DIY Cleaning
Top 10 Essential Oil Cleaning Recipes

1. All-Purpose Cleaner with Lemon
- 2 cups white vinegar
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon dOTERRA OnGuard Cleaner Concentrate
- 30 drops Lemon essential oil
- 20 drops Tea Tree essential oil
Mix all ingredients in a quart-sized spray bottle. Shake to combine. Spray and wipe on counters, cabinets, sinks, toilets, and anywhere else.
2. Fresh Mint Window & Mirror Cleaner
- 3 cups distilled water
- 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol or vodka
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 20 drops Peppermint or Spearmint essential oil
Combine all ingredients in a quart-sized spray bottle. Shake to combine, then spray on mirrors, windows, or stainless steel. Wipe off with paper towels or old newspaper for streak-free shine.
3. Simple Citrus Soft Scrub
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup liquid castile soap
- 10 drops Lemon essential oil
- 10 drops Lime essential oil
- 10 drops Wild Orange essential oil
Mix ingredients together to form a paste (add more castille soap if needed). Apply with rag or sponge, then rinse with clean water. I especially like to use this on my stovetop and on grimy sinks.
4. Deep Clean Toilet Scrub
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 1 tablespoon dŌTERRA On Guard Cleaner Concentrate
- 30 drops Eucalyptus essential oil
- 3/4 cup water
Mix together in a squeeze-type bottle, then squirt into toilet. Scrub and let stand 20 minutes.
5. Daily Shower Spray
- 1.5 cups water
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
- 1 tablespoon dŌTERRA On Guard Cleaner Concentrate
- 15 drops Clove essential oil
- 15 drops Tea Tree essential oil
Combine in a quart-sized spray bottle. Spray daily on shower door and walls after use (this is a preventative spray, designed to help prevent mould build-up)
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Lemon Carpet Refresher
- 1 cup baking soda
- 30 drops Lemon essential oil
Combine in a small container, and cover tightly with a lid. Shake well and allow to sit for 6-8 hours. Sprinkle on stale or smelly carpet and allow it to sit on it overnight. Vacuum up the next morning.
7. Goo & Crayon Remover
- Lemon essential oil
- 1-2 tablespoons fractionated coconut oil or almond oil (optional)
Mix together, then apply directly to sticker residue, random goo, gum, crayon marks, etc. (Test in an inconspicuous place first, if needed) Rub in with your fingers, then wipe away with a clean rag. Repeat as needed.
8. Fresh Linen Spray
- 1/4 cup distilled water
- 3 tablespoons witch hazel or vodka
- 20 drops Lavender essential oil
- 15 drops Frankincense essential oil
Add all ingredients to a small spritzer, shake well, and spray on sheets, pillowcases, and linens.
9. Sweet Lavender Air Freshener
- 3/4 cup distilled water
- 2 tablespoons vodka, rubbing alcohol, or real vanilla extract
- 10 drops Lavender essential oil
- 5 drops Roman Chamomile essential oil
Combine in a 8 oz spray bottle, shake to combine. Spray throughout the house to eliminate odours or stale smells. You cal also use the following essential oils; Green Mandarin, Citrus Bliss, Purify, Lemon Eucalyptus, Geranium, Wild Orange, Lime or any others that you are drawn to.
10. Tub and Shower Gel
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dOTERRA OnGuard Cleaner Concentrate
- 1 cup baking soda
- ½ cup citric acid
- 10 drops On Guard essential oil
Carefully stir all the ingredients to make a paste.. Squirt onto shower and tub, and allow to sit for 1-3 hours. Wipe off with a scrubber or sponge. I’ve tried many, many DIY shower cleaning recipes, and this is the ONLY one that will easily remove our farm-scum from the tub without requiring a ton of elbow grease on my part.
DIY Cleaning Recipe FAQs:
Q: What if I don’t have a certain oil called for in one of the recipes?
A: Some of the most powerful essential oils for cleaning are lemon, lime, wild orange, thyme, peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree, rosemary, and clove. Mix and match as you wish.
Q: Do I have to use glass bottles for my mixes?
A: It’s a widely known fact that essential oils can degrade plastic. For this reason, it is generally recommended to only store oils in glass, and I always follow that rule if I plan to use the oil mixture on my skin or in a food recipe. However, I’ve never had a problem mixing/storing my cleaning recipes in regular plastic spray bottles for two reasons: #1: The mixtures are usually quite diluted, and #2: I will not be ingesting the mixture or applying it to my body.
Q: Why can’t I use castile soap in some of these recipes?
A: If the recipe calls for vinegar, you’ll want to avoid adding castile soap to the mix, as the two substances will react and form a gloppy, slimy mess.
Q: Which essential oils do you use?
A: There are new essential oil companies popping up everyday, but I’ve used doTERRA essential oils for four years now, and I’ll never go anywhere else. The oils are third-party tested for purity, ethically sourced around the globe, and I’m proud to be associated with a company that actively works with organizations like Mentors International to help others overcome poverty, viruses, and further health risks. I believe in this company wholeheartedly, and I’ve been sharing doTERRA oils with people non-stop since I started using them. I’m happy to personally help you get these oils in your home, too– click here to see how you can connect with me.
Q: Are there any essential oil blends suited to cleaning?
A: Yes. Two of the doTERRA essential oil blends I use the most for cleaning are On Guard® and Purify®. They both have powerful cleansing properties and I often mix them into my DIY recipes.