If you have not yet used essential oils for cleaning then it is time to learn how to make natural cleaning products. Make your own cleaners with essential oils from simple ingredients like White Vinegar, Baking Soda, Borax and plain old Table Salt. Harness the properties and active constituents of essential oils and turn those cleaners into bug busting powerhouses to protect your home.
Capitalize on highly effective essential oils like Lavender, Oregano, Lemon and Eucalyptus to protect your surfaces and your home. Join us as we make All Purpose Cleaners, Window Spray, Mold and Mildew Magic, Furniture and Wood Polish, Stove Top Scrubs and even a cleaning bomb for your Garbage Disposal. Your home will sparkle from top to bottom and smell gloriously fresh, crisp and clean to boot!
Why Make Natural Cleaning Products?
Ditch The Chemicals
One of the main reasons I started to learn how to make natural cleaning products was because of my sensitive skin.
Commercial cleaners and laundry detergents were wreaking chemical and toxic havoc on my delicate skin and it was letting me know in no uncertain terms it was struggling. When your hands are cracked and bleeding with dermatitis, you need a better solution.
I found it!
Now I make my own natural cleaning products with essential oils and my skin thanks me.
The Ones To Watch
It makes sense to ditch the chemicals found in commercial cleaners for so many reasons.
You have to be cautious because there are still products that can claim to be “organic” or “natural”. However, they still could contain the toxins that are harmful to you and the planet:
Some of those toxins that slip through the ‘organic or natural net’ are:
Phthalates:
These are found in a plethora of cleaning products. Usually they are added to give or to boost “fragrance.”
The problem is that it can cause a variety of hormone imbalances and contribute to reproductive issues.
Triclosan:
This is often used as an antibacterial and/or an antifungal agent.
The issue is that it is known to cause skin conditions like dermatitis and it is likely to increase allergic reactions.
Perchloroethylene (PERC):
You would normally find this present in the more heavy-duty cleaners designed for carpets and rugs.
They know that this chemical can cause irritation to both the skin and eyes. It is also associated with damage to the liver and the respiratory system.
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QUATS):
You are going to find this most commonly as an antibacterial agent in disinfectant wipes.
This chemical is widely known to disrupt vital cellular pathways.
2-Butoxyethanol:
This chemical can be present in a variety of general household multi-purpose cleaners.
I’m really not keen on this one because it is reported to bring harm to the skin, eyes, kidneys, and blood.
Find out more from an avid natural product advocate and the most famous Castile Soap producer, Dr. Bronner’s Avoid These Toxins in Your Everyday Home and Body Care Products.
Do your own research and let EWG guide the way for you with their huge database of information.
Protecting The Environment
Sustainability and looking after the Earth are ever increasingly on our agenda and often we can feel under pressure. With busy work and home lives it’s easy to run out of ideas and energy, on how you can do your bit.
The ideas and certainly the recipes in this article are designed to be cost effective, accessible and above all EASY.
Simply by ditching the chemicals and using reusable containers to dispense and store our natural cleaning products, we are doing a BIG bit and making positive changes.
One Small Step at a Time
I used to get really annoyed because other people were not ‘doing their bit’, for themselves or for others. The family member that never recycles anything. The one that does not know what a compost bin looks like and the one that has terrible skin conditions and still won’t ditch the chemicals.
I could not…and still cannot, control what they do. I decided to focus on myself.
I focused on the things that I could do and I started to introduce them one by one. One small step at a time.
From composting as much of our household waste as possible and recycling as much as humanly possible. My waste bin is now a small caddy that I always have to empty before it is full before it starts to smell. I simply cannot fill it!
Then I slowly started using all the last of the chemical cleaners in the cupboard and I did not replace them from the store. I made my own natural cleaning products instead.
By making changes one small step at a time rather than trying to do all at once. It makes you feel less pressured, less stressed and it gives you time and space to explore options that work for you and the whole family.
You don’t even have to buy all your essential oils at once either. Slowly build up your selection of essential oils when you learn how to make natural cleaning products with essential oils. Buy two really good versatile choices like Tea Tree and Lavender. They will soon become indispensable around the home for a myriad of purposes.
Sensitivity Issues
Making the shift and learning how to make natural cleaning products is pretty much always going to be better for your skin and the environment.
It will be an especially effective shift for anyone in the family that has sensitive skin or skin allergies or conditions like eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis.
By reducing the amounts of chemicals in the home environment we can open the way for potential improvements to a variety of skin conditions.
I know it made a radical change to the overall health and appearance of my own skin. I don’t have to worry about dermatitis or allergic related eczema at all now. All down to the natural cleaning products that I am using at home.
Creating A Signature Home Scent
Part of the fun of designing your own natural and homemade cleaning products is that you can tailor make it in a fragrance to suit your home. A dual purpose product that delivers really effective cleaning power but also fits in with the scents of your home.
You can create a range of natural cleaning products that also enhance your Signature Home Scent.
Find out more about creating your very own Signature Home Scent in Layering Perfumes With Essential Oils - The Home Edition.
Try Out New Ideas
Articles like this are great inspiration for you to try out new things. Maybe it will encourage you to ‘do your bit’ by discovering how easy some of the ideas and recipes actually are.
Why not have a go at making natural cleaning products like laundry detergents and all purpose cleaners and make the shift, one step and one natural product at a time.
