Essential oils aren’t just for aromatherapy – they’re versatile cleaning powerhouses and a great way to clean naturally without harsh chemicals.
Our experts reveal eight unexpected ways to clean your home using essential oils, combining natural freshness with effective cleaning including freshening up your fridge and getting a streak-free clean on your stainless steel.
Armed with the ultimate cleaning supplies and our pro hacks, you'll soon have your home as clean, fresh and inviting as a luxury hotel.
1. Shine stainless steel
Essential oils can transform dull, fingerprinted stainless steel into a sparkling centerpiece.
Punteha van Terheyden, head of Solved at Homes & Gardens says, 'I love using essential oils all over my home, but the results on stainless steel – including my kettle and toaster – really blew me away.
'To make your stainless steel cleaning spray, simply mix two cups of water, 10-20 drops of essential oil, and a drop of dish soap. Give your bottle a swirl to mix well, spray to apply, then buff in circles with a microfiber cloth, available at Amazon in a handy multi pack.'
van Terheyden's favored products include:
- this luxurious-smelling geranium essential oil, available at Walmart
- this amber glass bottles with labels set from Amazon, so all cleaning sprays can look uniform across your home
- Dawn Dish Soap from Walmart
- a Brita Filter, available at Amazon – since using filtered water reduces mineral deposits on your surfaces
- these colorful microfiber cloths, available at Walmart
You can read a more detailed account of van Terheyden's successful experiment when she tried cleaning her stainless steel with essential oils.
All prices correct at time of publishing.
Geranium essential oil is the go-to for Homes & Gardens' head of Solved, Punteha van Terheyden. She says, 'I love how luxurious it smells and the aroma isn't clawing, or overwhelming. Think spa-smell and that's what geranium wafts of. You can't go wrong.'
2. Scent your laundry
Tired of removing static from clothing and fresh laundry? Essential oils provide a natural, fragrant alternative to synthetic dryer sheets.
van Terheyden says, 'Instead of using synthetic, scented dryer sheets in the dryer, take a clean damp cloth, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil, and pop it into the dryer with your clothes. Don't put it on a dry cloth, as that may mark your fresh laundry or pose a fire risk. A damp cloth prevents that risk and stops the oil transferring over, naturally scenting your laundry as it dries.'
Be sure to watch out for these tumble dryer mistakes, including overloading your machine and not cleaning your dryer regularly.
If you're not sure which essential oil scent you'll like, this pack of six is high-quality and budget-friendly. Each 10 ml bottle is 100% pure essential oil, and resealable. Scents include eucalyptus, lavender, lemongrass, sweet Orange, peppermint, and tea tree. Use one at a time, or blend to find a combination you like.
3. Freshen the fridge
Even the cleanest, freshest fridge can harbor unpleasant odors. Essential oils like tea tree or lemongrass neutralize these smells naturally.
Steve Evans, owner of award-winning Memphis Maids, says, 'Essential oils are actually excellent for deodorizing your fridge. Just mix two teaspoons of baking soda and five drops of essential oil on a small plate, then leave it in there to absorb any unpleasant odors. Keep in mind you will have to replace it once or twice a month.'
We recommend Arm and Hammer Baking Soda, available at Walmart, as the famous brand is known for its quality. We like the twist-top lid on this version, which makes it easy to keep moisture out when storing between uses.
4. Make floors gleam
Mopping doesn’t have to be mundane. Essential oils like eucalyptus and peppermint can invigorate your cleaning routine while leaving floors gleaming.
Karina Toner, operations manager at Spekless Cleaning, says, 'Personally, I love to mix lavender with eucalyptus for the perfect essential oil floor cleaner. Lavender oil has antibacterial properties and a calming scent, while eucalyptus oil offers antifungal and deodorizing benefits. Together, they're a dream team.
'In a bucket, mix one gallon of warm water, 1/4 cup of castile soap, 10 drops of lavender essential oil, and 10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil. Use a mop or cloth to clean, avoiding over saturation on hardwood.'
