If you've ever wondered whether those little bottles of essential oils can pull their weight in the cleaning cupboard, you're not alone - we get this question heaps at Seven Scents. The short answer? Yes - they're brilliant for making everyday cleaning more natural and a whole lot nicer to smell. Here's an honest guide to which oils are best for cleaning, and how to use them.
A quick note on what we mean by "cleaning": we're talking about everyday cleaning and freshening - cutting through grease, lifting grime, and leaving your home smelling gorgeous. Essential oils are lovely for this, but they aren't registered disinfectants and shouldn't replace proper sanitising products when it really matters (more on that below).
Why clean with essential oils?
Two big reasons. First, the scent: a natural, plant-derived fragrance makes cleaning feel less like a chore, and leaves a room smelling genuinely fresh rather than chemically "clean." Second, the practical cleaning power: some oils - the citrus ones especially - contain natural compounds that cut through grease and lift sticky residue beautifully. Add in the appeal of fewer synthetic fragrances and less plastic waste, and it's easy to see why so many people are switching.
How essential oils help you clean
There's real chemistry here. Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts, and some of their natural constituents are genuinely useful for cleaning. The star is limonene, found in high amounts in citrus oils - it's a natural solvent, which is exactly why it's so good at breaking down grease. That's the same reason so many commercial cleaners use citrus.
Beyond degreasing, essential oils are wonderful deodorisers and fresheners: rather than just masking a smell with a heavier one, many help lift and replace stale odours with a clean, fresh scent. Paired with pantry staples like white vinegar (which does a lot of the actual cleaning), they make a lovely, effective everyday cleaner.
Just keep expectations honest: essential oils are best for everyday cleaning and freshening, not heavy-duty sanitising. For proper disinfection - after handling raw meat, or when someone's been unwell - reach for an appropriate registered product.
The best essential oils for cleaning
Citrus oils - the degreasing champions
Lemon is the classic. Cold-pressed from the peel, it's around 70% limonene - a natural solvent that cuts through grease like nobody's business, and leaves that bright, clean, freshly-cleaned scent. It's our go-to for benchtops, stovetops and anywhere grime builds up.
Sweet orange works similarly, with a sweeter, more cheerful aroma - lovely on stainless steel for lifting fingerprints and water marks, and a nice option if lemon feels too sharp.
Grapefruit rounds out the citrus trio - great degreasing power with a slightly softer, more sophisticated scent that lingers pleasantly in shared spaces.
All three also help lift sticky residue from jars and labels.
Eucalyptus - the fresh all-rounder
Eucalyptus is a proper multi-tasker. Its crisp, fresh scent is a natural deodoriser, brilliant for lifting musty odours in damp areas and leaving a bright, clean feel. It works beautifully in all-purpose sprays and helps shift sticky label residue too. That invigorating scent also makes cleaning feel far less like a chore.
Tea tree - the crisp, clean-scented favourite
Tea tree is a Kiwi cleaning-cupboard staple, loved for its fresh, crisp, camphor-clean scent - especially welcome in bathrooms and on damp-prone surfaces. Its medicinal edge isn't for everyone, but it blends beautifully with eucalyptus or lemon for a fresher profile. A few drops in the wash also freshens gym gear and towels.
Lavender - clean and calm
Lavender isn't just for relaxing - it's a lovely cleaning oil too. Its soft, familiar scent makes a space feel clean and calm at once, which is why we love it for linens, fabric refreshers and room sprays. It blends with almost anything, and a drop or two softens the sharper, more medicinal notes of tea tree or eucalyptus.
Peppermint - fresh, and a natural pest deterrent
The cool menthol in peppermint is a natural deodoriser - great in bathroom and bin sprays where smells linger. Its strong scent is also famously unpopular with spiders and ants, so it's handy in kitchen corners. A little goes a long way, and it pairs brilliantly with eucalyptus for an extra-fresh blend.
Lemongrass - a fresh, natural deodoriser
Lemongrass has a bright, fresh-grassy scent that's a wonderful natural deodoriser - lovely diffused during and after cleaning to keep a room smelling fresh.
DIY essential oil cleaning recipes
Simple, effective recipes we've tested in our own homes. Always spot-test a new surface first, and note that citrus oils can etch natural stone (granite, marble), so avoid those surfaces.
