Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner With Essential Oils

QUICK SUMMARY

This Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner With Essential Oils is a simple, non-toxic cleaning powder made with baking soda, lemon essential oil, orange essential oil, and grapefruit essential oil. It scrubs sinks, stovetops, grout, pans, toilet bowls, and other everyday messes without filling your home with harsh fumes.

Conventional powdered cleaners can contain or release irritating ingredients such as crystalline silica dust, bleach-related compounds, and synthetic fragrance chemicals. EWG testing found that one popular powdered cleanser emitted 146 different chemicals into the air, including several concerning chemicals that were not listed on the label.

This DIY cleaner keeps your cleaning cabinet simple: baking soda gives you gentle scrubbing and deodorizing power, while citrus essential oils add a bright aroma and antimicrobial cleaning support shown in laboratory research.

As a busy Mom, I like streamlining my life, including simplifying my cleaning cabinet. A cleaner that tackles multiple types of messes can be a lifesaver. My Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner With Essential Oils can remove stains from counters, shine sinks, and make stovetops sparkle.

The best part about this cleaner is that there are no toxins! I love the peace of mind that comes with a safe cleaning cabinet. Plus, kids can help with chores worry-free. This simple recipe is a must for any homeowner who wants a cleaner home without loading the air with harsh fumes.

3 Toxins in Conventional Powdered Cleaners

Here’s the thing: clean should smell fresh, not chemical. EWG reported that Comet Disinfectant Cleanser Powder emitted 146 different chemicals, including chemicals linked to cancer, asthma, and reproductive concerns; some of the most concerning chemicals detected were not listed on the label. (1) That’s why I love DIY cleaning recipes. We know exactly what goes in the jar, and we can keep our homes sparkling while reducing our family’s toxic burden.

Here are a few toxins you can find in conventional powdered formulas.

1. Silica

Manufacturers tout the scrubbing power of powdered cleaners, and while they may get the job done, some formulas use crystalline silica as an abrasive. Breathing respirable crystalline silica dust can scar the lungs and make it harder to breathe, and OSHA lists lung cancer, COPD, kidney disease, and other health effects as risks of exposure. (2)

Reality check: you do not need lung-irritating dust to scrub your sink. Baking soda gives you the gentle grit you need for many household messes without bringing that same toxic concern into your cleaning routine.

2. Bleach

Bleach can be an effective disinfecting agent because sodium hypochlorite is chemically powerful, but that power comes with real caution. Published research on sodium hypochlorite exposure reports health effects through inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, and eye contact, especially when products are misused or overused. (3)

Bleach also becomes especially risky when mixed with the wrong cleaner. The CDC warns that household chlorine bleach can release chlorine gas when mixed with certain cleaning products, and the Washington State Department of Health warns that bleach mixed with ammonia produces toxic chloramine gases. (4, 5) This is one reason I prefer a simple cleaning cabinet with ingredients I can recognize and use safely.

3. Synthetic Fragrances

Companies add synthetic fragrances to formulas to cover up the smell of bleach and other harsh ingredients. Synthetic fragrances are known to affect people in various ways, especially those who are sensitive to strong scents.

The 2025 IFRA Transparency List includes 3,312 fragrance ingredients and 379 functional ingredients used in fragrance mixtures worldwide. (6) That does not mean every fragrance ingredient is harmful, but it does show why the single word “fragrance” on a label does not give families the full picture. In a nationally representative U.S. survey, 34.7% of adults reported health problems such as migraine headaches or respiratory difficulties when exposed to fragranced products. (7)

In my DIYs, I use essential oils to create heavenly scents. They make my home smell wonderful without the mystery-fragrance cloud that comes with so many conventional cleaners.

Using All-Purpose Cleaners in Your Home

This cleaner is one of my favorites because it’s so versatile! It works as a homemade cleaning powder, gentle scouring scrub, and deodorizer in one. Keep a jar by the kitchen sink, in your bathroom cabinet, or with your natural home supplies so it’s ready when messes happen.

This is important: this recipe is designed for everyday cleaning, scrubbing, and deodorizing. It is not a registered disinfectant for raw meat spills, illness cleanup, or medical-level sanitizing. For those situations, clean first and then use the right disinfecting method for the job. For daily homemaking, though, this baking soda cleaner is one of those simple swaps that helps you steward your home well without complicating your life.

Here are some of my favorite ways to use this powder.