This product is EWG Verified meaning it's been made with chemicals that are better for humans and the environment.
Toner recommends Majestic Pure Lavender Essential Oil from Amazon and Handcraft Eucalyptus Essential Oil, also from Amazon, adding, 'These high-quality oils come in generous sizes, ideal for frequent cleaning use and lasting fragrance.'
Evans adds, 'Essential oils make a great alternative to floor cleaners, especially for tile floors which are resistant to most cleaning agents. Apply using a mop according to your type of floor. For laminate floors you can use a spray mop, for tile floors I suggest a spin mop.'
This O-Cedar ProMist MAX Microfiber Spray Mop from Walmart comes with a dual-sided mop head and refillable bottle for your essential oil mix and has more than 2,000 five-star reviews from happy customers.
5. Banish bathroom bacteria
Bathrooms can be breeding grounds for bacteria, but essential oils make a powerful natural disinfectant.
Toner says, 'Tea tree essential oil is known for its natural anti fungal and antibacterial properties, making it ideal for bathrooms where mold and bacteria can thrive. It also helps to neutralize odors, leaving the room feeling fresh.
'In a spray bottle, combine one cup of white vinegar, one cup of water, and 10-15 drops of tea tree essential oil. Spray the solution on bathroom surfaces like sinks, toilets, and tile grout, then scrub and rinse with warm water.'
It's a great tip professional cleaners swear by for fresh smelling bathrooms.
This organic, pure product is high-quality tea tree essential oil and great for use not only in cleaning, but on the body too so this larger bottle will come in handy for lots at home.
6. Get windows that wow
Streaky windows are a thing of the past with the power of essential oils.
Toner says, 'In a spray bottle, combine one cup of white vinegar, one cup of water, and 10 drops of NOW Lemon Essential Oil from Amazon. Spray on windows and wipe with a lint-free cloth or newspaper for a streak-free shine. The acidity of lemon oil and vinegar cuts through grime and leaves windows streak-free with a fresh citrus aroma. This combination is also effective at removing stubborn water spots.
'This lemon oil is fresh, affordable and a versatile option for various cleaning purposes around the home.'
Choosing the wrong products is among these 12 window cleaning mistakes you didn't realize you were making.
7. Polish wood
Wooden furniture loses its luster over time, but essential oils can revive it naturally, and it's recommend to oil wooden counters regularly.
Evans says, 'Essential oils – particularly lemon oil or orange oil – are fantastic if you need wood polish. Mix half a cup of olive oil and 10–15 drops of lemon or orange essential oil, applying with a soft microfiber cloth. You can fold a microfiber cloth in two, one side to apply the solution and one side to wipe dry.'
We recommend NOW Essential Oils Orange Oil from Walmart for its undiluted purity and uplifting scent. For a commercial alternative, Evans recommends Howard Orange Oil from Amazon, which comes ready-mixed for action.
Evans adds, 'Just be careful to make sure you're not using too much oil and test first in a small, hidden area. You might want to use a dropper to control how much you’re using.'
8. Spruce stuffed toys
Kids’ stuffed toys can get dusty or musty, but essential oils provide a safe and natural way to refresh them and can help get rid of musty smells in a bedroom.
For a quick spruce, combine pure essential lavender oil, available at Amazon, with water in a spray bottle, lightly mist the toys, and let them air dry.
For a more thorough clean that gets rid of dust mites, add three tablespoons of baking soda and three drops of essential oil to a Ziploc bag. Shake, open, add your stuffed toy, close, and shake again. Pop the bag in the freezer for 30-45 minutes, then leave the stuffed toy out to warm and dry.
So there you have it – eight unusual ways to clean with essential oils around your home. Cleaning with essential oils offers a perfect blend of practicality and luxury, freshening your home while turning routine chores into aromatic indulgences.
Next, check out how often you should deep clean your home – plus top tips from the pros.
