Best Essential Oils for Floor Cleaning

While it matters how clean the rest of the room is, if your floors are dirty, it makes the entire room look bad. But if they are clean, it makes even a cluttered room look good.

When it comes to cleaning carpets, there are a lot of very harsh chemicals sold in the store, as well as a variety of steam cleaners you can buy or rent. Problem is too much soap and water leaves a residue in the carpet and actually attracts dirt. Also, getting the backing of the carpet wet can create a pool for the dirt and stains to collect in. When it comes to cleaning carpets, the adage "less is more" applies. Using essential oils can be really helpful when trying to clean naturally. As part of our series on Cleaning House with Essential Oils, we are addressing floors in this article. The other articles in the series are on cleaning your kitchen and bathrooms.

Supplies to Have on Hand

(This list will be the same on each of the cleaning articles)

Carpets and Rugs

Here are carpet fresheners and cleaners.

Carpet Freshener 1

• 60 drops Rosemary
• 30 drops Spruce
• 10 drops Orange
• 1/2 cup Baking Soda

Mix all ingredients in a widemouthed glass jar and tighten the cap. Set aside for 24 hours to allow aroma to permeate the powder. Sprinkle over carpeting, leave for 10 - 15 minutes and vacuum.

Carpet Freshener 2

• 30 drops Eucalyptus globulus
• 30 drops Cinnamon
• 30 drops Lemongrass
• 10 drops Clove Bud
• 1/2 cup Baking Soda

Mix all ingredients in a widemouthed glass jar and tighten the cap. Set aside for 24 hours to allow aroma to permeate the powder. Sprinkle over carpeting, leave for 10 - 15 minutes and vacuum.

Peppermint Foam Carpet Shampoo

• 3 cups Water
• 3/4 cup vegetable based liquid soap
• 10 drops Peppermint oil

Mix all ingredients in the blender. Rub the foam into soiled areas with a damp sponge. Let dry thoroughly and then vacuum.

Magic Carpet Cleaner

• 10 drops Clove Bud
• 15 drops Orange
• 15 drops Lavender
• 8 ounce Baking Soda

Put the soda in a polythene bag or glass jar with a lid. Add essential oils and mix well. Seal bag or jar tightly and allow oils to permeate the baking soda for at least 24 hours. Sprinkle over carpet, leave for at least 30 minutes before vacuuming.

Carpet Cleaner

• 10 drops Patchouli
• 10 drops Vetiver
• 20 drops Lime
• 8 ounce Baking Soda

Put the soda in a polythene bag or glass jar with a lid. Add essential oils and mix well. Seal bag or jar tightly and allow oils to permeate the baking soda for at least 24 hours. Sprinkle over the carpet, leave for at least 30 minutes before vacuuming.

Herbal Rug Restorer

• 1/2 gallon hot water
• 1/2 cup Alum
• 1/4 cup Vinegar
• 8 drops Rosemary oil
• 3 drops Lemon oil

Combine all ingredients in a pail or bucket. Fill a second bucket with hot water for rinsing. Dip a clean sponge mop into the vinegar solution, squeeze out excess liquid, and wipe over carpet in sections. Rinse mop in the second bucket between cleaning sections and squeeze out excess water. Repeat until all of the carpet has been cleaned. Alum and vinegar combine together to clean and lift carpet fibers.

Simple Rug & Carpet Deodorizer

• 1 cup Borax
• 1 cup Baking Soda
• 1/2 cup Cornmeal
• 10 drops Juniper Berry oil
• 5 drops Cypress oil

Combine dry ingredients in a plastic bowl. Add essential oils and mix well, breaking up the clumps. Sprinkle the mixture over carpet and wait several hours, overnight if possible, before vacuuming.

Cleaning Urine Stains

• 1/4 cup Vinegar
• 1 teaspoon dishwashing soap
• 8 - 10 drops Peppermint or Eucalyptus oil

Mix together and use a sponge to apply formula to stain. Wait 20 minutes then clean off. Blot stained area again with a clean, damp towel.

Hardwood Floors

Hardwood Floor Wash

• 1 1/2 cups Water
• 1 1/2 cups Vinegar
• 20 drops Peppermint, Rosemary, or Cedarwood oil

Combine all ingredients in a plastic spray bottle. Use sparingly, hand wipe loose boards or wood tiles, to keep excess water out of cracks. Work in small sections of the floor. Dry mop the floor after washing.

 Citrus Scented Wood Floor Wax

• 1 cup Linseed oil
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons grated Beeswax
• 2 tablespoons Carnauba wax
• 6 drops Lemon oil
• 2 drops Orange oil
• Lemon juice

Place linseed oil, 1/4 cup lemon juice, and waxes in a double boiler over low heat. Stir constantly until completely melted and smooth. Add essential oils. Remove from heat and pour the mixture into a clean coffee can and allow to harden. Once the wax has hardened, tap the sides of the can until the wax breaks free. Turn out the wax and gently rub it into the floor, like a crayon. Saturate a cloth with lemon juice, wring it out, and rub wax tracings well into the floor. Buff with a clean, dry cloth. For a woodsy scented floor wax, use these essential oils instead:

• 8 drops Patchouli oil
• 10 drops Cedarwood oil

Floor Wax Remover

• 2 cups warm Vinegar
• 1/2 cup Lemon juice
• 1/2 cup Water
• 1 capful liquid Castile Soap
• 10 drops essential oil of choice

Combine all ingredients. Dampen a sponge mop or soft-bristled brush with the formula and apply to the floor in sections, using short strokes. Wipe each floor section dry with a towel or clean mop before moving on to the next. Use this formula for wood floors without a protective varnish finish.

 And Finally

Floors, like so many other areas of the home, need careful attention at times. What do you like to use on your floors? What essential oil recipes do you like to use? How have you enjoyed the recipes we posted on here? Let us know in the comment section below!

Disclaimer: Rocky Mountain Oils is not liable for any damage caused by use of these recipes. Each recipe was tested by employees of RMO and did not cause damage to home or person, but we still implore our customers to use caution before using a recipe in their home. Test recipes on small areas before applying them to the entire surface and do not apply recipes to areas that are potentially sensitive (i.e. priceless Victorian tubs, Baby Grand pianos, etc.).