It is becoming quite fashionable now to create gift hampers of homemade natural cleaning products. It is a great gift to be able to include the recipes and pass onto someone else how to make natural cleaning products too. Share the knowledge and save this precious Earth, one tiny step at a time.
The Benefits of Using Essential Oils to Make Natural Cleaning Products
Anti - What - Now?
This is one of the things that I absolutely love about aromatherapy. I just need to ask “What do I want this product to DO”?
You can target exactly what you want to and harness the powers of essential oils with antiviral, antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.
You want a dish soap or surface and DIY cleaners to be stuffed to the gunnels with essential oils with these properties.
'Anti - This And That' Essential Oils
. Let's look at a few of the famous 'anti' actions of some essential oils.
- Antiviral
- Antimicrobial
- Antibacterial
- Antibiotic
But what does all that mean, and why is it important?
Antiviral
For an essential oil to be cited as an antiviral, it must contain certain components that inhibit the growth of a virus. This is different from something called virucide, which is what keeps the virus from engulfing and spreading. The antiviral components in essential oils can help the body fight harmful viruses. In some cases, they can also ease symptoms and shorten the lifespan of a virus.
The essential oils of tea tree and clove are well known examples of antiviral properties, especially 1,8 cineole in tea tree and eugenol in clove. Some essential oils that contain antiviral components are the subject of recent research in the fight against Covid-19.
Antimicrobial
When an essential oil is described as antimicrobial, it means that one or more chemical components will be an agent that resists or destroys pathogenic microorganisms.
The NPIC states: “Antimicrobial products kill or slow the spread of microorganisms. Microorganisms include bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi such as molds and fungi."
Essential oils such as Peppermint and Lemon contain compounds that have been shown to be antimicrobial.
Antibacterial
Not all bacteria are bad for us; in fact, our bodies are filled with billions of beneficial bacteria, such as those in our gut flora, that help us with things like digestion.
We now know that there are better approaches than declaring war on all bacteria. This is where natural alternatives are coming to the fore, as they appear to be more selective and discriminating in terms of which bacteria to target.
Essential oils such as Oregano and Ginger also contain very effective and efficient antibacterial components. Research conducted by Winska in 2019 showed that lavender essential oil exhibits these antibacterial properties.
Antibiotic
We're all familiar with the idea that an antibiotic is a pill you swallow, but some essential oils also contain components that prevent the growth or destroy bacteria, just like oral antibiotics. Please do not swallow, use topically only.
Currently, essential oils such as oregano, thyme, black pepper and tea tree are routinely studied to study the actions of their antibiotic components.
Polly Soo Xi Yap (2014) wrote-
"Synergistic activity exerted using essential oils has been found to reduce the minimum effective dose of antibiotics in the treatment of infections. This reduces the adverse effects of the antibiotic. Most importantly, an association of antibiotics with essential oils targeting resistant bacteria may have a different mechanism of action, leading to new choices to overcome the onslaught of microbial resistance. The exploitation of essential oils in preventing bacterial resistance is believed to be more promising because essential oils are multi-component compared to many conventional antimicrobials that only have a single target site".
Essential oil constituents seem to be more discerning in the bacteria that they target. This can be a gamechanger for all those friendly bacteria that pharmaceutical antibiotics often kill.
It is promising too, that some of the essential oils researched in this paper, could also be effective in fighting against other diseases. Especially those found to be resistant to pharmaceutical antibiotics, like MRSA.
Combine the 'Antis'
Now that you know the actions and importance of these essential oils 'anti’- properties, you can see the benefit of combining antiviral, antibacterial, and antibiotic essential oils into natural cleaning products to target any potential nasties in your home.
| Properties of Popular Essential Oils Regularly Used in Natural Cleaning Products | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) |
Oregano (Origanum compactum Benth) |
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) |
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) |
Lemon (Citrus limon L (Burm.) F.) |
Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L) |
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) |
Black Pepper (Piper Nigrum) |
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) |
|
| Antiviral - Substance that inhibits the growth of a virus | x | x | x | x | x | |||||
| Antimicrobial - An agent that resists or destroys pathogenic microorganisms | x | x | x | x | ||||||
| Antibacterial - An agent that resists or destroys bacteria | x | x | x | x | x | |||||
| Antifungal - used to prevent fungal growth; active against fungi. | x | x | x | |||||||
Perfectly Tailored For Everyone in The Home
When you learn how to make natural cleaning products you can make exactly what you and your family actually need. All without the need for chemicals.
You can design natural cleaning products for those in your home with sensitive skin, allergic skin conditions or those whom suffer from asthma and respiratory conditions.
Take control over your cleaning recipes and natural cleaning products and ditch the chemicals that you will no longer need to share your precious home with.
Not Just A Pretty Smell
We need to remember that essential oils aren’t just about ‘anti this and anti that’.
They have very real and potent metaphysical aspects as well. Whilst we will not be applying any of the products to our skin for the most part, we are still going to be inhaling them. Even if it is in a diluted form, they still have potency and efficacy.
We can still use them to influence, mood, change the atmosphere and provoke positive change.
Washing the kids bedlinen in Lavender essential oil can encourage sweet dreams and blissful sleep.
Spritzing your teens sports kit in Mandarin, Sweet Orange and Bergamot essential oils can bolster their inner confidence and add an extra zing to their playing prowess.
Cleaning your kitchen surfaces with Spearmint can make you feel more awake, more alert and help you focus on the tasks in hand.
