Yes, it is that time of year again, spring cleaning time! The sun is out, the winter days are gone, so what better time to create some natural cleaning remedies for the home than now? Taking some time to get rid of clutter in the home, clean your space, and shift the energy around you can assist with feeling excited and re-energised ahead of the sunny season. 

Not only can the Zea Essentials range help purify the air and disinfect surfaces, but they can also help renew your home with a surge of freshness and cleanliness that smells simply divine. The best part is natural cleaning remedies can save time, money and reduce exposure to potentially harmful cleaning chemicals.

Are essential oils effective for cleaning? 

If you think about the number of harsh toxins you are exposed to every day, you might want to consider reducing the chemicals you use in your home. Many traditional cleaning supplies or household products can irritate the eyes or throat, or cause headaches and other health problems¹. Typical household cleaning products are not only harmful to health, they are not necessary for keeping a healthy home. Bacteria, viruses, mould and fungi lurk in the home - but the great news is that none of them stands a chance against the potent antimicrobial powers of essential oils.²

Essential oils have been proven to destroy bacteria, yeasts and viruses naturally and safely. The effects are even better when essential oils are combined, as each essential oil has a unique profile and ability to destroy different types of microbes.³ Plus, essential oils may also keep nasty bugs at bay - keeping you and your family healthy year-round. 

Safety first

As with all essential oils, we recommend exercising caution during use and always following safety instructions. Remember, anything that comes in a concentrated form is quite potent!

So always make sure when using essential oils that they are diluted in water, a carrier oil, or in a cleaning product that you’re making as opposed to being used straight out of the bottle.

Always avoid contact with eyes and keep out of reach of children. When in doubt about safety precautions, consult your physician or a qualified and trained aromatherapy practitioner.

If you are cleaning mould, inhaling mould spores can be dangerous, especially for those that suffer from asthma, so wear gloves and a mask when cleaning it and avoid handling mouldy items directly.

The unique benefits of essential oils

When choosing which essential oils you would like to blend, it’s helpful to first consider the unique benefits of each. Some may have ‘aromatherapeutic’ benefits such as an uplifting scent, while others get to work on deodorising unpleasant smells or pack a punch in removing bacteria.

Here are some of our favourite essential oils for cleaning and their unique benefits: 

Cedarwood - used as a flea and moth deterrent, this is a great one to have on hand for clearing out the closet to prevent pests. Cedarwood is also commonly used for its calming properties. You can learn more about its properties here. 
Coastal Tea Tree - refreshing, antiviral, antiseptic and antibacterial. Learn more about its properties here.
Clove Bud - a popular mould remover - so great to use in a shower recess or kitchen as a natural cleaning alternative.
Grapefruit - a powerful disinfectant essential oil with a reviving and motivating effect on the mood. You can learn more about its properties here.
Kunzea - with its fresh, clean and invigorating scent, this is a perfect addition to any cleaning recipe. It’s also used to fight fungi and bacteria and helps to purify the air. Learn more about kunzea here.
Lemon - get the zest back in your life and in your home with this zingy, refreshing and antimicrobial, antifungal oil. Learn more about its properties here.
Lemon Ironbark - an excellent deodoriser, you’ll want to add this one into the mix to freshen up your home. 
Lemon Myrtle - a time-honoured Australian native oil, Lemon Myrtle is known for its mood-enhancing, clean and sweet lemon fragrance.
Lime - cleanses the air, the body and the spirit. Learn more about its properties here.
May Chang - provides an antifungal, antibacterial, purifying, stimulating and uplifting benefit 
Nerolina - mood-boosting and antibacterial, it’s a great alternative for those who dislike Tea Tree.
Peppermint - an uplifting and refreshing scent we’re all familiar with, Peppermint also provides antibacterial and antiviral benefits.
Rosalina - imparting a fresh, earthy aroma, Rosalina is also antiviral and antibacterial.
Sweet Orange - an energising, optimistic scent with antiseptic qualities that may also help to relieve coughs and colds. 
Tasmanian Lavender - an antimicrobial and unmistakably soothing addition to your household cleaner. 
White Cypress - an antiseptic essential oil with an uplifting scent similar to pine. 
Ylang Ylang - enjoy the calming, anxiety-relieving aromatherapeutic benefits.

