Scents & Sensibility: Essential Oils That Refresh Your Home During Spring Cleaning — And One to Avoid

As the days stretch longer and the sun streams in brighter, spring beckons us to refresh our homes and reset our spaces. While conventional cleaning products get the job done, more homeowners are reaching for essential oils to bring a natural, fragrant, and effective edge to their cleaning routines.

From lemon’s zing to lavender’s calm, essential oils can boost your cleaning power — naturally. Here are four essential oils that are perfect for spring cleaning, complete with DIY recipes, and one oil you may want to steer clear of.

Lemon Essential Oil: The Natural Degreaser

Lemon oil is the darling of natural cleaning — and for good reason. It cuts through grease, shines up surfaces, and has powerful antibacterial properties, all while leaving a bright, citrusy scent that screams “clean.”

• Smell: citrus, fresh

• Benefits: Natural degreaser, antibacterial properties

• Uses: Kitchen surfaces, bathroom fixtures, window cleaning

DIY Lemon All-Purpose Cleaner

• 1 cup white vinegar

• 1 cup water

• 15 drops lemon essential oil

• Optional: 1 tablespoon baking soda (for extra grime-fighting)

  
  

DIY “Windex”

• 3 oz distilled water

• 1 oz high-proof vodka

• 30 drops lemon essential oil

Shake it up in a spray bottle and use it on countertops, appliances, and glass. Avoid marble or stone — the acidity can damage them. Be sure to use within 2 weeks. If planning on keeping for longer, add some high-proof vodka like everclear to act as a preservative and add some cleaning + disinfectant power. 

Another easy way to use lemon’s degreaser power is to add 5-10 drops to your dish soap. It adds a nice scent while adding extra power to your soap of choice.  

Tea Tree Oil: Nature’s Disinfectant

Known for its antimicrobial and antifungal properties, tea tree oil is your go-to for areas that need a little extra germ-fighting power — like bathrooms, laundry areas, or even gym bags.

• Smell: Fresh, sharp, herbaceous, medicinal

• Benefits: Strong antimicrobial properties, fights mold and mildew

• Uses: Bathroom cleaning, musty areas, washing machine maintenance

DIY Tea Tree Mold & Mildew Spray

• 3 oz distilled water

• 1 oz vodka or isopropyl alcohol

• 30 drops tea tree essential oil

Spray onto shower walls, tiles, or anywhere mold likes to hide. Let it sit before scrubbing, or just let it air-dry for prevention.

An easy way to use tea tree for a boost of germ-fighting, you can add a couple drops to your hand soap. Bonus- it’s safe for the whole family!

Sweet Orange Oil: The Mood Lifter

Sweet orange essential oil isn’t just cheerful — it’s also a surprisingly effective degreaser and can help deter pests like ants. Bonus: It can help elevate your mood while you scrub.

Smell: Bright, sweet, and citrusy with a refreshing, zesty note.

Benefits:

• Natural pest repellent: Keeps insects at bay.

• Mood enhancer: Uplifts and energizes the spirit.

• Antibacterial: Helps cleanse and purify the air.

Uses:

• Pest control: Diffuse in areas prone to pests, like kitchens or storage rooms.

• Mood-boosting: Diffuse in living spaces or workplaces for a positive atmosphere.Air freshener: Use in cleaning solutions or diffusers to purify and refresh air.

DIY Orange Citrus Scrub

• 1/2 cup baking soda

• 1/4 cup castile soap

• 10 drops sweet orange oil

• 1 tablespoon water (adjust to desired consistency)

Use this scrub for sinks, tubs, and stovetops. Your kitchen will smell like a citrus grove in bloom.

Another easy way to freshen up your home and lift everyone’s moods is to use orange in a carpet refresher- simply add a couple drops to some baking soda, sprinkle on the carpet, let sit for 15-20 mins, then vacuum up. 

Lavender Oil: The Calm After the Clean

Lavender essential oil is famous for its soothing properties, making it perfect for the finishing touches of your spring cleaning routine. Use it in linen sprays or to freshen up the vacuum cleaner.

• Smell: Floral, slight herbal and woody undertones

• Benefits: Natural antibacterial properties, calming scent, fabric freshener

• Uses: Linen sprays, carpet refresher, general air freshening

  
  

DIY Lavender Linen Spray

• 1/2 cup distilled water

• 1 tablespoon witch hazel or vodka

• 15 drops lavender essential oil

Spritz on bedding, curtains, or even fabric-covered furniture to add a tranquil aroma and a subtle antibacterial boost.

I love to use lavender as a passive diffuser- simply get a bowl, add a cup of epsom salt, 20 drops of lavender essential oil, and any dried flowers you want to add. Place the bowl, uncovered, on countertops and let sit for as long as you’d like!

Clove Essential Oil: A Hidden Hazard

While clove oil has antimicrobial and mold-fighting properties, and is used in many commercial essential oil blend cleaners, it can be too powerful — especially around children, pets, or anyone with sensitive skin or respiratory issues. Its VERY potent eugenol content can irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs. In high concentrations (anything above 0.5%!), it’s also toxic to cats and dogs.

Clove is also a known blood thinner, especially topically. It shouldn’t be used with anyone on blood thinners or with any known blood disorders. 

Avoid using clove oil for household cleaning. The risks outweigh the benefits when simpler, safer alternatives are at your fingertips.

Final Thoughts

Essential oils offer a refreshing and effective way to clean your home while ditching harsh chemicals. Just remember: a little goes a long way, and safety always comes first. Happy cleaning — and breathe in that fresh, spring-scented air! 

Make sure to keep finished DIYs and essential oil bottles out of reach of children and pets, and keep safety top priority! Don’t use oils straight on skin or surfaces without diluting first. 

Whether you pick just one of these oils or all of them, you have the freedom to customize how your home smells, while using them with confidence knowing they’re working hard to clean and refresh your space! Enjoy cleaning :)

See you next Thursday!