DIY Non-Toxic Cleaner with Essential Oils Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces water
- 4 ounces white vinegar
- 15 drops tea tree (melaleuca) essential oil
- 15 drops lemon essential oil
Instructions
- In a glass spray bottle, mix all ingredients.
- Swirl or shake the bottle before each spray.
- Spray surface, and wipe with a clean, dry cloth. For tougher dirt and stains, let mixture sit longer. (Always test surfaces first in an inconspicuous spot before using cleaner all over.)
One of the main reasons we clean our homes is to make them healthier for us to live in. But does it really make sense to use cleaning products that are more hazardous to your health than the bacteria you’re trying to kill?
Cleaning products are big business. According to the website Statistica, the America cleaning products industry (laundry detergents, lime/rust removers and various all purpose cleaners) was forecasted to generate around $61 Billion in 2016. The website StatisticBrain breaks that down to an average of $42 per month spent on cleaning supplies by the average American household.
You’re already likely aware that many cleaning products contain chemicals and other ingredients that are definitely not supportive of good health.
Inhaling the fumes and absorbing these chemicals into your skin while using them is a guaranteed way to add to your body’s toxic burden. Not to mention the damage that can occur if these products accidentally get in your eyes or are swallowed.
As it turns out, “cleaning substances” are the second highest reason for calls to U.S. Poison Control Centers on behalf of children under the age of six − and #5 on the list for exposure by adults. (If you’re curious, cosmetics & personal care products lead the list for the most common substances implicated in pediatric exposures. This is yet another reason why it pays to make your own personal care products such as toothpaste, shampoo, and body wash.)
Non-Toxic Cleaner Alternatives
White vinegar (acetic acid), lemon juice, borax, baking soda, and essential oils are all safe, non-toxic cleaning products that can be combined in various ways for all sorts of household cleaning tasks. Best of all, your risk of toxic exposure from these cleaners is extremely limited AND you’ll likely save money. Tip: Most white vinegar for sale at the grocery store is 5% acetic acid, but some brands offer a 6% or 7% vinegar which offers more cleaning power.
To get started with DIY non-toxic cleaners that are better for your health and the environment, here is a simple all-purpose cleaner recipe for hard surfaces. Simply spray, let the cleaner sit for a bit (longer for tougher dirt and grease), and buff off with a cloth − using as much “elbow grease” (pressure) as necessary to remove dirt and grime.
Tea tree essential oil and lemon essential oil are both renowned for their cleaning and disinfectant properties. An added plus is that while you’re cleaning you’ll also be inhaling their beneficial scent − instead of the harsh chemical fumes from most cleaners.
Feel free to substitute orange or grapefruit for the lemon essential oil (or use a combination), as all three citrus oils have antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.
Organixx essential oils are made with indigenously sourced plants retrieved from the world’s best sources.
Don’t use this on granite or stone counter tops. The acid in the vinegar can damage the stone. Replace the vinegar with a strong vodka (90 proof if you can find it.)
Barb,
I conferred with the company who produced our granite countertops and they recommended vinegar and water. Can you expound on this topic? Thank you!
Many thanks for your reply and for the link to know what essential oils to avoid with pets in your home. Have a great day.
Is there a substitute you can replace the Tea Tree Oil ????? It is HIGHLY, HIGHLY toxic for animals. I had a friend who sprayed tea tree oil on their wrists, and later her small dog licked her wrist and got VERY VERY Sick, It can kill your fur babies. Looking for something else to replace it with as I would love to use natural cleaning products. Note: When using essential oils when you have fur babies in your home, please do your research. There are several essential oils that are toxic to animals.
Hi Yvonne, thanks for your feedback.
We're so sorry to hear about your friend's dog. Yes, when it comes to our furry friends, we definitely need to be more cautious of what we use on them and around them.
While tea tree oil is safe for most adult humans, it can be downright lethal for pets if used undiluted. In small concentrations (.1% to 1%), tea tree oil is tolerated and safe for cats and dogs.
We recently published an article on this topic that goes over which essential oils are considered safe and ones to avoid around your pet.
Feel free to check it out here: https://organixx.com/essential-oils-for-pets and let us know what you think.
We hope this helps and wish you a lovely day!
Can you recommend DIY to clean ovens?
Hi Juanita Bailey, thanks for your question.
Unfortunately, we do not have a DIY Oven Cleaner recipe available at this time. Thank you so much for the suggestion. We will keep that in mind for our future articles.
In the meantime, we do have other DYI recipes available via our website. Feel free to check them out here: https://organixx.com/?s=DIY&x=0&y=0
Thank you so much. We appreciate you being part of the Organixx Community and wish you a lovely day!
Thanks for the free cleaning spray recipe. And for the comments, I’ve learned a few things now.
I’ve been using white vinegar with water. I clean my floors, the kitchen stove, etc.
I mixed 1/3 vinegar with 2/3 water, but I’m not sure if this is the right ratio to kill bacteria and viruses?