When I set out to bring more frugal home keeping practices into my life, little did I know how intimate I'd become with knowledge of all things essential oils. I started creating my own cleaning formulas and detergents and began to wonder... were their certain essential oils that were better for cleaning? The answer, I soon learned, was definitely.
Below, I've listed my favorite essential oils for cleaning your home, why it works, and how you can find it.
1. Peppermint
It seems like every time I type a new natural alternative question into Google, I find out that Peppermint is the go-to. Did you know you could use peppermint to repel mice? I hate the idea of bating mice just to bring them to their untimely death; however, I don't care for the little things inside my home either. I was looking for something that would keep them at bay with minimal risk to my pets and the environment. You can take peppermint essential oil-soaked cotton balls or small rags and place them where you think mice are entering your home. Change them out every couple of weeks.
You can buy it here on Amazon Prime.
2. Tea tree oil
File this one away as the oil of all oils. Tea tree oil isn't just great for disinfecting your home, but has general antibacterial properties that can help with cuts, sores, and bug bites. Once you dilute the oil with water (1tsp for every cup of water) in a spray bottle you can use it in the bathroom to clean sinks and toilets, in showers to keep mold at bay, and kitchen counters that see a lot of food prep.
You can buy it here on Amazon Prime.
3. Lemon
This is a scent that I just can't quit. There's something so refreshing about citrus, isn't there? I love to use lemon essential oils when making my own detergents (laundry and dish) as it naturally cuts grease. It's a great one to add to homemade hand soap due to its natural antiviral qualities.
You can buy it here on Amazon Prime.
4. Thyme
Not a fan of the strong tea tree oil scent? Thyme works the same way and has a more earthy scent.
You can buy it here on Amazon Prime.
How much to use?
You'll want to make sure that you use at least 20 drops of oil per 2 cups of water in order for the cleaning properties to shine through. If you're not a fan of one of the above oils' scent, you can add other scents on top of the 20 drops to balance things out.
Just starting your natural, homemade, or zero-waste cleaning routine? Check out my post on what products you'll want to get your hands on first. I also share a few DIY recipes for cleaners and sprays.
Enjoy!