Simply Living

DIY Cleaning Recipes

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One of the many reasons that many people turn to essential oils is to help create a naturally clean home! The best thing about it is that you get all the clean, none of the toxins and lots of great smells along the way. With a little help from some of our favorite oils and one bottle of Thieves Household Cleaner, you can make so many simple recipes to clean your space from top to bottom! Here are some of our favorites.

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All-Purpose Cleaner

  • 16 oz glass spray bottle
  • 1-2 capfuls Thieves Household Cleaner
  • Fill with filtered water
  • Optional: add up to 40 drops of chosen essential oils. Popular combos: Lemon, Cinnamon Bark, and Vanilla; Cinnamon Bark, Clove, Orange, Nutmeg; Lushious Lemon and Vanilla; Lemon and Pine

Deep Degreaser

  • 16 oz glass spray bottle
  • ¼ cup Thieves Household Cleaner
  • 15 drops Lemon essential oil
  • Fill with filtered water
  • Spray onto the area and let sit for a few minutes before scrubbing to improve cleaning power!

Garbage Disposal Tablets

  • 2 cups baking soda
  • 1 cup Kosher Salt
  • ½ cup Water
  • ½ cup Castile Soap
  • 30-40 drops Lemon Essential Oil
  • Combine all the ingredients well. Make tablespoon size drops on a baking sheet. Let sit overnight and store in a glass jar with a lid. If they are still a little soggy just let them sit a few more hours.

General Floor Cleaner

  • Large mop bucket
  • 2 capfuls Thieves Household Cleaner
  • 6-8 cups water
  • 5 drops each Lemon, Pine essential oil
  • Mix well and mop as usual.
  • If you have a spray mop you can add this solution to the container. (Definitely ditch the solution it comes with!). Simply cut the recipe in half, add it to the reservoir and use as usual.

Hardwood Floor Cleaner

  • 3 capfuls Thieves Household Cleaner
  • 5 drops Pine or Lemon
  • Hot Water
  • Add to a mop bucket and use it to clean floors.

Wood Polish

  • 16 oz glass spray bottle
  • 1 Tbsp Organic Olive Oil
  • 10 drops Pine, Lemon Verbena or Lemon oil
  • ¼ cup White Vinegar
  • Fill with distilled water

Sink & Tile Scrub

  • ¼ cup baking soda
  • 5 drops Lemon essential oil
  • 1 capful Thieves Household Cleaner
  • Add all together to make a paste. Add a touch more cleaner or baking soda as needed for consistency.
  • Apply to the surface and let sit for a few minutes before cleaning.

Grout Spray

  • 16 oz glass spray bottle
  • 2 capfuls Thieves Household Cleaner
  • 15 drops Lemon essential oil
  • 10 drops Purification essential oil
  • 1 Tbsp Thieves Dish Soap or Castille soap
  • Spray on grout, let sit, then scrub with a brush. Alternatively, cut the recipe in half and add to a soap-dispensing brush.

Cleaning fizzies (great for commodes!)

  • 1 cup Baking Soda
  • ½ cup Citric acid
  • ½ cup Cornstarch
  • 4 teaspoons water
  • 20 drops each Lemon, Pine
  • Optional 10 drops Thieves
  • 3 teaspoons V-6 Vegetable Oil Complex or other carrier
  • Ice cube tray or candy mold
    • Step 1) In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients and mix evenly.
    • Step 2) In a separate bowl, combine water, essential oils or blends, and V-6.
    • Step 3) Pour liquids into the large bowl and mix together until combined.
    • Step 4) Use the mixture to fill an ice cube tray or candy mold about three fourths full. If the mixture expands and spills over the mold, gently repack into the mold.
    • Step 5) Let sit overnight to dry in a room temperature area. When dry, pop tablets out and store in a glass jar.
  • To Use: When needed, put a tablet in the toilet bowl, hard-to-clean bottles, or sink full of dishes to help clean and deodorize. Let sit in the bowl, bottle, or sink for 20–30 minutes to fizz and dissolve. Once dissolved, flush or rinse out.

Commode Spray (use before you go!)

  • 2 oz glass spray bottle
  • 1 tsp rubbing alcohol
  • 30-40 drops essential oils
  • Spray 4-6 pumps directly into the loo before use
  • Favorite oils: Lemon, Purification, Lemongrass, Thieves

Glass & Mirror Cleaner

  • 16 oz glass spray bottle
  • 1 capful Thieves Household Cleaner
  • 5 drops Citrus Fresh essential oil blend
  • 1 tsp white vinegar
  • Fill with filtered water
  • Spray onto the surface and use a microfiber cloth to wipe clean.

Mattress & Upholstery Spray (great for dust mites!)

Herbal Deodorizing Spray for pet beds, upholstered surfaces, car upholstery, etc!

  • To a 4oz glass spray bottle add
    • ¼ cup white vinegar
    • 15 drops each Purification, Lavender essential oil
    • 10 drops Tangerine essential oil
    • Pinch sea salt or splash of witch hazel
    • Filtered water
  • Spray lightly onto surfaces to remove unwanted odors.

Refreshing room spray

Carpet & Rug Freshener

Pet Stain and Odor Remover

  • 16 oz glass spray bottle
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 15 drops Lemon essential oil
  • 5 drops Eucalyptus Radiata essential oil
  • 5 drops Purification essential oil blend
  • 2 cups baking soda (optional, for tough or already-dried stains)

Blot the “accident” to remove excess moisture. Shake the bottle, then spray the stained area generously until wet. Let sit for 10–15 minutes. Using an old towel or rag, soak up the mixture by blotting until moisture is removed. Do not apply heat to aid in the drying process, as it can cause unwanted odors and stains to set permanently.

When you find an older, smellier, set-in stain, use the instructions above to make the DIY pet odor eliminator and then spray the area generously until wet, sprinkle baking soda over the stain and leave for 24 hours or until dry. The baking soda will absorb the stain during this time. Once dry, scoop up as much baking soda as possible and discard, then vacuum thoroughly to remove any remaining powder.