Using a Refreshing Spray on your bathrobe with Rose and Ylang-Ylang essential oils will make you feel more cosseted, comforted and dare I say, a little more sensuous.
Always consider those potent effects that essential oils can have upon your mind, body and spirit as well as your kitchen surfaces. That way, you can really harness those properties in a way that serves the whole household in the best way possible.
Where To Buy Essential Oils to Make Natural Cleaning Products
When people first set out to learn how to make natural cleaning products, they ask questions like “Where To Buy Essential Oils For Cleaning”?
Right here at VINEVIDA is our answer to that… as predictable as it may be.
There is no mystery to this.
Some essential oils producers may sell a lesser grade, like they do with Ylang-Ylang, for instance. They may sell the first part of the distillation for a much more expensive price than the end of a distillation process. Those first distillations generally go to the big perfumery houses.
For other essential oils this happens a lot less often and that is why you don’t generally see that range of ‘lesser’ essential oils on the market for a reduced price. By all means do your own research, but costs are not that much different.
Don’t lose sight of the fact that you still want the best quality essential oil that you can afford. This is especially so, if you have skin sensitivities, respiratory issues and babies or smaller children in the home.
There are no special ‘cleaning essential oils’, you can use what you already have in your essential oils box at home.
Remember that cold pressed citrus oils like Sweet Orange essential oil, don’t tend to last too long on the shelf or in your oils box. They oxidize quite quickly, so use old bottles of those to clean the loo or the floor instead.
The Best Essential Oils To Make Natural Cleaning Products
It can be hard to work out which essential oils to use when you first learn how to make natural cleaning products. I have given you a few examples above of the ‘anti’ essential oils, but let us not stop there!
Note On Safety:
While none of the recipes below are designed to be applied topically to your skin I have still included the safety of these essential oils and the recipe blends. After all, not everyone wears rubber gloves to wash up or wipe the kitchen surface.
We all have our favorite essential oils to make natural cleaning products and these are some of ours at VINEVIDA.
Tea Tree Essential Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)
This is such a well known and widely used essential oil for bug busting. It is just as effective on your surfaces as it is in your cold and flu blends.
I use this pretty liberally around the house and it can be found in most of my cleaning products. It is certainly my top choice, especially before the grandkids come to visit.
Actions to capitalize upon: Anti-infectious, antiseptic, antiviral, bactericidal, fungicidal, immuno-stimulant, parasiticide
Safety:
- Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Oregano Essential Oil (Origanum compactum Benth)
Research indicates oregano oil to be an Effective Antimicrobial Agent due to the constituents it contains.
Use oregano oil as a key ingredient in natural cleaning supplies to make the best use of its antibacterial properties.
As we head into cold and flu season, we’re all looking for ways to clean our home while ensuring it smells good. With its antibacterial, anti-fungal (Shigeharu Inouye, 2007), antiviral, and antiseptic properties, oregano oil is great for cleaning floors and kitchens.
When using the oil for cleaning, it doesn’t leave an unpleasant residue and can be used on most surfaces. It also provides a pleasant aroma throughout your space.
Actions to capitalize upon: antiseptic, antiviral, bactericidal, fungicidal, parasiticide.
Safety:
- Do not use it during pregnancy.
Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
Another of the most popular essential oils. Lavender is used across the globe for a myriad of reasons, cleaning among them.
Lavender is a beautifully effective essential oil for any natural cleaning routine.
One of the reasons why it can be so popular is because of that light floral scent. Many find it preferable to more ‘medicinal’ fragrances of Eucalyptus and Tea Tree.
Lavender Essential Oil contains very similar properties to these more conventional cleaning oils. It is antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-fungal, and its antiviral possibilities are currently being researched.
Actions to capitalize upon: Antimicrobial, antitoxic, antiseptic, antiviral, bactericidal, fungicidal, parasiticide.
Safety:
- Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Lemon Essential Oil (Citrus limon L (Burm.) F. )
I don’t know about you but I just LOVE Lemon and can’t get enough of it, from the real thing, to the essential oil. My drinks are most often Lemon based and I would always choose Lemon cake over Chocolate cake.
It’s easy to predict that it is also going to be an essential oil that features in my cleaning products, as does the fruit itself. More on that below.
As an essential oil it has all those actions that you want for a surface cleaner, antimicrobial and bactericidal… let it at those hidden nasties on your kitchen surfaces!
The bright fresh zingy scent is an absolute boon and can brighten those more medicinal scents of Tea Tree and Eucalyptus. They blend wonderfully together.
Actions to capitalize upon: Antimicrobial, antiseptic, antitoxic, bactericidal, insecticidal.
Safety:
- Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil (Eucalyptus globulus)
I am one of those people that really like the refreshing and enlivening fragrance of Eucalyptus, but I know some people aren’t keen. However, don’t let that put you off using it, especially for cleaning. Blend it with other essential oils or even fragrance oils and make the most of its actions and properties.
It makes for a wonderful addition to a blend for an all purpose surface cleaner and I quite like it in one of those descaling bombs for the loo.
It’s perfect for cleaning where sticky fingers have been…or will be! Weirdly, it’s also pretty good, as is Lemon essential oil for removing those sticky residues. I have tried it for delabeling jars and they are both pretty impressive.
Actions to capitalize upon: Antiseptic, antimicrobial, antifungal, parasiticide.
Safety:
- Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
- Eucalyptus essential oil is high in 1,8 cineole, a compound known to slow respiration. As such we do not advise using this oil in dilutions of more than 0.25% dilution on children under the age of six.
