Bathrooms can easily be the grossest room in the house. Hair in the drain, toothpaste residue in the sink, and little ones who miss the toilet are everyday occurrences in some homes, including mine! My Homemade Bathroom Cleaner With Essential Oils is a lifesaver.
I use this cleaner every day to disinfect, freshen, and deodorize surfaces. If you’ve ever dreaded cleaning your bathroom, I encourage you to whip up a batch of this all-natural formula. You’ll never be without it again!
Table of Contents
- Toxins in Bathroom Disinfectants
- Homemade Bathroom Cleaner Ingredients
- Essential Oils for Bathrooms
- Make Homemade Bathroom Cleaner
Toxins in Bathroom Disinfectants
Storebought bathroom cleaners are full of disgusting toxins that harm your body. Most bathrooms are small, enclosed spaces with little ventilation, so choosing a cleaner with all-natural ingredients is essential. Here are a few elements to avoid.
Triclosan
Triclosan is a major endocrine disrupter. (1) It affects the thyroid and reproductive organs and interferes with estrogen production. Companies add this chemical because it’s antibacterial and can kill gross bathroom germs. However, studies have shown that using triclosan and other harsh antibacterial agents gives consumers more of a placebo effect. (2) This means you can get the job done with cleaners that won’t disrupt your hormonal balance!
Synthetic Fragrance
Synthetic fragrances are active ingredients in most cleaners, especially ones made for smelly places, like the bathroom. Many people find that cleaning their bathroom with artificial fragrances causes side effects like contact dermatitis and migraines.
While you’d think that the term “fragrance” would include one element, this label can contain any combination of over 4000 toxins. Unfortunately, you’re not likely to learn exactly what your bathroom cleaner has because of the FDA’s Fair Packaging and Labeling Act. (3)
Bathrooms are generally very tight, enclosed spaces, so the fumes have nowhere to go except into your system. Essential oils can create a lovely fragrance in any cleaning product, and they are toxin-free!
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
This chemical helps companies stretch their ingredients further, and it creates bubbles. Manufacturers love this ingredient because many people connect suds to cleanliness. SLS can give lousy skin reactions, ranging from a minor rash to severe eczema, even with proper gear like gloves. (4) It can also cause harm to the eyes. In fact, SLS is used to induce eye discomfort in eyedrop tests! (5)
Homemade Bathroom Cleaner Ingredients
This bathroom cleaner is made of all-natural ingredients that won’t break the bank! You may have some of these items in your pantry! Toxin-free living is accessible to everyone, no matter what your budget may be.
Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Castile Soap: You may have heard of Dr. Bronner’s soap because I use it in many of my cleaning recipes. It cleans dishes, floors, bathrooms, and so much more. It is perfect for extra messy jobs and is easily customizable with your favorite essential oils. You’ll want to keep a bottle of this liquid gold on hand.
Baking Soda: Baking soda is a great natural cleaner because it’s abrasive. It gently scrubs away stains and leaves surfaces looking new. Bonus: It neutralizes the air and removes pesky odors!
Distilled Water: When creating a non-toxic haven, don’t forget about your water supply! Tap water can contain many toxins and fillers, so I recommend using distilled or purified water whenever possible.
Essential Oils: Essential oils are the cherry on top of a fantastic DIY! Below, you’ll find several suggestions for EO additions, but I encourage you to test different combinations.
You never know when you’ll find your new favorite blend!
Essential Oils for Bathrooms
Here are some of our favorite essential oils for cleaning. I love using EOs because every cleaning session doubles as aromatherapy! I know you’ll appreciate this mini-vacation as well.
- Orange- We call this EO our liquid anti-depressant! It smells uplifting, and it always makes tough cleaning jobs better. It can also help whiten surfaces!
- Lemon- Brightens any day with its light, fresh scent. When mixed with baking soda, it’s one powerhouse of a deodorizer!
- Lemon Eucalyptus or Lemon Myrtle- These EOs are part of the myrtle tree family. There’s something special about a woodsy scent with a light citrus note. These essential oils sanitize surfaces and help repel bugs. (6)
- Tea Tree- This EO has a unique fresh scent that makes it perfect for cleaning. It’s proven to have antibacterial properties, and it can prevent annoying mildew from sprouting up.
Other Bathroom Cleaning Blends:
Use 25 drops of essential oil per 1 ounce of liquid.
- Key lime, opoponax, and vanilla absolute
- Geranium, lavender, rose absolute, and ylang ylang
- Lemon, lemon tea tree, lemongrass, and tea tree
How to Make Homemade Bathroom Cleaner With Antibacterial Essential Oils
This bathroom cleaner comes together in minutes! It’s easy to make, and I often include little helpers.
- 2 tablespoons Dr. Bronner's liquid castile soap
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- 25 drops tea tree essential oil
- 15 drops orange or lemon essential oil, or a mix of both
- 15 drops lemon eucalyptus or lemon myrtle essential oil
- 2 cups distilled water
- Supplies:
- Glass spray bottle
- Place the liquid soap, baking soda, and essential oils in a spray bottle and mix well.
- Pour in the water, replace the lid, and shake to combine.
- Shake before each use, and use as you would any other bathroom cleaner.
Step One: Combine Ingredients
Combine the liquid soap, baking soda, and essential oils in a spray bottle and mix well. I recommend using amber or dark glass spray bottles for any cleaners that include essential oils.
EOs tend to break down plastic, and dark glass keeps the oils potent.
Step Two: Add Water
Pour in the distilled water, replace the lid, and shake well to combine. Shake before each use. Store in a dark place, like under the sink! Use as you would any other bathroom cleaner.
If you enjoy making your own household cleaners, check out my DIY Kitchen Cleaner, DIY Glass Cleaner, and DIY Wood Surface Cleaner.
- https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Departments-and-Agencies/DPH/dph/environmental_health/eoha/pdf/TriclosantechFSpdf.pdf
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5118979/
- https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-labeling/trade-secret-ingredients
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16787454/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17908190/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3059459/