• Carpet Refresher: Sprinkle on your carpet and let sit overnight. Vacuum the next day as usual. The baking soda draws the bad smells from the rug, and the lemon helps deodorize. Be sure to test a small spot first to make sure your carpet or upholstery is color-safe and won’t fade!
• Sink Polisher: Great for stainless steel sinks, but works on many durable sink surfaces. Put some cleaner on a damp rag and polish away. Rinse well so no baking soda residue is left behind.
• Dirty Dishes: Helps eradicate stubborn food particles. I like spraying the area first with white vinegar, then pouring a little cleaner on the dish. Let sit for five minutes and scrub.
• Glass Stovetop Cleaner: Spray the top of the stove with organic white distilled vinegar and sprinkle the cleaner on top. This should make a paste. Let sit for 10-15 minutes, then wipe off with a damp rag. Always check your appliance manual first.
• Grout Cleaner: This cleaner makes grout shine! Use an old toothbrush with the cleanser to get deep into grout lines. Let it sit while you clean the rest of the bathroom. Scrub with the toothbrush and rinse well.
• Toilet Bowl Odor Eliminator: Sprinkle all around the toilet bowl. Let it sit while you disinfect the rest of the bathroom. Then, scrub with a toilet brush and watch stains disappear!

For delicate surfaces, always test first. Do not use vinegar on natural stone surfaces like marble, limestone, travertine, or some granite finishes unless the manufacturer says it is safe. Baking soda is gentle compared with many powdered cleansers, but it is still a mild abrasive, so use a light hand on surfaces that scratch easily.

Application: I like to pair this powder with other simple DIY cleaners so every chore has the right tool. Use this recipe for scrubbing, try a homemade kitchen cleaner for food prep areas, and keep a non-toxic glass cleaner nearby for mirrors and windows.

Safe & Natural Heavy Duty Cleaner Ingredients

You may be surprised to find that this cleaner contains just two elements: baking soda and essential oils. That’s the beauty of it. God has given us powerful plant-based tools, and when we pair them with simple household staples, we can clean our homes without bringing in a shelf full of toxic products.

Here’s why I chose each ingredient.

Baking Soda: I’m sure you’ve heard of people placing an open container of baking soda in their fridge or closets. This is because baking soda can neutralize odors! It’s a fantastic all-natural abrasive that gently scrubs away stains without ruining many durable surfaces. This ingredient is highly cost-effective and is in most people’s pantries!

Put simply, baking soda gives this recipe its scrubbing power. It helps lift grime, loosen stuck-on residue, absorb odors, and polish surfaces without the harshness of many conventional scouring powders.

Lemon Essential Oil: This is a favorite for cleaning products because it’s excellent at deodorizing any space. I always love using citrus scents on cleaning days because they make the whole house smell fresh! Lemon essential oil has shown antibacterial activity in laboratory research, including vapor-phase research that supports its use as a promising aromatic cleaning ingredient. (8)

Application: lemon essential oil is especially helpful in kitchen cleaning blends, sink scrubs, trash-can deodorizing powders, and stovetop pastes. Use it on surfaces, not skin, in this recipe.

Sweet or Wild Orange Essential Oil: We call orange essential oil our liquid antidepressant, and once you get a whiff, you’ll see why! Sweet orange essential oil is rich in limonene, the bright citrus constituent that helps give orange oil its fresh aroma and grease-cutting personality. Research on Citrus sinensis peel oil has found antibacterial activity, including activity against E. coli in laboratory testing. (9)

Application: orange essential oil is a beautiful choice for messy kitchens, trash odors, sinks, and bathrooms because it makes your home smell cheerful and clean.

Grapefruit Essential Oil: Grapefruit essential oil adds a lovely note to our cleaner. It’s another great citrus option, and research has found grapefruit essential oil fractions with antimicrobial activity. (10) When paired with other citrus EOs, it shines!

A quick family note: keep essential oil cleaning products out of little hands when you are not actively using them, and do not let pets lick freshly treated surfaces. Cats and some other animals can be more sensitive to essential oils than people, so use essential oil cleaners in well-ventilated spaces and store the jar with the lid closed.

Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner With Essential Oils

This cleaning powder recipe is excellent for cleaning sinks, pans, stovetops, grout, toilet bowls, and more! It’s one of those simple non-toxic swaps that helps you create a healthier home without adding one more complicated thing to your day.

Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner With Mood-Boosting Essential Oils

Author Mama Z

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Quantity

2x4x6x

Ingredients

• ½ cup baking soda
• 5 drops lemon essential oil
• 5 drops sweet or wild orange essential oil
• 5 drops grapefruit essential oil

Supplies

• Glass jar with a shaker lid
• Microfiber cloth (white)

Instructions

 

• Combine the baking soda and essential oils in a glass jar and shake until thoroughly mixed.  The mixture will be powdery, like a conventional store-bought cleaner.
• Use as you would a typical cleaner. Sprinkle on the surface you want to clean, then use a damp cloth to make a paste and scrub. Wipe away with a clean, wet cloth.

Notes

I like cheese shakers for this because they make it easy to use, but any glass jar with a shaker lid will do!

For extra cleaning power, spray the soiled area with organic distilled white vinegar before sprinkling on the cleanser and add an additional drop of one of the essential oils to the surface.

Step One: Combine Ingredients

Place the baking soda and essential oils in a glass shaker jar or small glass jar. Replace the lid and shake to combine. Your mixture should be smooth, with little to no clumps.

If the essential oils clump in one area, break them up with a fork before replacing the lid. You want the oils distributed throughout the baking soda so every sprinkle smells fresh and works evenly.

Step Two: Clean Surfaces

Using this cleaner is simple. Sprinkle a bit on the surface you’d like to clean, then use a damp cloth to make a paste and scrub. Wipe any residue with a clean, damp cloth.

For tougher messes, spray the surface lightly with white vinegar first, sprinkle the powder over the area, let it fizz, and then scrub. Don’t store vinegar and baking soda together in a closed jar because they react and lose that fresh fizzing action you want for cleaning day.

Never combine this cleaner, vinegar, or any DIY cleaning mixture with bleach or bleach-containing products. Keep cleaning simple, one product at a time.

Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner FAQs

What is a homemade all-purpose cleaner with essential oils?

A homemade all-purpose cleaner with essential oils is a DIY cleaning blend made with simple household ingredients and plant-based essential oils. This recipe uses baking soda for gentle scrubbing and deodorizing, plus lemon, orange, and grapefruit essential oils for a fresh citrus aroma and extra cleaning support.

What is the best homemade all-purpose cleaner for scrubbing?

The best homemade all-purpose cleaner for scrubbing sinks, stovetops, grout, and pans is a baking soda-based cleaning powder with essential oils. Baking soda gives you gentle abrasive power, while citrus oils help freshen odors and make everyday cleaning feel bright and uplifting.

Can I use essential oils in homemade cleaners?

Yes! Essential oils are wonderful in homemade cleaners because they add plant-based aromatic compounds and fresh natural scents. Citrus oils like lemon, orange, and grapefruit are especially popular for kitchens and bathrooms because they smell clean, cheerful, and refreshing.

Can I mix baking soda and vinegar for cleaning?

Yes, you can use baking soda and vinegar together for a short-lived fizzing paste on sinks, pans, grout, and stovetops. Do not premix them for storage, though. Once the fizzing reaction is finished, the cleaning boost is mostly gone, and a closed container could build pressure.

Is this cleaner safe for granite, marble, or natural stone?

Use caution. Baking soda can be abrasive if scrubbed hard, and vinegar can damage natural stone surfaces like marble, limestone, travertine, and some granite finishes. For stone counters, skip the vinegar and test the baking soda powder on a hidden spot before using.

Can kids help clean with this DIY powder?

Yes, kids can help with age-appropriate chores using this cleaner, and that’s one of the reasons I love it. Have them avoid breathing in the powder, keep the jar away from eyes and mouths, and supervise them around glass jars, toilets, stovetops, and essential oils.

Does this homemade cleaner disinfect surfaces?

This recipe is a scrub, deodorizer, and everyday cleaning powder. It helps remove grime and freshen surfaces, but it is not designed as a registered disinfectant for raw meat contamination, illness cleanup, or medical-level sanitizing. Use the right sanitizing method when true disinfection is needed.

How long does homemade all-purpose cleaning powder last?

Homemade all-purpose cleaning powder lasts best when stored in a dry, airtight glass jar. Keep moisture out of the container, close the lid between uses, and make a fresh batch when the citrus aroma fades or the powder starts to clump.

Can I use different essential oils?

Yes, you can adjust the essential oils as long as you choose oils that are appropriate for cleaning surfaces. Lemon, orange, grapefruit, tea tree, lavender, pine, fir, and eucalyptus are common cleaning choices. For this recipe, I love the citrus blend because it smells fresh and pairs beautifully with baking soda.

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