Other Great Ingredients to Make Natural Cleaning Products
When you first set out to learn how to make natural cleaning products you need to understand what products will work best and why. Let me try and demystify it a bit for you.
White Vinegar
Now, this does come in different grades so pay attention to labeling with White Vinegar.
You can buy Distilled White Vinegar as a food product, it is perfectly suitable to clean with as well.
However, I would NOT use a White Vinegar that has been labeled for cleaning and use it as a food product. Vinegar can come in different percentages, the higher the % the stronger the acid in the vinegar.
Vinegar contains Acetic acid which is a colorless organic compound. It is the acetic acid that gives vinegar its characteristically sour taste and rather pungent odor.
Acetic acid is an ingredient that is widely harnessed for use in commercial household cleaners. It is this acidic nature of vinegar that gives it its power and efficacy.
I find it wonderful for dissolving mineral deposits (I pop a tbsp in my canner to stop the jars misting). It is first class at tackling dirt, grease, and grime and is widely used in the industry as a soap-free degreaser.
Depending on the percentage of the acetic acid, it can be strong enough to kill bacteria. However, I would want to add extra essential oils to make it into a more effective disinfectant.
This will become a staple of your natural cleaning products cupboard.
Castile Soap
Castile Soap is much more popular in the USA than it is here on this side of the pond. However it is becoming much more popular with those who are making the switch to natural cleaning products.
Castile Soap is generally a vegetable-based soap. It is usually made from pure olive oil and its name is derived from the Castile region of Spain, where it originated.
Castile Soap is usually always made from completely natural ingredients. Generally it is vegan friendly being free from animal fats.
I like it in my house because it is non toxic and totally biodegradable, even in the water course. This is important to me because I often capture my gray water to use for watering my garden.
Why Do People Recommend Castile Soap For Cleaning?
When you test the pH of most natural (and commercial) soaps they are on the more alkaline side of the pH scale. Castile Soap differs as it is around 8.9 ph. This puts it in the same league as baking soda.
This means it is more alkaline than most general mild dish soaps, but that it is not as alkaline as a bleach for example. It is this higher level of alkalinity that makes it suitable for a variety of uses around the home.
Why is Castile Soap So Effective?
The individual Castile Soap molecules have these amazing grease-grabbing properties. When it mixes with water it will actually attract all that dirt and grease and hang on to it. Which means it will hold all the yucky stuff IN the water and off your crockery or surfaces.
Don’t Mix It With White Vinegar
As we saw above White Vinegar is mainly Acetic Acid and on one end of the pH scale. Castile Soap is mostly Alkaline and on the other end of the pH scale.
All that happens when you mix them together is that they cancel each other out and occasionally can leave a type of white film.
Though, on balance, I have to say, this has not ever happened to me and I will mix them together in certain situations for that extra cleaning potential.
Borax
Now we need to define here that Borax and Baking Soda are NOT the same thing.
They’re both types of salts, and they’re both very popular as agents for natural cleaning products. However, Borax (sodium tetraborate) has a pH of 9.5, compared to baking soda’s (sodium bicarbonate) pH of 8.
Therefore, borax is significantly more alkaline than baking soda.
It is worth mentioning too that whilst baking soda is safe to consume, borax is definitely not.
I like to use it as a laundry booster and will use it as one of the ingredients in my homemade laundry detergent.
You can use Borax in high concentrations to lift those stubborn stains out. I use it most to give my household cloths a deep clean, usually after my husband uses them to clean the car of all things…. Cue eye roll!
Baking Soda
Like White Vinegar, Baking soda is great at dissolving dirt and grease. Especially when it is in water, it also softens the water as well.
It also possesses this brilliant deodorizing effect by changing both acidic and basic odor molecules into a neutral state. Literally zapping those honky whiffs into oblivion. This is why it can make an effective carpet and soft furnishings deodorizer.
And yes…. You can just use the packet from the baking cupboard.
Salt
Most of us have salt in our kitchens right? I am constantly banging on about how they make wonderful scrubs for your face, body and feet, but how often do we think to use them in the same way for cleaning?
There does not have to be any mystery to natural cleaning products, it CAN be as simple as a bit of Salt mixed with Castile Soap to remove burnt on food from a saucepan, or the stove top.
When you get those mineral deposits and limescale around your faucets, Lemon and Salt to the rescue. Even before I made the switch to natural cleaning products, this was my go-to for limescaled faucets. There is nothing I know of that is more effective.
Simply take half a lemon and work it around the mouth of the faucet for a few moments, sprinkle some salt in the indentation and have another good go and use it to ‘scrub’ in a twisting motion.
If the limescale is stubborn, use a couple of rubber bands to hold the salty Lemon over the end of the faucet and leave for an hour. After an hour, give it another good scrub and polish it up. Perfect!
Lemon Juice
As you can see from the section above, Lemons are perfect for cleaning and you will see it repeated through the recipes.
It is the high levels of Citric Acid in Lemons that make it so effective. Citric Acid is a known antibacterial and antiseptic agents. This means that lemons can kill bacteria quite effectively. They can also be used to remove mold and mildew.
Historic restorers often use it to remove rust stains from antique linens.
The high levels of glorious essential oils in the peel (or rinds) of the lemon, cut through grease and grime as an effective degreaser. It’s great for tackling staining. I use it regularly on my bread boards, I just take half a lemon (even from my empty glass of soda) and rub it hard on the board to shift stains and act like a disinfectant might. They also smell better too!
