Lemon oil is my favorite essential oil. Its beautiful scent, combined with its natural cleansing, purifying, and uplifting properties, make it the most-used essential oil in our home. I use lemon essential oil for cleaning wood, cleaning the bathroom, cleaning floors, as a surface cleaner, and as an all-purpose cleaner. Since it’s such an “essential” part of my daily routine, I thought I’d share how I use lemon oil for cleaning our home.
Lemon essential oil is an amazingly powerful cleansing agent. It purifies both the air and surfaces and also works as a natural deodorizer, without the artificial fragrances used in some cleaning products.
20 Tips for Using Lemon Essential Oil for Cleaning
If you’re looking for ways to cut down on the amount of chemicals you use in your household, read on to learn how to use lemon essential oil for cleaning your home naturally.
1. For surface cleaning
Add 5 to 6 drops of lemon oil to one ounce of water in a spray bottle to clean, disinfect, and deodorize countertops, sinks, tables, wood cutting boards, appliances and other surfaces.
2. For cleaning wood
To make a natural furniture polish, simply add 3 drops of lemon essential oil to 1/4 cup of olive oil and apply with a rag to clean, protect, and shine wood finishes. Since wood finishes differ, test in an inconspicuous spot first.
3. For sparkling dishes
Add 3 to 4 drops of lemon oil to your dishwater or to the floor of your dishwasher to help degrease and clean dishes.
4. Using lemon essential oil for cleaning stainless steel
Use 1 to 2 drops on a soft cloth and apply to stainless steel appliances in the kitchen to clean and shine. Test in an inconspicuous spot first.
5. To clean windows
- Add 5 to 10 drops of lemon essential oil to your natural window cleaner.
- Or, make your own window cleaner by combining 4 oz. white vinegar with 5 to 6 drops of lemon essential oil in a spray bottle.
- Shake to mix.
6. To clean carpets
Add 10 to 15 drops of lemon essential oil to a gallon of natural carpet cleaning solution to help pull out stains, brighten carpets and rugs, and leave a fresh smell in the room.
7. As a stain remover and fabric softener for laundry
- To remove stains, add 12 drops of lemon essential oil to a large bottle of liquid laundry detergent. Mix well and add the lemon-infused detergent to your washing machine as you normally would. Do not add essential oils directly to your fabrics, as they can leave a stain.
- For softening fabrics, add 6 drops of lemon essential oil to 1 cup of white vinegar and use as a liquid fabric softener during your rinse cycle. Do not add essential oils directly to your fabrics, as they can leave a stain.
8. In the dryer
- Add 1 or 2 drops of lemon essential oil to wool dryer balls or a washcloth to lightly scent your clothes in the dryer.
- Don’t add essential oils directly to your fabrics, as they can leave a stain.
9. To remove labels and other sticky things
Use 1 to 2 drops of lemon oil to remove gum, oil, grease spots, adhesive, and crayon from most surfaces. Test in an inconspicuous spot first.
10. Lemon oil as a natural deodorizer
To freshen the refrigerator or garbage can:
Place a few drops of lemon essential oil on a cotton ball and place it in the refrigerator or garbage can to eliminate odors.
To freshen and clean the microwave:
- Deodorize and clean your microwave oven by adding 5 drops of lemon essential oil to a cup of water in a large glass container and heat the water in the microwave for two to three minutes.
- Let the water stand for five minutes without opening the microwave door. The trapped steam will loosen grime, so you can just wipe the microwave clean when you’re done.
11. Lemon essential oil soft scrub to clean sinks and tubs
Ingredients:
- 1⁄2 cup baking soda
- 3 tablespoons castile soap (you can also use water in a pinch)
- 10 drops lemon essential oil
Directions:
- In an airtight jar, mix all ingredients, adding more soap, water, or baking soda until you reach the desired consistency.
- Use mixture to scrub grout, sinks, tubs, etc., with a soft sponge or brush.
12. Using lemon oil as a natural fruit and veggie wash
- To clean and increase the shelf life of fresh fruits and vegetables, fill a bowl with cool water and add 2 to 3 drops of lemon essential oil.
- Stir, then place your produce in the water and make sure all surfaces come into contact with the lemon water.
13. To deodorize and sanitize sponges
Place sponges and dish cloths in a bowl of water with 1 to 2 drops of lemon essential oil and soak overnight to kill germs.
14. Using lemon essential oil for cleaning the bathroom
Fight mildew in the bathroom by mixing 10 drops of lemon oil with 2 ounces of water in a small spray bottle and spray areas with mildew.
15. As a natural air freshener
Make a DIY air freshener by adding 30 drops of lemon oil to water in an 8 ounce spray bottle. Shake well before using.
16. To freshen the bathroom
Or, put a few drops of lemon oil on the inside of your toilet paper roll for an instant air freshener every time you roll!
17. To reduce paint fumes
- Add an entire 15 ml. bottle of lemon essential oil to a 5 gallon bucket of paint.
- Mix the oil into the paint by stirring vigorously.
18. As a morning wake-up call
In the shower, with the water turned on, place a few drops of lemon oil on the shower floor as you enter to help invigorate and refresh. Eucalyptus oil is wonderful for this, too–it smells like you’re in a spa!
19. To sanitize your hands
For a natural hand sanitizer, rub a drop of lemon oil on your hands. Dilute with fractionated coconut oil or another carrier oil, like olive, grapeseed or jojoba oil, to minimize skin sensitivity.
20. Using lemon oil to clean and deodorize the air
Add 5 to 10 drops of lemon essential oil to a diffuser and diffuse throughout the room to freshen the air and uplift your spirits.
Favorite Essential Oil Products:
For more great ways to use essential oils, you might also be interested in these posts:
- Spring Cleaning with Essential Oils and Natural Ingredients
- Make Your Home Smell Amazing with 13 Essential Oil Diffuser Recipes
Have a wonderful day! xo Jane
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