10 Best Essential Oils for Cleaning

Utilizing essential oils from Simply Earth is a great way to help keep your home clean – they’re natural, reasonably inexpensive, and smell amazing!

Think about it! Who wouldn’t love the feeling of being surrounded by the crisp scents of peppermint and tea tree oil? These are among the top 10 essential oils for cleaning – each with its own magical scent. Take lemon, for example, with its sunny and uplifting fragrance that never fails to bring a smile in the morning. Plus, you’ll get all your surfaces pleasantly glistening and odorless after you’re done cleaning! There’s no better way to brighten your day than with essential oils for you and your home.

Why Clean With Essential Oils?

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Cleaning with essential oils has increasingly become the go-to for many homeowners looking for an eco-friendly and healthy way of cleaning their space. These ingredients make your home smell like a dream, and they have natural antibacterial properties that can keep your place fresher, for longer. You only need a few quality essential oils and some non-toxic cleaning products to get the job done. Moreover, you can save yourself from expenses since essential oils generally last much longer than regular cleaners.

10 Best Essential Oils for Cleaning + Recipes

1. Lemon Essential Oil

Aroma: Sweet & Citrusy

Lemon Essential Oil is the real MVP of cleaning! A 2019 study1 discovered Lemon Oil may be an effective antimicrobial agent–excellent if you want something that will quickly eliminate germs. But Lemon Essential Oil doesn’t just excel at banishing dirt and grime; these powerful oils can also energize and uplift any room with its invigorating scent.

2. Tea Tree Essential Oil

Aroma: Medicinal & Herbaceous

Tea Tree Essential Oil is one of the best essential oils for cleaning, and it’s no wonder why – with its antimicrobial properties, as per this study2, it’s hard to beat. Use it to tackle rust buildup on surfaces or dust mites in the home. Add a few drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil to your regular cleaning products, giving them a natural boost that can help clean even the nastiest messes.

3. Lavender Essential Oil

Aroma: Fresh & Floral

Lavender isn’t just a pleasant aroma – it’s an invaluable cleaning ally too! According to a study3, Lavender Essential Oil has been found to have intense antibacterial activity. In addition to breaking down dirt and grime, Lavender Oil promotes rest and uplift while you scrub and sweep away.

4. Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Aroma: Clean & Herbaceous

In a study4, Eucalyptus Essential Oil demonstrated impressive antimicrobial efficacy for disinfecting surfaces, but that’s not even its most impressive skill. Eucalyptus can also help ease seasonal discomfort, boost immunity, and energize you when spring cleaning has your head spinning.

5. Peppermint Essential Oil

Aroma: Sharp & Minty

Peppermint Essential Oil gives your cleaning routine the perfect kick! It packs a punch, as recent research5 has found it reduces bacterial counts. But that’s not all it does! Have you ever felt like your energy was dragging? Try adding peppermint oil to your next clean-up and see if it doesn’t perk you up with its stimulating properties.

6. Pine Essential Oil

Aroma: Evergreen & Woody

Pine Essential Oil is perfect if your home needs a little sprucing up! Not only can this powerful oil clean and deodorize your environment naturally, but it energizes you as well. Believe it or not, a study6 conducted by the University of Arkansas has shown it can be an effective antibacterial. So you can rest easy as you’re cleaning away.

7. Thyme Essential Oil

Aroma: Spicy & Herbal

A study7 shows that Thyme Essential Oil has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties, meaning it’s the perfect go-to for keeping your living space germ-free! The perks don’t stop there either; as an added bonus, this wonder cleaning agent can also deter insects—which means fewer spider webs in your ceiling corners!

8. Cinnamon Essential Oil

Aroma: Warm & Spicy

Suppose you’re looking for natural products to help ensure your home is clean and hygienic. In that case, it’s worth considering Cinnamon Essential Oil! Not only will it deodorize your house with its sweet, spicy scent, but a recent study8 even suggests that it can provide incredible antibacterial benefits – which means it’s an excellent alternative to costly chlorination treatments.

9. Orange Essential Oil

Aroma: Sweet & Citrusy

Cleaning your home can quickly become a chore, but using Orange Essential Oil can make it a lot easier! A study9 has shown that it is one of the best oils to use for cleaning because it offers natural antimicrobial benefits alongside other citrus fruits.