I usually find that Lemon juice will leave household items sparkling clean and shiny.
My favorite household cleaner is one which I use all my discarded citrus peels from drinks and eating, pop them in a jar with White Vinegar and leave them to steep for a few weeks. You get extra use of something that would have ended up in the bin or on the compost heap!
Olive Oil
When I made the shift to natural cleaning products an interested friend asked me “Well what do you use for furniture polish”? She was somewhat taken aback with my answer … Olive Oil.
“Just… Olive Oil”?
Yes…. just Olive Oil. Occasionally, I might decide to be fancy, (when I can be bothered to polish), and add some essential oils for fragrance.
For deep polishing and nourishing protection for real wood, I will mix it with beeswax (just like you would make lip balm) and use that for my furniture. Buffing to a high shine.
Next time you take the commercial polish out of the cupboard, look at the ingredients. What do you think is better for your home?
How to Make Natural Cleaning Products: Use Our Favorite Fragrance Oils
When you learn how to make natural cleaning products and intend to use Fragrance Oils it is important to understand that just like essential oils they have their own IFRA guidelines. Each one will come with a maximum percentage that you can use in the product category.
You can find this for yourself and the individual Fragrance Oil webpage. See the image below This is the bar that takes you to all the information for that Fragrance Oil. Click on Documents and then on the IFRA Statement.
Cleaning products come under category 10A and includes the following products:
- Hand wash laundry detergent (including concentrates)
- Laundry pre-treatment of all types (e.g. paste, sprays, sticks)
- Hand dishwashing detergent (including concentrates)
- Hard surface cleaners of all types (bathroom and kitchen cleansers, furniture polish, etc.) Machine laundry detergents with skin contact (e.g. liquids, powders) including concentrates
- Dry cleaning kits
- Toilet seat wipes
- Fabric softeners of all types including fabric softener sheets
- Household cleaning products, other types including fabric cleaners, soft surface cleaners, carpet cleaners, furniture polishes sprays and wipes, leather cleaning wipes, stain removers, fabric enhancing sprays, treatment products for textiles (e.g. starch sprays, fabric treated with fragrances after wash, deodorizers for textiles or fabrics)
- Floor wax
- Fragranced oil for lamp ring, reed diffusers, pot-pourri, liquid refills for air fresheners (non-cartridge systems), etc.
Fresh Linen
The crisp, fresh vibrancy of tart apple, tangy orange, and tangy lemon comes your way first. They are sensually softened by the beautiful exotic flowers of intoxicating jasmine and orange blossom. It is expertly blended with just a hint of seductive musk as the finish blossoms.
Close your eyes and you can feel the grass between your toes and the breeze on your face as you hang the laundry on a summer day.
Fragrance Notes
- Top: Lemon, Orange, Apple
- Mid: Jasmine, Orange blossom
- Bottom: Musk
IFRA Category: 10A
Safety Dilution: 5.75%
Citrus Odor Eliminator
This is wonderful to help you to dispel pet and cooking odors. It’s a wonderfully light and bright fragrance with crisp, refreshing grapefruit, a hint of sharp lemon and zesty orange flourish. Finished with the comforting sensuousness of musk.
Fragrance Notes
- Top: Grapefruit
- Mid: Lemon, Orange
- Bottom: Musk
IFRA Category: 10A
Safety Dilution: 14.15%
Downy April Fresh (Our Version Of)
The scent of spring breaks into the garden. Listen to the bees drifting in and out of the Rose, Jasmine and Moss. You can hear the birds chirping in the Cedar and Sandalwood trees, as you sit underneath sipping tea and enjoying the citrus and lemon cake on the table.
Fragrance Notes
- Top: Citruses
- Mid: Rose, Jasmine
- Bottom: Musk, Cedarwood, Sandalwood
IFRA Category: 10A
Safety Dilution: 1.85%
Eucalyptus Spearmint By BBW (Our Version Of)
A fresh, exhilarating morning-time boost of super fresh Eucalyptus & Spearmint oils with hints of zesty and zingy citrus backnotes. It is beautifully finished and deeply grounded with the masculine tones of alluring Musk and Amber.
Fragrance Notes
- Top: Citrus
- Mid: Eucalyptus & Spearmint
- Bottom: Musk, Amber
IFRA Category: 10A
Safety Dilution: 3.01%
Ocean Rain
Ocean Rain Fragrance Oil is a truly dreamy blend of beautifully fresh and clean notes. The first note that hits you with that summer breeze is the unmistakable scent of Sea Salt. Orange purifies and refreshes the entire olfactory profile. The Rose brings that floral depth and gives it a finishing touch. Just close your eyes and you can feel the sand between your toes and the sea spray on your face.
Fragrance Notes
- Top: Crisp notes
- Mid: Sea salt, Orange
- Bottom: Rose
IFRA Category: 10A
Safety Dilution: 8.64%
Vanilla Odor Eliminator
Deftly disguise the smell of last night’s rather fragrant cooking with a bakery mirage instead. Introduce that gorgeous sugary Vanilla fragrance, grounded with sensuous Amber. An absolute saving grace for covering up iffy whiffs quickly and effectively.
Fragrance Notes
- Top: Vanilla
- Mid: Vanilla, Sugar
- Bottom: Vanilla, Amber
IFRA Category: 10A
Safety Dilution: No restrictions
Our Favorite Recipes to Make Natural Cleaning Products
On the quest to explore how to make natural cleaning products for yourself it can be hard to know where to start and what will be effective.
