Kitchen and Bath
How Do I Clean My Kitchen With Essential Oils?
Essential oils do much more than make a room smell nice (but you probably knew that already!). Because of their concentrated chemical make-up, many essential oils have properties that make them ideal for cleaning. When it comes to your kitchen, the essential oil that works the best is Lemon.
The Recipe:
Combine water and white vinegar in a glass spray bottle. Then, add 20 drops of Lemon essential oil.
Step 1: Spray onto surfaces to be cleaned.
Step 2: If necessary, scrub the surface with a non-scratch sponge or plastic scraper.
Step 3: Buff dry with a lint-free cloth, such as a microfiber towel.
Quick notes:
Why lemon essential oil for kitchen cleaning?
Having spent 50 years in the cleaning industry, my family has found that we get the most compliments from customers when we use lemon scented deodorizers in our cleaning.
Scientifically speaking, lemon essential oil contains limonene, which is a natural, potent, cleaning chemical found naturally in many citrus fruits. In fact, when you peel an orange, that distinct orange scent that hits your nose is made of 90% limonene, according to the UK Cleaning Products Industry Association.
Limonene also acts as a solvent, which means it will help clean kitchen messes, like grease on the stove top or a sticky spill on the counter top. Although it has solvent properties, limonene has low toxicity, meaning it is safe to use around your house. In fact, it is so safe that doTERRA brand lemon essential oil is edible!
If you prefer to use an essential oil other than lemon, we recommend bergamot, lme, and wild orange from doTERRA, as these all contain limonene.
The Recipe:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 20 drops of Lemon essential oil
Combine water and white vinegar in a glass spray bottle. Then, add 20 drops of Lemon essential oil.
Step 1: Spray onto surfaces to be cleaned.
Step 2: If necessary, scrub the surface with a non-scratch sponge or plastic scraper.
Step 3: Buff dry with a lint-free cloth, such as a microfiber towel.
Quick notes:
- A glass spray bottle is preferred over a plastic spray bottle because essential oils can deteriorate plastic. While it is true that the essential oil has been diluted by the water and white vinegar mixture, you will still find best results by using a glass container.
- Always test cleaning agents in an inconspicuous area before using to make sure there will be no adverse effects.
Why lemon essential oil for kitchen cleaning?
Having spent 50 years in the cleaning industry, my family has found that we get the most compliments from customers when we use lemon scented deodorizers in our cleaning.
Scientifically speaking, lemon essential oil contains limonene, which is a natural, potent, cleaning chemical found naturally in many citrus fruits. In fact, when you peel an orange, that distinct orange scent that hits your nose is made of 90% limonene, according to the UK Cleaning Products Industry Association.
Limonene also acts as a solvent, which means it will help clean kitchen messes, like grease on the stove top or a sticky spill on the counter top. Although it has solvent properties, limonene has low toxicity, meaning it is safe to use around your house. In fact, it is so safe that doTERRA brand lemon essential oil is edible!
If you prefer to use an essential oil other than lemon, we recommend bergamot, lme, and wild orange from doTERRA, as these all contain limonene.
- Limonene is not the only chemical present in essential oils that helps them act as a cleaning agent. We prefer limonene because of its fresh, citrus scent combined with its ability to cut through grease.
Step 1: Mix the ingredients in a small bowl.
Step 2: Pour the mixture into a one 4-ounce glass spray bottle or two 2-ounce glass spray bottles. Glass spray bottles are preferred by essential oil enthusiasts over plastic spray bottles and are easily found on Amazon. However, since this recipe dilutes the essential oils in water, you can safely use a plastic spray bottle.
Step 3: When it is time to … well, you know .... add about 4 pumps to your toilet before you go. Just like the store bought versions, the oil will form a barrier on top of the toilet water which will trap the odors in place.
Tip: Make it your own by creating your own fragrance blend to use in place of the rosemary, lavender, and lemon recipe above. Provided the essential oil you choose is approved to be used aromatically in a diffuser, it is perfect for use as a bathroom fragrance.
When substituting oils, keep the count to about 40 drops (but it’s your bathroom, if 20 or 30 drops gets the job done, then that is fine!).
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Step 2: Pour the mixture into a one 4-ounce glass spray bottle or two 2-ounce glass spray bottles. Glass spray bottles are preferred by essential oil enthusiasts over plastic spray bottles and are easily found on Amazon. However, since this recipe dilutes the essential oils in water, you can safely use a plastic spray bottle.
Step 3: When it is time to … well, you know .... add about 4 pumps to your toilet before you go. Just like the store bought versions, the oil will form a barrier on top of the toilet water which will trap the odors in place.
Tip: Make it your own by creating your own fragrance blend to use in place of the rosemary, lavender, and lemon recipe above. Provided the essential oil you choose is approved to be used aromatically in a diffuser, it is perfect for use as a bathroom fragrance.
When substituting oils, keep the count to about 40 drops (but it’s your bathroom, if 20 or 30 drops gets the job done, then that is fine!).
Article Resources