Our favourite essential oil natural cleaning recipes 

You can use any essential oils of your choice, however, we recommend using some of the below essential oils for cleaning the home.

Soft Scrub

½ cup baking soda
2 tablespoons castile soap
1 tablespoon water
10 drops x Lime

Directions: Mix ingredients together in a bowl, use immediately to clean sinks and stovetops. You might also want to store any leftover mixture in a glass jar. 

All-Purpose Surface Cleaner

¾ cups distilled water
2 tbsp white vinegar
15 drops x Tasmanian Lavender
15 drops x Sweet Orange
250ml spray bottle

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a glass spray bottle and shake to combine. To use, spray on the desired surface and wipe clean.  

Toilet Cleaner

1 cup white vinegar
1 cup baking soda
¼ cup salt
10 drops x Coastal Tea Tree
Container with shaker lid (like an empty, clean spice shaker)

Directions: Add vinegar to glass spray bottle, set aside. Blend baking soda, Coastal Tea Tree and salt together in a shaker container and mix well. Spray vinegar in the toilet bowl, then sprinkle powder mix over. You’ll notice an immediate fizz reaction, add more vinegar if needed. Let sit for 15 minutes, scrub with a toilet brush and then flush when done. 

Disinfecting Spray

3 tbsp white vinegar
10 drops x Peppermint
10 drops x Sweet Orange
10 drops x Kunzea
¾ cup water
250ml Spray bottle

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a glass spray bottle and shake to combine. To use, spray on the desired surface or area to clean. 

Fridge & Microwave Cleaner

¼ cup white vinegar
¾ cup hot water 5 drops x Lemon 250ml Spray bottle

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a glass spray bottle and shake to combine. To use, spray mixture inside fridge or microwave and scrub with damp cloth to clean.

Stovetop Cleaner

¼ cup baking soda
¼ cup salt
1 tbsp white vinegar
2 tbsp water
5 drops x Lime

Directions: Mix all ingredients together until they form a paste and spread over stove top. Leave for 15 minutes or longer for hard-to-remove stains. Using a sponge, scrub mixture into grime. Remove excess grime and wipe the surface clean.

Clean Home Diffuser Blends

Here are six wonderful essential oil diffuser blends for your home to help disinfect, deodorise and purify the air. Not only will your space smell better, these blends also support health and wellness too.

By using the right essential oils, we can combat indoor pollution while simultaneously reaping the therapeutic rewards of clean, fresh, and healthy air.

Using essential oils to clean your home not only keeps your space fresh and clean, but also supports your health - mind, body and spirit. 

The best part is, many DIY recipes are so easy to make, you can create them at a moment’s notice whenever the house needs a good scrub. 

So, are you ready to clear out the dust and clutter and feel the benefits?

Start creating your own safe and natural DIY cleaning recipes by exploring our Zea Essentials range today!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - MICHELLE BRASS ND

With over 25 years of experience in the natural health industry, Michelle has dedicated her life to helping others embrace the therapeutic benefits of nature. Throughout her time as a health practitioner, she has used and recommended countless traditional and conventional treatments to her clients - as she believes an integrative approach to health and wellness is very important. Michelle is passionate about using and promoting essential oils and, in particular, Kunzea Oil, as she has seen them help thousands of people over the years. She knows that using essential oils in your daily life can help bring balance to the mind, body and soul. She is constantly trialling and testing new products with her loyal clients.

To learn more about Michelle, go to her full bio page.

Medical Disclaimer

All content by Australian Kunzea Pty Ltd, including, text, images, audio, or other formats, were created for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. To read our full medical disclaimer, click here.

References: 

1. Lung.org: Cleaning Supplies and Household Chemicals; 2020. https://www.lung.org/clean-air/at-home/indoor-air-pollutants/cleaning-supplies-household-chem
2. Ali B, et al. Essential oils used in aromatherapy: A systematic review. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine pp.601-611; 2015. 
3. Abers M, et al. Antimicrobial activity of the volatile substances from essential oils. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies; 2021. https://bmccomplementmedtherapies.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12906-021-03285-3. Accessed 12 October 2021.
4. Healthline. Vinegar: The Multipurpose, Chemical-Free Household Cleaner You Should Know About. https://www.healthline.com/health/cleaning-with-vinegar#benefits. Updated 20 March 2020, accessed 12 October 2021