Here we have a selection of effective natural cleaning products for you to try, all with easy to follow recipes and ingredients that are accessible for most people.
How To Make Natural Cleaning Products:
Homemade Essential Oil Cleaning Spray Without Vinegar
Some people seem to have an aversion to using vinegar in cleaning products and in an effort to please as many of you as possible, here is a recipe without it.
You Will Need:
- Measuring jug, cups and spoons
- Stainless steel stirrer or spoon
- Funnel
- Spray bottle.
- Label and/or Permanent Marker
Ingredients:
- ½ cup Rubbing Alcohol (It must be 70%+ proof)
- 1 ¼ cup Water
- ¼ cup of Castile Soap
Essential Oil Blend:
- 100 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)
- 100 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil (Eucalyptus globulus)
- 100 drops of Lemon Essential Oil (Citrus limon L (Burm.) F. )
Safety:
This is not designed for topical application if it does get on your skin the safety is as follows:
- Do not use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Method:
- Mix all of the ingredients together in a large measuring jug.
- Add the essential oil blend and mix well.
- Decant into a spray bottle using a funnel.
- Prime the pump.
- Label clearly listing all the ingredients for safety reasons.
- Add the instruction to ‘Shake Well Before Each Use’.
NOTE: I often just write directly on the bottle with a permanent marker, as labels often can fall off or get wet and blur the ink. It is a more consistently safe way of labeling your bottle. Always refill with the same recipe or clearly note any variations on the bottle.
How to Use:
- Spray on to the intended surface and wipe clean.
- Rinse if required but not necessary.
- Always keep the bottle out of the reach of children and store safely just like you would any other cleaning product.
All Purpose Surface Cleanser
This is the cleaner that you can use all around the home, from kitchens and bathrooms, to the garden furniture. Versatile and effective and super easy to make yourself at home, time and again.
You Will Need:
- Measuring jug, cups and spoons
- Stainless steel stirrer or spoon
- Funnel
- Spray bottle
- Label and/or Permanent Marker
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups of White Distilled Vinegar
- 1 ½ cups of Distilled Water
- ½ cup Castile Soap
Optional for tougher cleaning: ½ cup of Rubbing Alcohol (It must be 70%+ proof)
Essential Oil Blend:
- 150 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil (Eucalyptus globulus)
- 150 drops of Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 50 drops of Oregano Essential Oil (Origanum compactum Benth)
Safety:
This is not designed for topical application if it does get on your skin the safety is as follows:
- Do not use during pregnancy.
Method:
- Combine all of the ingredients together in a large measuring jug.
- Add the essential oil blend and combine it together well.
- Decant into a spray bottle using a funnel makes it easier.
- Prime the pump, before use
- Label the bottle clearly, listing all the ingredients for safety reasons.
- Add the extra instruction to ‘Shake Well Before Each Use’.
NOTE: I often just write directly on the bottle with a permanent marker, as labels can often fall off, get wet and blur the ink. It is a safer way of labeling your bottle. Make sure you always refill the bottle with the same recipe or clearly note any new variations on the bottle.
How to Use:
- Spray on to the intended surface and wipe clean.
- Rinse if required but not necessary.
- Always keep the bottle out of the reach of children and store safely just like you would any other cleaning product.
Window Spray
This will help to keep your windows streak free and gleaming. Using newspaper as your final buffing material is an old fashioned way of getting perfect panes!
You Will Need:
- Measuring jug, cups and spoons
- Stainless steel stirrer or spoon
- Funnel
- Spray bottle.
- Label and/or Permanent Marker
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of White Distilled Vinegar
- 1 cup of Distilled Water
- ¼ cup of Rubbing Alcohol (It must be 70%+ proof)
Essential Oil Blend:
- 100 drops of Lemon Essential Oil (Citrus limon L (Burm.) F. )
- 100 drops of Sweet Orange Essential Oil (Citrus sinensis L)
- 100 drops of Grapefruit Essential Oil (Citrus paradisi)
Safety:
This is not designed for topical application if it does get on your skin the safety is as follows:
- Do not use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Method:
- Combine all of the ingredients in a large measuring jug.
- Add the essential oil blend and combine it together.
- Decant into a spray bottle. Using a funnel makes it easier.
- Prime the pump, before use
- Always label the bottle clearly, listing all of the ingredients, for safety reasons.
- Add the extra instruction to ‘Shake Well Before Each Use’.
NOTE: It is a safer way of labeling your bottle to just write directly on the bottle with a permanent marker, as labels can often fall off, get wet and blur the ink. Make sure you always refill the bottle with the same recipe or clearly note any new variations on the bottle.
How to Use:
- Spray on glass and wipe clean with a soft cloth.
- Rinse if required but not necessary.
- Buff up to a high shine with newspaper.
- Always keep the bottle out of the reach of children and store safely just like you would any other cleaning product.
Mold and Mildew Cleaner
This is just what you need when mold and mildew are becoming an issue in your home. Nip it in the bud fast, with this effective formula.
You Will Need:
- Measuring jug, cups and spoons
- Stainless steel stirrer or spoon
- Funnel
- Spray bottle.
