Spring Cleaning with Essential Oils: A Complete Guide

There’s nothing quite like the feel of warm spring air. Fresh and clean, it inspires us to open the windows wide, do our own cleaning, sweep away the dirt and dreariness of winter and welcome the wonderful scents of the outdoors.

And for those of us looking to avoid cleaning with the harsh chemicals found in store-bought products, spring cleaning with essential oils is a great alternative. Not only do you get a variety of beneficial oils to choose from, but your home is also left smelling truly amazing.

So ditch those rubber gloves and masks and take a look at some of today’s best DIY cleaning product recipes for the home.

Carpets

Plush surfaces like carpet feel great, especially during harsh winter months. However, they also tend to trap a lot of dirt and odors in their fibers. Fortunately, we have two DIY rug cleaner recipes that will have them looking—and smelling—cleaner than ever in no time.

1. DIY Carpet Cleaning Powder

Here’s a quick and easy DIY carpet cleaning powder recipe that can be used on soft surfaces all over your house:

What you’ll need:

• Container with shaker lid

• 2 cups baking soda

• Essential oils of your choice

What you’ll do:

1. Put 1 cup of baking soda into a container.

2. Add 10-15 drops of essential oil. If you have kids, KidSafe Deodorizing Blend is a great choice. Otherwise, try creating your own combinations. Bergamot and Lemon essential oils, for example, make a scent that’s clean, fresh and slightly floral.

3. Add another cup of baking soda and 10-15 more drops of essential oil.

4. Shake well, sprinkle on carpets and allow to sit for 30-60 minutes before vacuuming.

2. DIY Carpet Cleaning Spray

If you prefer a spray cleaner, especially for tough stains, this DIY spray carpet cleaner recipe utilizes the natural stain-removing abilities of Lemon Essential Oil to help lift away grime and leave your carpet smelling fresh and clean.

What you’ll need:

• 1 cup white vinegar

• 1 cup hot water (tap water is okay)

• 2 tablespoons baking soda

• 20 drops Lemon

• Gloves

What you’ll do:

1. Using gloves, test a small spot for discoloration.

2. Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well, fully dissolving the baking soda.

3. Spray on the carpet and work in with scrub brush or towel.

4. Soak up excess moisture with a towel.

*Repeat as necessary.

Kitchens

The heart of the home, the kitchen can be a tough place to keep clean, especially after a long winter of cooking and entertaining. But these tried and true DIY kitchen cleaners are up to the task–no matter how dirty, greasy or smelly.

1. All-Purpose Countertop Cleaner

Make your surfaces shine with this DIY kitchen cleaner recipe that incorporates Tea Tree Essential Oil, known for its antiseptic properties. Great for countertops, sinks, and appliances, this recipe smells as great as it works! Or, for another great cleaner, try this:

What you’ll need:

• 1 cup peroxide (the regular kind that you find in a brown bottle)

• 1 cup distilled water

• 45 drops of Germ Destroyer or Germ Fighter

• 1 teaspoon Castile Soap or Sal-Suds

What you’ll do:

1. Add all ingredients to bottle and shake.

2. Spray and wipe off to clean.

3. Store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

2. Kitchen Drain Refresher Disks

Keep your kitchen drain smelling fresh and clean with this simple baking soda disk recipe. You don’t have to add essential oils until you’re ready to use. It’s easy to customize this recipe to your favorite scents!

What you’ll need:

• 1-1/3 cups baking soda

• ½ cup of water

• ½ cup vinegar

What you’ll do:

1. Mix baking soda and water to form a thick paste.

2. Press into silicone mold of your choice.

3. Bake at 200 degrees for 30 minutes.

4. Shut off oven, leave in to cool and then move to a countertop.

5. After 24 hours, remove from the mold and place in an airtight container.

6. To use, add 5-8 drops of essential oil to one disk, place in a garbage disposal, add ½ cup vinegar and allow to foam.

7. Run disposal.

Bathrooms

Perhaps no other room in the house can benefit from the scent of essential oils as much as the bathroom. Used in conjunction with DIY all-purpose countertop cleaner, these DIY recipes for the bathroom bring a whole new level of clean and fresh to your facilities!

1. Baking Soda Scrub

Use the essential oils of your choice to keep your sinks, toilets, and tubs sparkling clean with this quick and easy paste recipe. For extra disinfecting power, we recommend using 15 drops Tea Tree and 15 drops Germ Fighter Blend.

What you’ll need:

• 12 ounces baking soda

• 4 ounces Castile Soap

• ½ ounce of water

• ½ ounce vinegar

• 30 drops essential oil

• Small container or jar

What you’ll do:

1. Use all ingredients to create a paste.

2. Spread paste and let it sit 5-10 minutes.

3. Scrub and rinse.

Be sure to use gloves as this paste can be very harsh on your skin.

2. Bathroom Odor Obliterator

Banish bathroom odors with this easy-to-use toilet spray.

What you’ll need:

• 4-ounce spray bottle

• Your choice of citrus essential oils

• 1 tablespoon vegetable glycerin

• Water (add 0.5% Optiphen Plus to protect against bacteria)

What you’ll do:

1. Put vegetable glycerin in the bottle.

2. Add 20 drops each of three essential oils of your choice.

3. Swirl to combine.

4. Add water to fill.

5. Shake before using.

6. Add to toilet water before using the restroom and again after if necessary.

3. Really Easy Bathroom Refresher

This just might be the simplest DIY ever for keeping your bath smelling fresh!

What you’ll need:

• New toilet paper roll

• Essential oil of your choice

What you’ll do:

1. Drop 4-6 drops of essential oil onto the inside of the tube, spreading them out as evenly as possible.

2. Avoid using the last few “rounds” of toilet paper.

4. DIY Toilet Bombs

Drop these great-smelling disks in the bowl, scrub and flush for a clean everyone will appreciate.

