Homemade Cleaning and Sanitizing Spray with Essential Oils

Posted on June 19, 2015 | Labels: Cleaning

Keeping your home clean doesn't have to mean filling your living space with harsh chemicals. For years I relied on commercial cleaning products without thinking twice, but after my first child was born, I started paying closer attention to what was in the bottles under my sink. The labels were covered in warnings I had never bothered to read before.

Switching to a homemade cleaning spray was one of the easiest changes I made, and honestly, it works just as well as anything I used to buy. The secret ingredient? Essential oils. Not only do they bring natural antibacterial and antiviral properties to the mix, but they leave your home smelling fresh and clean without that chemical undertone.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup distilled water
  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • 15 drops tea tree essential oil
  • 15 drops lemon essential oil
  • 10 drops lavender essential oil (optional, for scent)
  • 1 spray bottle (glass recommended)

Instructions

  1. Combine the distilled water and white vinegar in a glass spray bottle. Using glass is important because essential oils can degrade plastic over time.
  2. Add the tea tree, lemon, and lavender essential oils one at a time. Tea tree is your powerhouse for antibacterial action, while lemon cuts through grease and grime.
  3. Close the bottle and shake gently to combine. The oils and water will naturally separate, so give it a shake before each use.
  4. Label your bottle with the date and ingredients so you know when it was made and what's inside.
  5. Spray on surfaces and wipe with a clean microfiber cloth. For tougher jobs, let the spray sit for a minute before wiping.

Tips

Tea tree oil is your natural sanitizer. It's been shown to have antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties, which makes it perfect for kitchen counters, bathroom surfaces, and doorknobs. Lemon essential oil not only smells incredible but also helps break down sticky residue and grease. If you're not a fan of the vinegar smell, don't worry—the essential oils mask it almost completely once the spray dries. Avoid using this on natural stone surfaces like marble or granite, as vinegar can etch them over time.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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