- Label and/or Permanent Marker
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cup of White Distilled Vinegar
- ½ cup of Distilled Water
- 3 tsp of Borax
Essential Oil Blend:
- 100 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)
- 100 drops of Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 50 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil (Eucalyptus globulus)
- 50 drops of Lemon Essential Oil (Citrus limon L (Burm.) F. )
Safety:
This is not designed for topical application if it does get on your skin the safety is as follows:
- Do not use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Method:
- Mix all of the ingredients together in a large measuring jug.
- Add the essential oil blend and combine it thoroughly.
- Decant into a spray bottle. You will find using a funnel makes it easier.
- Prime the pump, before use
- Always label the bottle clearly. Listing all of the ingredients, for safety reasons.
- Add the extra instruction, to ‘Shake Well Before Each Use’.
NOTE: It is a safer way of labeling your bottle to just write directly on the bottle with a permanent marker, as labels can often fall off, get wet and blur the ink. Make sure you always refill the bottle with the same recipe or clearly note any new variations on the bottle.
How to Use:
- Spray onto the affected area and leave for at least 30 minutes to get to work.
- Rinse and wipe off with a soft cloth.
- Stubborn marks can be spot treated without rinsing and left overnight.
- Always keep the bottle out of the reach of children and store safely just like you would any other cleaning product.
Garbage Disposal Blaster
This is just like a bath bomb for your garbage disposal, get it fizzing into glorious action anytime you feel it needs some TLC. The scent is bright, refreshing and crisp. Perfect for freshening things up a bit.
You Will Need:
- Measuring spoons/cups
- Mixing spoons
- Bowl
- Small spray bottle - or a plant mister.
- Muffin tray
Ingredients:
- 1 ¼ cups Citric acid (Look in the canning aisle).
- 2 ¾ cups Baking soda
- 1 tsp Water in spray bottle
- 1 tsp of Vodka
Essential Oil Blend:
- 50 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)
- 50 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil (Eucalyptus globulus)
- 50 drops of Spearmint Essential Oil (Mentha spicata)
Safety:
This is not designed for topical application if it does get on your skin the safety is as follows:
- Do not use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
- Do not let children under 6 touch the mixture.
Method:
Now, just a note before we begin.
- You must be careful how much liquid you add to your dry ingredients. Please hear me on this. It can go from perfection to ruination in less than a drop.
- The ingredients can be expensive, and if you get carried away, you will be simply standing there watching your Garbage Disposal Blaster fizz away in front of your eyes on the kitchen counter. (If this happens, tip it straight down the garbage disposal, saving it from going completely to waste).
- Have all your things in hand and set out ready in front of you, because you need to work fast at the mixing stage.
Let’s start mixing!
- Preheat the oven to 170 degrees Fahrenheit (or its lowest setting) since you use a muffin tray to dry your bath bombs.
- Mix your Citric Acid and Baking Soda together in the bowl.
- Use a small spray bottle that dispenses a really fine mist. Add the water, vodka and essential oils mixed together.
- Now, you need to be careful how much liquid you add and gauge it very carefully. You also need to be ready to mix it quickly.
- Spritz your dry ingredients or dispense with your medicine dropper one drop at a time.
- Your mixture will fizz; simply take the back of a spoon, push it down to stop the fizzing process, and work the damp powder through the rest quickly and thoroughly. Keep adding the liquid until your mixture starts to look crumbly and will start to come together when pressed, and it will hold itself in shape.
- Once it does this, you have enough liquid. Best to err on the dry side rather than a wet soggy mess happening.
- Getting this bit right really is the challenge. If it goes wrong, tip it all in the garbage disposal and start over again from fresh. Don’t give up! Every time, you just find another way NOT to do it, and you WILL find that perfect sweet spot. It does take practice to get it right, so don’t expect to do it perfectly the first time.
Drying the mixture
- Take your muffin tray and oil the cups very lightly with vegetable oil - use the medicine dropper to dispense just one drop if that is easier.
- Fill the muffin cups with the mixture and press down well with the back of a spoon; you want a nice dense mix, so press down well, packing it tightly.
- Once filled, place your muffin tray in the oven, turn the oven off, close the door, and leave them for at least 45 minutes. Once cooled, remove them very carefully from the muffin cups.
How to Use:
- Store in an absolutely airtight container. I vacuum seal mine to be sure.
- Drop one down the garbage disposal, turn on the water and then turn on the disposal.
- Use as and when needed.
Natural Furniture and Wood Polish
I will provide you with both a spray version and hard version of this effective wood polish. Get the perfect shine and gleam from your wood with this fragranced pair of wonders.
You Will Need:
- Double Boiler
- Stainless steel spoon or stirrer
- Lidded Tin
- 100ml Spray Bottle
Ingredients:
| Natural Furniture and Wood Polish | |
|---|---|
| Liquid Spray Version (100ml) | Hard Balm-like Version (100ml) |
| 75ml Olive Oil Carrier Oil | 50ml Olive Oil |
| 25ml Jojoba Carrier Oil | 50g Beeswax |
Essential Oil Blend:
- 40 drops of Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 40 drops of Lemon Essential Oil (Citrus limon L (Burm.) F. )
- 40 drops of Sweet Orange Essential Oil (Citrus sinensis L)
Safety:
This is not designed for topical application if it does get on your skin the safety is as follows:
- Do not use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Method:
Liquid Spray Version
- Mix the Olive and Jojoba carrier oils together in a measuring jug.
- Add the essential oils and combine well
- Decant using a funnel into a suitable spray bottle designed to spray oil based substances.