What you’ll need:

• 1-½ cups baking soda

• 2/3 cup citric acid

• 2 tablespoons vinegar

• 60 drops Germ Destroyer or Germ Fighter essential oil blends

• Tray, mold, or small muffin tin

What you’ll do:

1. Mix baking soda and citric acid.

2. Add essential oils and mix again.

3. Slowly mix while spraying vinegar in.

4. When moist enough to stick (but not wet) put in a mold and dry for 2 hours.

5. Pop out of mold and store in the bathroom.

6. Drop in toilet, scrub, and flush, or just drop in for a quick refresh.

5. Hydrosol Shower Spray

Cleaning that stubborn mold and mildew out of your shower is easier than ever, thanks to the power of hydrosols, the water distilled with essential oils. Because they ’re water-based, there are lots of great ways to use hydrosols.

What you’ll need:

• A dark glass spray bottle

• Tea Tree Hydrosol or Lavender Hydrosol

What you’ll do:

1. Fill an amber or dark glass spray bottle with the hydrosol and spray on the shower surface.

2. Let sit for 10 minutes.

3. Wipe clean.

4. Store in a cool, dry place or the refrigerator.

Air Fresheners

We’ve all heard about the potential downsides of artificial fragrances. Fortunately, these DIY essential air freshener recipes require just a few natural ingredients.

1. Mason Jar Room Freshener

Use your favorite scent to shake things up with this easy DIY room refresher recipe that uses baking soda to help remove odors from the air as it refreshes.

What you’ll need:

• Glass Mason jar with a screw-on lid

• ½ cup baking soda

• 20-30 drops of essential oils of your choice

• Coffee filter

What you’ll do:

1. Place baking soda in a jar and add essential oils.

2. Stir well.

3. Place a coffee filter on top and screw on lid.

4. Shake to renew scent.

2. Gelatin Air Freshener

Perfect as a gift, or for your home, these homemade gelatin air fresheners look as great as they smell!

What you’ll need:

• 1 ounce powdered gelatin

• 2 cups of water

• 1 tablespoon salt

• 20-30 drops of essential oils of your choice

• Optional food coloring

• Glass jar

• Small saucepan

• Stick to stir with

What you’ll do:

1. Bring 1 cup water to a boil in a saucepan.

2. Add gelatin and whisk until smooth and gelatin is dissolved.

3. Put in your salt and second cup of water and set aside.

4. Add essential oils and food coloring to a glass jar, pour gelatin mixture on top and stir.

5. Allow to cool.

3. Hydrosol Room Spray

The water that is distilled with essential oils, hydrosols are a quick and easy way to freshen any room in the house.

What you’ll need:

• A dark glass spray bottle

• A hydrosol of your choice

What you’ll do:

1. Fill a dark glass spray bottle with hydrosol.

2. Spray in rooms to freshen.

Windows and glass

Nothing says clean like crystal clear windows. And citrus essential oils have what it takes to make all your glass shine.

1. DIY Citrus Window and Glass Cleaner

Put the power of favorites like lemon, lime, and sweet orange to work on your windows.

What you’ll need:

• 1-½ cups white vinegar

• ½ cup distilled water

• 8 drops citrus essential oil

• 16-ounce spray bottle

What you’ll do:

1. Put all ingredients in the bottle.

2. Shake well and use.

Store in the fridge and try to use within a couple weeks.

Furniture Polish

Spring is a great time to wipe away the dullness of winter from your furniture, especially if you’re using an all-natural polish that smells great!

1. All Natural DIY Furniture Polish

Furniture polish doesn’t have to be full of toxic chemicals with great recipes like this out there.

What you’ll need:

• 1-ounce unrefined solid coconut oil

• 12 drops Jojoba Carrier Oil

• 4 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil

• 3 drops Lavender Essential Oil

• Microfiber cloth

What you’ll do:

1. Combine all ingredients.

2. Place a very small amount on the microfiber cloth and buff until you have an even shine and all streaks are gone.

Dusting

Getting rid of the dust is a must for any good spring cleaning–especially when it leaves your home smelling like your favorite essential oils.

1. DIY Dusting Spray

This DIY dusting recipe uses a combination of oils and water to help trap dirt and dust and leave your surfaces shiny.

What you’ll need:

• 6 drops Jojoba Carrier Oil

• 10 drops essential oil of your choice

• 4 ounces of water

• Spray bottle

• Microfiber cloth

What you’ll do:

1. Combine all ingredients in spray bottle.

2. Spray and wipe with a microfiber cloth until shiny.

Store in fridge and use within a couple weeks. If you want, you can add a preservative to prolong shelf life.

Weed Control

Looking to do some cleaning up your yard as well as the inside of your home? Want to avoid toxic weed killers? No problem. Essential oils are a safe and effective way to get your yard cleaned up and looking great for spring.

1. Clove Weed Killer

A powerful cleaner for the home, Clove Essential Oil is also popular as a natural weed killer.

What you’ll need:

• Pinch of salt

• 20 drops Clove Essential Oil

• 20 ounces vinegar

• Spray bottle

What you’ll do:

1. Combine all ingredients in the spray bottle.

2. Shake well before use.

3. Spray only on the plants you want to eliminate.

Be careful to avoid contact with the skin.

Conclusion

With so many great natural DIY cleaning recipes to choose from, why wait? Spring is the perfect time to ditch toxic cleaners and put the power of essential oils to work at your home. With so many essential oils that are great for cleaning, you just may end up with a clean house AND some signature scents you love.