All-purpose surface spray
Your everyday workhorse for benchtops, sinks and general surfaces.
- 500ml spray bottle
- 250ml white vinegar
- 250ml water
- 15 drops tea tree oil
- 10 drops lemon oil
- 5 drops lavender oil (optional, for scent balance)
Combine and shake well before each use. The vinegar does the heavy lifting; the oils add cleaning help and a lovely scent. Avoid stone surfaces.
Bathroom refresh spray
For tiles, grout and damp corners.
- 500ml spray bottle
- 400ml water
- 100ml white vinegar
- 20 drops tea tree oil
- 15 drops eucalyptus oil
Spray on, leave 10–15 minutes, then scrub and rinse. The fresh tea tree and eucalyptus leave the bathroom smelling crisp and clean.
Kitchen degreaser
For stovetops, range hoods and greasy surfaces.
- 500ml spray bottle
- 400ml water
- 50ml white vinegar
- 50ml liquid castile soap
- 20 drops lemon oil
- 10 drops sweet orange oil
Shake well, spray onto greasy surfaces, leave a minute, then wipe. The citrus oils break down grease while the castile soap lifts it away.
Natural floor cleaner
For most sealed floors (test first).
- 4 litres warm water
- 60ml white vinegar
- 15 drops eucalyptus oil
- 10 drops lavender oil
Mix in a bucket and mop as usual for a subtle fresh scent.
Linen and fabric refresher
For sofas, curtains and soft furnishings between washes.
- 250ml spray bottle
- 200ml water
- 50ml vodka (helps the oils disperse and speeds drying)
- 10 drops lavender oil
- 5 drops lemongrass oil
Shake well and mist lightly from about 30cm. The alcohol evaporates quickly, leaving just the fresh scent.
Using essential oils for cleaning safely
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Always dilute. For cleaning, 1–2% is plenty (roughly 10–20 drops per 500ml). More isn't better and can damage surfaces.
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Mind your surfaces. Citrus oils can etch natural stone (granite, marble, quartz). Test in a hidden spot, and avoid neat oils on painted or wood-finished surfaces.
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Store well. Keep oils in dark glass, away from heat and light. Citrus oils have shorter shelf lives (1–2 years). Use pre-mixed cleaners within a few weeks.
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Ventilate. Open a window during heavier cleaning - these are concentrated compounds.
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Never mix with bleach or other commercial cleaners.
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Sensitivities, pregnancy, pets: some people are sensitive to certain oils (especially tea tree and eucalyptus). If you're pregnant, have a respiratory condition, or use oils around babies or pets, check with your doctor or vet first - some oils can be harmful to cats and dogs.
Essential oils vs conventional cleaners: the honest picture
We love natural cleaning, but we believe in honesty. Here's the balanced view.
Where essential oils shine: everyday cleaning and freshening, cutting grease, refreshing fabrics and air, bathroom upkeep between deep cleans, and making cleaning feel pleasant - all with fewer synthetic fragrances. They're a lovely option for anyone sensitive to conventional cleaning-product scents.
Where they have limits: essential oils are not registered disinfectants, so don't rely on them for sanitising after raw meat or illness - use an appropriate product for that. They also take a little more effort: mixing, shaking and using within a few weeks.
The happy middle: most homes do well with a mix - essential-oil cleaners for everyday freshening, and a proper disinfectant for the few jobs that truly need one.
A greener clean
Switching to essential-oil cleaning is a kinder choice for the planet, too. Plant-derived oils are biodegradable and break down readily, and refilling your own spray bottles cuts down on plastic. Because the oils are so concentrated, a small bottle goes a long way.
Start your natural cleaning journey
You don't need to switch overnight. Start with one or two versatile oils - lemon (the degreasing champion) and tea tree (a fresh all-rounder) are perfect first picks - and make a simple all-purpose spray. From there, experiment and build your own blends.
Ready to give it a go? Browse our range of pure essential oils to find your cleaning favourites, and our DIY blend recipes for more scent ideas - all 100% pure and made here in Wellington.
This article is for general information about using essential oils for everyday cleaning and freshening. It isn't medical advice, and essential oils aren't disinfectants or a treatment for any health condition. Always test cleaning solutions on an inconspicuous area first, and check with a qualified professional if you're pregnant, have a health condition, or are using oils around children or pets.
