Top 3 Essential Oils for Cleaning Your Home
The best essential oils for cleaning, lemon, peppermint and tea tree, and how to mix them with vinegar or water for natural cleaning sprays.
In this guide
The best essential oils for cleaning are lemon, peppermint and tea tree. Mixed with water, white vinegar or baking soda, they make natural cleaning sprays that cut grease, freshen the air and offer antibacterial support without harsh chemicals. Below you will find what each oil does, plus three easy homemade cleaner recipes.
Key takeaways
- Lemon is the best all-rounder for kitchens, stains and surfaces.
- Peppermint is a natural sanitiser with a crisp scent, great for windows and glass.
- Tea tree is antifungal and antibacterial, ideal for bathrooms and tougher jobs.
- Use 10 to 20 drops per spray bottle, and always shake before each use.
- Never use vinegar cleaners on granite, marble or varnished wood.
Are essential oils good for cleaning?
Yes. More and more households are switching to natural cleaning as people think harder about health and the planet. Many essential oils have natural antimicrobial properties, so they can help you clean well without harsh chemicals.
Harsh chemical cleaners can affect the air inside your home. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) reviewed around 2,000 household cleaning products and reported that about 53 percent contained ingredients known to harm the lungs, and about 22 percent contained chemicals reported to cause asthma in otherwise healthy people.
Essential oils for cleaning offer antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal support. Paired with simple bases like vinegar and baking soda, they keep your home clean, fresh and smelling lovely.
What are the best essential oils for cleaning?
These three oils do most of the work in a natural cleaning cupboard. Each one has a different strength, so it helps to know which to reach for.
| Oil | Known for | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Lemon | Antiviral, antibacterial, fresh scent | Kitchen surfaces, stains and counters |
| Peppermint | Natural sanitiser, antimicrobial | Windows, mirrors, stainless steel and fresh air |
| Tea tree | Antifungal, antibacterial, antiseptic | Bathrooms, mould-prone spots and tough stains |
| Eucalyptus | Fresh, clean, clearing | Freshening rooms and fabrics |
You can find all of these in our essential oils collection.
Lemon essential oil for cleaning
Lemon has so many benefits for health, and lemon essential oil packs them into a single drop. That makes it a powerhouse for wellness and for cleaning your home.
Use it to remove stains and clean surfaces and other household items. It is antiviral and antibacterial, and it leaves a beautiful fresh scent, which makes it one of the best essential oils for cleaning surfaces.
Peppermint essential oil for cleaning
The crisp scent of peppermint adds a wonderful freshness to your home. Peppermint oil is a natural sanitiser with antimicrobial properties.
Studies have shown it is effective at killing Salmonella and other harmful bacteria on surfaces, without the nasty side effects of chemicals. Add a few drops to water for any surface or as an air freshener, or try the window cleaner below.
Tea tree essential oil for cleaning
Tea tree is one of the most powerful essential oils for cleaning. It is antifungal, antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiseptic, and safe to use around the home when used as directed.
A few drops of tea tree make a strong disinfectant spray. Add the natural cleaning power of baking soda and vinegar, and you have a supercharged all-purpose cleaner that is easy to make and really works.
Homemade essential oil cleaner recipes
Here are three simple natural cleaners. Each recipe can be scaled up or down to suit your needs.
1. Lemon All-Purpose Cleaner
Best for: kitchen counters and everyday surfaces
- 1 cup White vinegar
- 1 cup Water
- 10 to 15 drops Organic lemon essential oil
Add everything to a spray bottle and use on surfaces as needed. Shake gently before each use. Do not use it on granite or varnished wood, as the vinegar can damage them.
2. Peppermint Window Cleaner
Best for: windows, mirrors and stainless steel
- 3 cups Distilled water
- 1/4 cup Vodka or rubbing alcohol
- 1/4 cup White vinegar
- 20 drops Organic peppermint oil
Combine everything in a spray bottle and shake gently. Spray on glass or steel, then wipe with a paper towel or microfibre cloth for a streak-free shine.
