How to Use Lemon Essential Oil to Clean Your Home

Lemon essential oil, which is cold-pressed from the rinds of lemons, has several properties that make it a great cleaning aid. It has a strong citrus scent that helps to remove offending odors and contains D-limonene, which is an effective solvent for dirt and grease. Here are 10 tips on how to use lemon essential oil to clean your home!

 

1. Disinfect Your Kitchen Countertops

Instead of using bleach and other harsh chemicals to clean and disinfect your kitchen countertops, fill up a spray bottle with 40 drops of lemon oil and 20 drops of tea tree oil. Finish off your bottle with pure water and a little white vinegar. You can also use this mixture to clean your bathrooms of mold.

 

2. Sanitize Your Dishwasher

Put a dishwasher-safe container on the top rack of your dishwasher and fill it with two cups of vinegar. Add 7 to 10 drops of lemon essential oil to the container and then run the dishwasher on the hottest setting. This will completely clean your dishwasher and leave it smelling lemony fresh!

You can also add a drop of lemon oil to your dishwasher every time you run it to enjoy spot-free dishes and glasses.

 

3. Clean Your Carpet

Forget the heavy chemicals of conventional carpet cleaners and mix 10 to 15 drops of lemon essential oil with one gallon of water. Pour the mixture into a steamer or a carpet cleaner to clean your carpets. Bonus: you’ll enjoy the natural lemon scent afterwards!

 

4. Wipe Down Your Windows

In a glass spray bottle, combine 1 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup distilled water, and 8 drops of lemon essential oil for an effective and green window cleaner.

 

5. Freshen Your Indoor Air

A guest’s first impression of your home is often how your indoor air smells. Make your indoor air inviting by freshening it up with a spray bottle filled with 5 to 6 drops of lemon oil and 1 to 2 cups of water.

 

6. Remove Stains from White Sinks, Countertops, and Tubs

Mix two tablespoons baking soda and 1 to 2 tablespoons water with 3 to 4 drops of lemon essential oil to make a paste. Use the paste to scrub on stubborn stains on your bath tubs, white shower surrounds, light countertops, or a white sink. The lemon essential oil works by lightening the stains.

 

7. Clean Your Garbage Disposal

Get rid of odors in your garbage disposal by adding 1 to 2 drops of lemon oil right down the disposal. Let it work for at least a minute and then turn on the warm water on your faucet to flush it out.

 

8. Disinfect Your Cutting Board

A cutting board, if not cleaned properly, can hold harmful bacteria that can make you and your family sick. Disinfect your cutting boards by rubbing two to three drops of lemon oil on them. Wait for a few minutes and then rinse your boards with hot water and wash with soap.

 

9. Wipe Down Your Dry Erase Board

If you have a dry erase board, you’ve probably struggled to clean it completely of marks left behind by markers. Put a few drops of lemon essential oil on a cloth or a cotton ball and wipe off your board for a sparkling clean result.

 

10. Polish Your Wood Furniture

Wood furniture needs to be cleaned and polished from time to time. You can do that with a spray bottle that contains 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup vinegar, and 10 drops of lemon essential oil. Spray it on a microfiber cloth and use it to clean your wood furniture and other wood surfaces.

 

“I’m Elisa and I live in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two little girls. I used to teach reading and writing, but now I stay at home with my two kiddos and read and write in my spare time. I also love to undertake DIY projects, find new recipes on Pinterest, and dream about someday finally completing our home. Above all, I love to learn about new things and sharing my new-found knowledge with others.”