How to Make Natural House Cleaners with Essential Oils

Many commercial cleaning products have harsh chemicals that can irritate the sinuses and respiratory tract and are bad for the environment. Simple household items, like baking soda and borax, are gentle and more environmentally friendly than many chemical cleaners. Essential oils have antiseptic properties and will also leave your house smelling fresh and clean. Natural, homemade cleaners are also cheaper and easy to make.

Things You'll Need

• 16-oz spray bottle
• White vinegar
• Borax
• Liquid castile soap
• Pine or fir needle essential oil
• Baking soda
• Mason jar with lid
• Wooden popsicle stick
• Lemon essential oil

Instructions

Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner

1. Put 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of borax in a 16-oz spray bottle. Swish the mixture around so that all the borax is saturated. You should have a cloudy mixture in the bottom of the bottle.

2. Add 20 drops of pine or fir needle essential oil to the borax and vinegar mixture. Swish the mixture around to completely blend the oil, vinegar and borax.

3. Fill the rest of the bottle, up the narrow part, with hot tap water. If the bottle has a fill line, fill the bottle to that point. Leave at least 3 inches of space in the neck of the bottle to allow room to blend the mixture.

4. Shake the bottle until the borax is completely dissolved. Use this cleaner as you would any other household spray cleaner.

Natural Scrubbing Cleanser

1. Measure one cup of baking soda into a mason jar. Stir the baking soda with a wooden popsicle stick to break up any clumps.

2. Stir liquid castile soap into the baking soda until you have a smooth paste. The paste should have the consistency of cake icing.

3. Add 20 drops of lemon essential oil to the paste. Stir to evenly distribute the oil and use the paste as you would any soft scrubbing cleanser.

Tips & Warnings

• Store excess cleaner in a cool, dry place and use within seven days.

• Try other essential oils or create your own blend. Tea tree, eucalyptus, lavender, orange and peppermint are all good cleaning oils.

• Do not mix essential oils with metals or store them in metal containers. The oils may react with the metals, altering the scent.

References

• "The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy";Valerie Ann Worwood;2000

Resources

• SavingAdvice.com: 12 Recipes for Homemade Cleansers