If your home looks clean but smells a little off or still feels grimy in certain corners, it may be time to ditch chemical-laden cleaners and go natural. With these DIY essential oil cleaning recipes trending every summer, it’s easier than ever to deep clean your space using the power of plants. Whether you're tackling greasy messes, freshening the air, or keeping germs at bay, essential oils can transform your cleaning routine into something healthier, more effective, and aromatic.

Let’s dive into three essential oil cleaning hacks that go viral every summer for a reason, because they work and smell amazing. Plus, we’ve packed this blog with must-have essential oils for cleaning, easy DIY recipes, and expert tips to make your home truly clean, inside and out.

Why Ditch Commercial Cleaners?

Conventional cleaning products may promise a sparkling home, but they often hide harsh chemicals behind vague “fragrance” labels. Worse, most aren’t even regulated for ingredient transparency.

Green cleaning with essential oils gives you control. You’ll avoid hidden toxins while benefiting from essential oils' antimicrobial, deodorizing, and air-purifying properties, backed by research and powered by nature.

Hack #1: Natural Antibacterial Floor & Surface Cleaner

If you want to protect your home from environmental threats without harsh disinfectants, this DIY Floor & Surface Cleaner is your go-to.

Floor Cleaner Recipe

• ¼ cup warm water
• ¼ cup white vinegar
• 1 tbsp Castile soap
• 30 drops Lemon Tea Tree essential oil
• Mix ingredients in a glass spray bottle. This recipe not only cuts through dirt and grime but also leaves your floors smelling bright and fresh. Lemon Tea Tree oil is known for its powerful antibacterial and deodorizing qualities, making it ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, and play areas.

*Make sure to spot check on certain surfaces, such as hardwood, granite, and marble, before using profusely. 

Hack #2: Magic DIY Grease & Gunk Remover

From baked-on food to sticky residue, this all-natural scrub melts away grime with the help of Bitter Orange essential oil, a citrus oil rich in d-limonene, a natural degreaser and biosolvent.[4]

Grease & Gunk Remover Recipe

• 4 tbsp baking soda
• 1 tbsp white vinegar
• 20 drops Bitter Orange essential oil

Mix ingredients into a paste. Apply to dirty surfaces like stovetops or grout, let sit for 5–10 minutes, then scrub with a sponge or steel wool for extra scrubbing action. Rinse clean with a damp towel.

Need a lighter daily option? Combine 12 drops of citrus oil (such as Lemon, Nova Mandarin, or Grapefruit) with 1 tbsp dish soap for an easy degreasing dish scrub.

Hack #3: Garbage Disposal Bombs for a Stink-Free Kitchen

Smelly sink? Not anymore. These DIY Garbage Disposal Bombs are the ultimate natural deodorizer, releasing a burst of fresh, zesty aroma every time you run your disposal.

Garbage Disposal Bomb Recipe

• 1 cup baking soda
• ½ cup citric acid
• 40 ml Sunflower carrier oil
• 2.5 ml Natural Cleaning essential oil blend

Mix dry ingredients first, then slowly add the oil and blend. Form into small balls and let them dry overnight. Drop one down your disposal with a little water and turn it on for an instant refresh.

Bonus: Essential Oils That Protect Your Home

First and foremost, you want to clean to protect yourself and those in your home from harmful environmental factors. But luckily, essential oils can be used effectively through inhalation and topical use. Here’s what studies show:

In a study that monitored the antimicrobial activity of six different essential oils, Oregano oil was found to have the greatest antibacterial activity against several types of bacteria.[1]

A study performed in Algeria evaluated the antifungal activity of Lemongrass in vitro. It was concluded that Lemongrass essential oil is a promising antifungal agent.[2]

The antiviral activity of Tea Tree essential oil was proven effective against select viruses in a 2009 study.[3] This was attributed to terpinen-4-ol, a natural component also found in Sweet Marjoram essential oil.

All-Purpose Protective Spray

• 3 oz distilled water
• 1 oz 190-proof alcohol
• 20 drops Oregano essential oil
• 20 drops Lemongrass essential oil
• 20 drops Tea Tree essential oil

Combine oils with alcohol in a spray bottle and let sit for a few hours. Add water and shake. Use on high-touch surfaces like counters, doorknobs, and bathroom sinks. Let it sit 2–3 minutes before wiping clean.

Freshen the Air With Deodorizing Essential Oils

Got lingering cooking smells or pet odors? The best essential oils for air purification are strong, potent, and antimicrobial.

Top Deodorizing Oils:

• Cassia
• Key Lime
• Xiang Mao
• Peppermint
• Eucalyptus
• Ylang Ylang

Try These Summer Diffuser Blends

Citrus & Spice

• 7 drops Key Lime
• 3 drops Cassia
• 2 drops Nutmeg

Minty Fresh

• 5 drops Peppermint
• 3 drops Eucalyptus
• 2 drops Vanilla

Flower Power

• 4 drops Lavender
• 3 drops Xiang Mao
• 3 drops Ylang Ylang

Use in an essential oil diffuser, DIY potpourri, or ceramic hanging diffuser to refresh small spaces like cars, closets, or bathrooms.

EG’s Best Cleaning Blends

Edens Garden offers expertly formulated blends so you can clean with confidence:

For Surface Cleaning & Germ Protection:

• Fighting Five, Guardian, Immunity

For All-Purpose Home Cleaning:

• Natural Cleaning Blend

DIY Carpet Deodorizer

• 1 cup baking soda
• 60 drops Natural Cleaning Blend
• Shaker container

Add ingredients to a shaker bottle, sprinkle onto carpets, wait an hour or so, then vacuum.

DIY Streak-Free Glass Cleaner

• 2 oz white vinegar
• 1 oz distilled water
• 1 oz 190-proof alcohol
• 60 drops Natural Cleaning Blend

Combine essential oil and alcohol in a spray bottle and let sit for a few hours before adding vinegar and water. Shake, spray, and wipe away for crystal-clear windows.

For Air Freshening:

• Citrus Cream, Breath of Fresh Air, Purifying Eucalyptus: Diffuse or add to stovetop steam for a room-filling aroma that clears the air naturally.

Go Green at Your Own Pace

You don’t have to overhaul your entire cleaning cabinet overnight. Start with one DIY cleaner, like the Garbage Disposal Bombs or Grease Remover, and see how easy and effective natural cleaning can be.

And if you're wondering about safety:

• Look for Edens Garden’s “OK for Kids 2+” symbol for child-safe oils.
• Check our Pet Safety Guide for tips on essential oils around furry family members.

SOURCES: 

1. Man, Adrian. “Antimicrobial Activity of Six Essential Oils Against a Group of Human Pathogens: A Comparative Study.” PubMed Central (PMC), 1 Mar. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6471180  
2. Boukhatem, Mohamed Nadjib. “Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon Citratus) Essential Oil as a Potent Anti-Inflammatory and Antifungal Drugs.” PubMed Central (PMC), 19 Sept. 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4170112 
3. Garozzo, A. “In Vitro Antiviral Activity of Melaleuca Alternifolia Essential Oil.” PubMed, 18 Sept. 2009, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19843207
4. Chemat, Smain. “Limonene as Green Solvent for Extraction of Natural Products.” SpringerLink, 8 Feb. 2012, link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-007-1712-1_5