If you read my blog, 10 Swaps Towards Toxin-Free Cleaning, you know cleaning is inevitable, but thankfully, you can choose what you’d like to clean with. Personally, I choose an all-natural route because I have studied the ingredients of many products, like laundry detergent, and I am simply not comfortable using mainstream options that are often greenwashed or worse.

Essential oils are one of my toxin-free cleaning stables, as many have antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and/or antimicrobial properties. Just so we are all on the same page, let’s go over some definitions:

• An antibacterial property is when a substance can destroy or suppress the growth and reproduction of bacteria (1).
• An antifungal property is when a substance can fight the growth of specific pathogens that could harm your health, such as ringworm, athlete’s foot, tinea versicolor, toenail fungus, and jock itch (2).
• An antiviral property is when a substance can kill a virus or suppress the virus’ ability to replicate, multiply, or reproduce (3)
• An antimicrobial property occurs when a substance can kill or suppress the spread of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoans, and fungi (4).

Before proceeding, let’s discuss some dos and don’ts regarding essential oils.

✅ DO dilute all essential oils as directed on the bottle.
❎ DO NOT ingest essential oils.

✅ DO use essential oils topically, but always dilute them accordingly.
❎ DO NOT apply neat (directly on the skin).

✅ DO use caution around pets and children.
❎ DO NOT disregard safety information.

This list is just a brief rundown; for more details and a dilution chart, I recommend checking out my post, How to Practice Essential Oil Safety!

I trust, use, and recommend Plant Therapy essential oils (also available on Amazon). Plant Therapy’s Kid-Safe Essential Oils are specifically formulated for children ages two and up. Although I’ve never used them, I’ve also heard great things about Simply Earth Essential Oils. Now, for the moment you’ve been waiting for, essential oils for cleaning!

Eucalyptus Globulus Essential Oil

Eucalyptus globulus essential oil is typically made from the leaves of the eucalyptus plant. Its documented antimicrobial and antifungal properties make it useful for cleaning and disinfecting (5,6).

Trusted aromatherapist Wendy Robbins cautions that due to its 1,8 cineole content, eucalyptus globulus essential oil may cause central nervous system (CNS) and breathing problems in young children. She cautions against using eucalyptus globulus on or near the face of children under ten, and a dermal maximum of 20% is recommended for everyone else (7). Plant Therapy’s Eucalyptus Globulus Essential Oil (available on Amazon) and Organic Eucalyptus Globulus Essential Oil (available on Amazon) are safe for pregnancy, dogs, and horses, but not kids or while breastfeeding.

If you’re looking for kid-safe eucalyptus oil, I’d recommend Plant Therapy’s Eucalyptus Dives Essential Oil (available on Amazon).

Lemon Essential Oil

Lemon essential oil is typically made from the often discarded fruit peels. Studies have determined that lemon peels are full of bioactive compounds that provide antimicrobial and antifungal properties, a must when cleaning (7,8).

Trusted aromatherapist Wendy Robbins says cold-pressed lemon essential oil is phototoxic, while steam-distilled is not. A dermal maximum of 2% is recommended for cold-pressed lemon essential oil to avoid a phototoxic reaction. Additionally, the use of oxidized lemon essential oil is cautioned against regardless of the distillation method (9). Plant Therapy’s Lemon Essential Oil (available on Amazon) and Organic Lemon Essential Oil (available on Amazon) are listed as safe for kids, pregnancy, breastfeeding, dogs, and horses.

If you’re looking for a non-phototoxic lemon oil, I’d recommend Plant Therapy’s Steam Distilled Lemon Essential Oil (available on Amazon).

Orange Essential Oil

Like lemon, orange essential oil is typically made from orange peels. Despite being discarded, studies have determined that orange peels contain bioactive compounds that provide antimicrobial and antifungal properties, making them an effective household cleaner (10,11).

Trusted aromatherapist Wendy Robbins indicates no special precautions when using orange essential oil. However, she does recommend avoiding oil usage if it has oxidized (12). Any variation of orange oil can be used for these benefits. Still, I prefer Plant Therapy’s Sweet Orange Essential Oil (available on Amazon) and Organic Sweet Orange Essential Oil (available on Amazon), which are safe for kids, pregnancy, breastfeeding, dogs, and horses.

Oregano Essential Oil

Oregano essential oil, not to be confused with oil of oregano, is typically made from the dried aerial parts of a flowering plant, meaning the parts that grow above ground (stems, leaves, petioles, flowers, fruits, and seeds). If you read my post, Benefits of Oregano, you know the plant and its essential oil has antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties, all ideal for cleaning (13,14,15).

Trusted aromatherapist Wendy Robbins states there are indications that oregano essential oil may cause embryotoxicity and a moderate risk of skin sensitization. She also recommends a dermal maximum of 1.1% (16). Plant Therapy’s Oregano Essential Oil (available on Amazon) and Organic Oregano Essential Oil (available on Amazon) are unsafe for kids, pregnancy, breastfeeding, dogs, or horses.

Spearmint Essential Oil

Spearmint essential oil is an excellent alternative to peppermint oil, which is not kid or breastfeeding-safe. It is typically made from the leaves of the spearmint plant, which has antibacterial properties, making it ideal for cleaning and disinfecting (17). Check out my Benefits of Spearmint post for research.

Trusted aromatherapist Wendy Robbins warns that spearmint essential oil is a potential mucous membrane irritant. She also cautions that there is a low risk of skin sensitization and recommends a dermal maximum of 1.7% (18). Plant Therapy’s Spearmint Essential Oil (available on Amazon) and Organic Spearmint Essential Oil (available on Amazon) are safe for kids, pregnancy, breastfeeding, dogs, and horses.

If you aren’t looking for a kid or breastfeeding-safe option, Plant Therapy’s Peppermint Essential Oil (available on Amazon) and Organic Peppermint Essential Oil (available on Amazon) are slightly cheaper and still safe for pregnancy, dogs, and horses. Just note that Wendy Robbins recommends a diluted dermal maximum of 5.4%. Additionally, she is very firm on avoiding peppermint essential oil in instances of cardiac fibrillation by those with a G6PD deficiency or applying it near the face of children (19).

Tea Tree Essential Oil

Tea tree essential oil is typically made from narrow-leaved paperbark or tea tree plant leaves. This essential oil has documented antimicrobial and antifungal properties, which are important when cleaning (20,21).

Trusted aromatherapist Wendy Robbins indicates a low risk of skin sensitization when using tea tree essential oil. She also recommends a dermal maximum of 15% and precautions against using oxidized tea tree essential oil (22). Plant Therapy’s Tea Tree Essential Oil (available on Amazon) and Organic Tea Tree Essential Oil (available on Amazon) are safe for kids, pregnancy, and breastfeeding but not for dogs or horses.

Remember, many oils are not kid, breastfeeding, pregnancy, or animal-safe at any dilution. Plant Therapy is a reputable online resource dedicated to practicing essential oil safety. Plant Therapy has a list of constituents in oils that should be avoided with children, plus even more kid-safe oils in their article Essential Oils for Kids: What’s Safe and What’s Not.

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