10. Rosemary Essential Oil

Aroma: Herbal & Woody

Rosemary Essential Oil is one of the top contenders for cleaning! In fact, a study10 showed that Rosemary Oil has antibacterial properties, so it’s sure to get the job done. Moreover, its herbal scent is calming and a great addition to any home or office.

Runners Up

Lemongrass Essential Oil

Aroma: Earthy & Citrusy

Lemongrass Essential Oil is not just a refreshing scent – it deodorizes too! It is strong enough to tackle most cleaning jobs, but you can mix it with other cleaning products for an extra powerful freshening and scrubbing effect.

Grapefruit Essential Oil

Aroma: Sweet & Citrusy

In addition to freshening up the air in your home, Grapefruit Essential Oil can deodorize everything from cutting boards to carpets. Its lightness makes it a refreshing scent that won’t overwhelm your senses. A few drops of this essential oil can be a breath of fresh air for keeping your home clean.

Clean & Fresh Essential Oil Blend

Aroma: Fresh

With so many essential oils to choose from, it can be hard to know which ones are best for cleaning. Fortunately, Simply Earth has made the decision easier with their Clean And Fresh Essential Oil Blend! This special blend is ideal for natural cleaning, and its fresh aroma will leave your home feeling sparkly clean.

Tips for Cleaning with Essential Oils

When using essential oils for cleaning, opt for cold-pressed options as they typically have stronger aromas and more concentrated aromatic sesquiterpene content.

Another tip is to remember that different oils have different purposes; some are better for deodorizing, while others are for killing germs or reducing mildew. And if creating your own cleaning solutions from scratch sounds like too much work, don’t worry. Simply Earth provides an array of different blends to help get you started.

How to Get Started with Essential Oils

When it comes to getting started with essential oils, it can sometimes feel like you’re drowning in a sea of scents and information. If you’ve been looking for a lifeline, we’ve got one! Subscribing to an essential oil recipe box like Simply Earth is a great way to jumpstart your journey into the world of aromatherapy. Not only will you receive fun recipes each month, but their customer service team is always free to help answer any questions you have along the way. You’ll learn about different oils, natural remedies, how to blend ingredients together, and much more – all while having a blast! So if getting started with essential oils has been on your ‘to-do’ list for ages, and you don’t know where to start, take a deep breath and sign up for Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box today.


References:

  1. Man A, Santacroce L, Jacob R, Mare A, Man L. Antimicrobial Activity of Six Essential Oils Against a Group of Human Pathogens: A Comparative Study. 2019 Jan 
  2. Carson CF, Hammer KA, Riley TV. Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) oil: a review of antimicrobial and other medicinal properties. 2006 Jan
  3. Wińska K, Mączka W, Łyczko J, Grabarczyk M, Czubaszek A, Szumny A. Essential Oils as Antimicrobial Agents-Myth or Real Alternative? 2019 Jun 
  4. Hendry E, Conway B, Worthington T. Antimicrobial efficacy of a novel eucalyptus oil, chlorhexidine digluconate and isopropyl alcohol biocide formulation. 2012 Oct
  5. D. Witkowska, J. Sowińska. The effectiveness of peppermint and thyme essential oil mist in reducing bacterial contamination in broiler houses. 2013 Nov
  6. Sakul, R. The Cytotoxic and Antimicrobial Properties of Pine Essential Oils: A Characterization and Comparison. 2016 Aug
  7. Kowalczyk A, Przychodna M, Sopata S, Bodalska A, Fecka I. Thymol and Thyme Essential Oil-New Insights into Selected Therapeutic Applications. 2020 Sep
  8. Park JB, Kang JH, Song KB. Antibacterial activities of a cinnamon essential oil with cetylpyridinium chloride emulsion against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium in basil leaves. 2017 Nov
  9. O’Bryan CA, Crandall PG, Chalova VI, Ricke SC. Orange essential oils antimicrobial activities against Salmonella spp. 2008 Aug
  10. Nieto G, Ros G, Castillo J. Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis, L.): A Review. 2018 Sep