It sounds a little crazy to be saying this in the year 2017 but I recently purchased my first essential oils ever and I am loving the different ways you can use them. I am not a salesmen for Doterra or anything so don’t worry I’m not going to sell you anything haha--I just wanted to share a couple ways you can use them for the home—specifically natural home cleaners.

I’m not against using Clorox cleaners and the like for cleaning your bathrooms but the older I get the more I realize--why not use natural cleaners that work just as well and smell so much better?! I’m about to say something I never thought I’d say—I actually look forward to bathroom cleaning day because my bathroom smells fresh like lemons when I’m done—not toxic and smelly from all the Clorox cleaners. I think that’s one of the main reasons I started using cleaning products like this—I really hate the smell of the Clorox Bathroom cleaners and I LOVE the fresh clean smell of lemon, orange and lavender.

Not only do they smell great, they also make wonderful home disinfectants and due to their chemical components, some essential oils are perfect for sanitizing. The majority of them have antimicrobial and antifungal properties and all of them are antiseptic. So basically this means that almost any essential oil is great for disinfecting. The ones that are most commonly used for cleaning and sanitizing are tea tree oil, lemon, orange, lavender, and peppermint.

My favorite cleaner of all is this lemon bathroom cleaner made with fresh lemons. It really cuts through any yucky stuff, especially with toilets. The lady whose blog I got the recipe talks about how she came up with this because she was sick of the yucky “boy bathroom” in her house. We all know little boys can make bathrooms kind of yucky and this lemon spray cleans all that right up and keeps things smelling so fresh and clean!

Lemon Bathroom Cleaner

1 part water

1 part vinegar

Small lemon, sliced

Shake well and let it sit for 24 hours. You can use right away but, if you wait a day the lemon neutralized the vinegar smell and comes out a fresh lemon scent.  Once your cleaning concoction is ready, hit the toilet, it will amaze you with its strength to dissolve the dried urine and how easily it is wiped up.  It cleans the in between cracks and crevices and removes the smell instantly. It’s like magic!

All Purpose Cleaner

2 cups water

½ c. white vinegar

1 tsp. dish soap

1 tsp. baking soda

10-20 drops of essential oil such as lemon or orange (optional)

Mix together in a spray bottle. Spray surface and wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.

Shower Spray

1 cup water

1 cup white vinegar

1 cup dish soap

10-20 drops of essential oil such as lemon or orange (optional)

Mix together in a spray bottle. Spray surface and wipe.

Glass Cleaner

½ cup white vinegar

½ cup rubbing alcohol

10 drops lemon essential oil

1 Tbsp. corn starch

Mix together in a spray bottle. Spray surface and wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.

Scouring Powder

1 cup baking soda

½ cup salt

½ c borax powder

Combine ingredients in a jar. Wet surface with water and sprinkle on your scouring powder. Leave for 5 minutes then scrub clean with a brush or damp cloth.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

¼ cup baking soda

¼ cup borax

1 cup white vinegar

Place ingredients directly into toilet. Mix gently with bowl brush. Let sit at least 30 minutes before scrubbing.

Mold and Mildew Cleaner

2 cups water

2 tsp. tea tree essential oil

Mix in a clean spray bottle. Once settled, spray to cover spread of mold. Do not rinse. All the mold will be dead in 24 hours. If there is residual staining, wash with a natural abrasive like baking soda or borax. Use regularly in spots where fungi develop to keep them under control.

Carpet Deodorizer

1 box baking soda

3-5 drops of Essential Oil of choice such as lavender or peppermint

Sprinkle on carpet. Let sit 30 minutes to an hour. Vacuum carpet.

Amazing Grout Cleaner

3 ½ cups warm water

¼ cup baking soda

2 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. ammonia (or lemon juice)

2 Tbsp. cup vinegar

Mix the ingredients in spray bottle and shake (you might have to half the recipe.) Spray the grout (smaller sections at a time is easier) and let the spray sit and absorb a little into the grout. Be generous.

Grab a grout brush or scrub brush with a handle and scrub the grout vigorously where the spray has been sitting. Don’t get it in your eyes!

Use a clean damp rag to wipe each line of grout right after you scrub it to pick up all that dirty liquid. It is handy to keep a bowl or bucket of warm water nearby because you’ll want to continuously clean the rag.

Do you ever use natural cleaning products? What are your thoughts on them? What essential oils do you like to use for cleaning? Please share in the comments below.