3. Tea Tree All-Purpose Cleaner
Best for: bathrooms and tougher stains
- 1/2 cup White vinegar
- 1/4 cup Water
- 2 tbsp Baking soda
- 10 drops Organic tea tree essential oil
Mix everything in a bowl first, as it will fizz. Apply with a cloth or pour into a spray bottle. For tough stains, use less water to make a paste.
Pro tip
Oil and water do not mix, so the oil floats on top. Shake your bottle before every spray, or add a splash of vinegar or alcohol to help spread the oil evenly.
Can you mix essential oils with vinegar for cleaning?
Yes. Adding essential oils to vinegar boosts its natural cleaning power. Vinegar helps dissolve build-up, while the oils add antibacterial support and a much nicer smell.
Lemon, tea tree and peppermint all work well with vinegar. Mix a few drops into a vinegar and water solution and shake before spraying. Avoid vinegar cleaners on marble, stone and polished wood.
Is peppermint oil a disinfectant?
Peppermint oil is a natural sanitiser with antimicrobial properties, and studies have shown it can kill Salmonella and other harmful bacteria on surfaces. Tea tree and lemon are the other top picks for natural disinfecting sprays.
For high-risk jobs, such as raw meat spills or illness in the home, many people still use a standard disinfectant and keep oil sprays for everyday cleaning.
Essential oils for cleaning floors and freshening the air
- Floors: add a few drops of lemon or tea tree to a bucket of warm water. Skip the vinegar on stone, marble and wooden floors.
- Air: diffuse lemon, peppermint or eucalyptus for a clean-smelling home. For sprays, see our DIY room sprays with essential oils.
- Fabrics: a light mist of water with a few drops of lemon or eucalyptus freshens sofas and curtains. Test a hidden spot first.
Is cleaning with essential oils safe for kids and pets?
Safety first
Essential oils are strong. Wear gloves if your skin is sensitive, and never put undiluted oils straight onto your skin.
- Label every homemade cleaner and keep it out of reach of children and pets.
- Cats and dogs are very sensitive to essential oils, especially tea tree. Let surfaces dry fully before pets walk on them, and ask your vet if you are unsure.
- Open a window while you clean, especially if anyone at home has asthma.
- Never mix vinegar with bleach, and keep oil cleaners away from food and eyes.
- Test any new cleaner on a small, hidden area first.
FAQs
How do I use lemon essential oil for cleaning?
Add lemon oil to water, vinegar or other natural bases to wipe surfaces, remove stains, freshen laundry and clean counters. It is ideal for kitchens and bathrooms. For daily use, mix a few drops into a spray bottle of water and shake before each use.
Can I add essential oil to vinegar for cleaning?
Yes. Vinegar dissolves build-up, and oils like lemon, tea tree and peppermint add antibacterial support and fragrance. Avoid vinegar cleaners on marble, stone and polished wood.
How do I use essential oils for cleaning at home?
Dilute them in water, vinegar, alcohol or baking soda to make natural cleaners for different surfaces. Spray bottles, diffusers and mop buckets all work well. Start with 8 to 20 drops per bottle, depending on how strong you want it.
Can you mix essential oils with water for cleaning?
Yes. Oils and water make simple sprays for surfaces, fabrics and rooms. Because oils do not dissolve in water, shake the bottle before each use, or add vinegar or alcohol to help them spread evenly.
Which essential oils are antibacterial for cleaning?
Lemon, peppermint and tea tree are the top antibacterial essential oils for cleaning. Tea tree is also antifungal, which makes it a good choice for bathrooms and damp spots.
Can you mix vinegar and peppermint oil?
Yes. The peppermint window cleaner above uses white vinegar, distilled water, vodka or rubbing alcohol, and 20 drops of peppermint oil for a streak-free shine.
Are essential oil cleaners safe for pets?
Take care. Cats and dogs are sensitive to essential oils, and tea tree in particular can harm them. Use light amounts, let surfaces dry, air the room and ask your vet if you are unsure.
The bottom line
Switching to natural cleaning means a healthier home and cleaner air. Lemon, peppermint and tea tree are the best essential oils for cleaning, and with a little vinegar, water or baking soda they make effective, eco-friendly cleaners that leave your home fresh. Find all three in our essential oils collection.
For more ways to use it, see our eucalyptus oil guide with uses, blends and safety tips.
