works well to get rid of musty smells around the home. Tea tree oil also has antibacterial properties. If you usually prepare natural homemade cleaners, tea tree can enhance their properties and add a lovely aroma.

• 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 the other common essential oils for cleaning, such as lavender, pine and eucalyptus.
• Of all the oils on this essential oil use chart it is the only one I recommend as one of your three in the starter kit, without any other choices, because it is so important for cleaning recipes.
• Mix two cups of water and a couple of teaspoons of tea tree oil in a clean spray bottle and you will get the perfect mold and mildew cleaner to use on your moldy areas (e.g. shower head, faucets).

Vanilla Essential Oil

• Vanilla essential oil has a sweet warm scent that smells like vanilla.
• Because the smell is such a favorite of many people, for its calming and relaxing qualities, it is also a favorite for homemade cleaning products.
• It blends well with lavender, rose, and lime.
• Be careful when purchasing vanilla essential oil, because it is the most commobly listed oil in this essential oil use chart which is often mixed with a carrier oil. Preferably, you want to get pure essential oil instead.