- Label clearly listing all ingredients for safety reasons.
Hard Balm-like Version
- Using a double boiler over a low to medium heat, melt the beeswax
- As soon as it is melted, remove from the heat
- Add the Olive carrier oil and mix well.
- Add the essential oils and stir until well combined
- Decant into the tin and let set
- Once fully cooled add the lid
- Label clearly listing all ingredients for safety reasons.
How to Use:
Always test your surfaces in an inconspicuous place first before using these products to check for staining and suitability.
Top Tip - Always use two cloths, one to clean and one to buff a shine.
Liquid Spray Version
- Spray onto the surface and use a soft cloth to clean the surface.
- Buff to a high shine with a clean polishing cloth.
Hard Balm-like Version (Only use on wooden surfaces)
- Take a small amount of the wax based polish onto a soft cloth and work into the surface of your wood.
- Leave to rest for 5-10 minutes and then remove the excess with the same soft cloth.
- Buff to a shine with a clean polishing cloth.
Stove Top Scrub
This is made up in two parts, the dry powders and then the wet ingredients. You can combine the two as and when needed to make an effective paste to clean the stove top. It will look sparkling and like new in no time at all.
NOTE: You can use any type of salt for this including Table Salt, but it does help if it is a slightly coarse, as it will be slightly more abrasive.
You Will Need:
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Stainless steel spoon/stirrer
- Bowl
- Lidded Pot and a small bottle.
Dry Ingredients:
- ½ cup of Borax
- ½ cup of Baking Soda
- 1 cup of Salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp White Distilled Vinegar
- 2 tbsp Distilled Water
Essential Oil Blend:
- 50 drops of Lemon Essential Oil (Citrus limon L (Burm.) F. )
- 50 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil (Eucalyptus globulus)
- 50 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil (Mentha piperita)
Safety:
This is not designed for topical application if it does get on your skin the safety is as follows:
- Do not use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
- Not suitable for use by children under 12.
Method:
- Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl
- Decant into a tightly lidded pot
- Label clearly listing all ingredients for safety reasons
- Mix together the wet ingredients
- Add the essential oils and combine well
- Using a funnel decant into a suitable bottle
- Label clearly, listing all ingredients.
- Store the two products together.
How to Use:
Always test this in an inconspicuous spot first to make sure it is not too abrasive for your particular stove top. If in doubt consult your manufacturer's instructions especially for ceramic and induction hobs.
- Take 2 tbsp of the dry mix and place in a bowl
- Using a small amount of the wet mix, mix until a stiff paste forms
- Use this paste to work into the stove top and remove stains and burnt on food.
- Leave for 5-10 mins to take effect and soften any stubborn marks.
- Rinse well with a soft cloth.
Safety Considerations
It is important when you first set out to learn how to make natural cleaning products that you keep the safety considerations in mind.
Essential Oils Are Potent
Remember that essential oils are potent. We are wiping them on surfaces because they are strong enough to have an effect. Therefore, we need to exercise some caution when using it on surfaces with children and babies in the home. Make sure that you are considering the right balance of dilution for both efficacy and safety of those in your home.
Skin Safety
Whilst we are not making these products to go on our skin, what happens if they get on your skin? What happens if you are not using rubber gloves?
These recipes have far more essential oils than I would put in a skin product, but I have also stayed within the IFRA skin safety limits for hard surface cleaners
You still need to take skin safety into consideration and we certainly recommend washing your hands after using all of these products.
You also need to take precautions like wearing rubber gloves, if you are pregnant.
IFRA Guidelines
You need to remember that there are IFRA guidelines for both essential oils and fragrance oils and I have shown you above where you can find the safety data sheets.
Each individual web page for an essential oil or fragrance oil will have a link to these.
If you are still unsure, use the VINEVIDA Calculator to help you work out the perfect ratios for your natural cleaning products. I am certainly making good use of it and it takes out the guesswork for you.
Plastic vs Glass Bottles
This is where you need to carefully consider what will work best for YOU.
There is no doubt about it, essential oil based products are better stored in glass bottles. You also avoid the possible absorption of toxic chemicals from the plastics found in cheaper plastic spray bottles designed for short term use.
I am rather cag handed these days, so giving me a slippy glass bottle is asking for trouble. If you are doing slippery tasks like cleaning the bath or shower, it probably is best to use a plastic bottle.
Buy plastic spray bottles that are designed to be refilled and used time and again and that are BPA free.
The Final Word
Whew! That has been a bit of a whirlwind tour into how to make natural cleaning products. I hope that it has given you a good understanding of the range of ingredients that you can use to make all your own natural cleaning products.
I am sure you probably have many of them in your kitchen cupboard anyway. Start making the switch and try making products that you are about to run out of. You may decide never to replace them again.
Whilst I have given you recipes for a variety of products, I am sure you will notice that you could just as easily whip up the recipe on the fly and make just enough for your needs at the time. Working this way also saves spaces in your cabinets.
With just a handful of ingredients like Baking Soda, White Vinegar and Borax you really can make a whole range of effective natural cleaning products for your home.
Pairing those ingredients with a range of those ‘Anti’ essential oils, like Lavender, Oregano and Tea tree, boosts the efficacy. It means you can take a simple cleaning product and add bug busting properties. Perfect for cold and flu season and keeping surfaces clean for the children and babies of the house.
There are so many exciting products for you to explore and have a go at, so what are you waiting for? Go and learn how to make natural cleaning products for yourself.
