The bathroom is one of the rooms most prone to moisture, limescale and bacteria. Between soap residues, traces of limescale and mold that settles in the nooks and crannies, it is essential to adopt an effective cleaning routine to keep this space clean and healthy. However, many conventional household products contain harsh chemicals that can irritate the respiratory tract and pollute indoor air.
Essential oils offer a natural and environmentally friendly alternative for cleaning the bathroom while diffusing a pleasant fresh scent. Thanks to their antibacterial, antifungal and sanitizing properties, they eliminate germs, prevent the formation of mold and provide a long-lasting fragrance in your home.
In this article, I invite you to discover how to use these essential oils to clean the bathroom naturally with simple and effective recipes.
4 Essential Oils for Effective Cleaning
Tea Tree: A Powerful Antifungal and Antibacterial Ally
Tea tree essential oil is an essential reference for household cleaning, particularly in the bathroom. Thanks to its high terpinen-4-ol content, it has powerful antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. It is formidable against mold, fungi and bacteria present on damp surfaces.
- Practical advice: To disinfect the sink, bathtub and shower: Add 10 drops of tea tree essential oil to a spray bottle filled with white vinegar and water. Spray on the surfaces, leave for 10 minutes, then scrub with a sponge. To eliminate mold: Mix 10 drops of tea tree with bicarbonate of soda and water to make a paste. Apply to tile joints and leave for 30 minutes before scrubbing with a toothbrush.
- Precautions: Not suitable for women who are less than 3 months pregnant, or for infants under 3 months old. Dilute with vegetable oil to avoid irritation on damaged or hypersensitive skin.
Lemon: The Anti-Limescale and Degreasing Ally
Lemon essential oil is known for its degreasing, anti-limescale and purifying properties, thanks to its high limonene content. It is ideal for cleaning shower walls, removing soap scum and making taps shine.
- Practical advice: To descale and make surfaces shine: Mix 1/2 liter of white vinegar with 10 drops of lemon essential oil. Apply to areas with limescale, leave for 15 minutes, then rinse. For a natural multi-purpose cleaner: Add 5 drops of lemon to liquid black soap and water, then use it to clean the bathroom floor.
- Precautions: Not suitable for women who are less than 3 months pregnant - Not suitable for children under 1 year of age - Dilute before applying to the skin - Do not apply to the skin before exposure to the sun, as lemon oil is photosensitizing.
True Lavender: A Soothing Scent and A Purifying Action
True lavender essential oil is not only known for its relaxing scent, but also for its antiseptic and purifying properties, thanks to its concentration of linalool and linalyl acetate. It is perfect for disinfecting while leaving a pleasant scent in the bathroom.
- Practical advice: To clean and deodorize the sink and bathtub: Mix 5 drops of True Lavender with 1 tablespoon of baking soda and a little water to obtain a natural scouring paste. Apply, rub and rinse. For a deodorizing spray: Add 10 drops of True Lavender to 100 ml of water and a tablespoon of household alcohol, then spray in the bathroom.
- Precautions: Not recommended for pregnant women less than 3 months pregnant - Not for use on infants less than 3 months old.
Eucalyptus Radiata: Anti-Fog and Air Purifier
The essential oil of Eucalyptus radiata is rich in 1,8-cineole, a molecule with antibacterial, antiviral and expectorant properties. It is ideal for purifying the air, combating fogging on mirrors and preventing bad odors in a damp bathroom.
- Practical advice: To prevent mirrors from fogging up: Mix 5 drops of Eucalyptus Radiata with 50 ml of white vinegar and 200 ml of water. Spray on the mirrors and wipe with a soft cloth. To purify the air in the bathroom: Diffuse a few drops of Eucalyptus radiata in an electric diffuser for 10 minutes after showering.
- Precautions: Not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women or young children under 3 years of age - Dilute with vegetable oil - Not recommended for asthmatics without medical advice.
Natural Recipes for Cleaning the Bathroom
Would you like a clean, fresh and healthy bathroom without having to resort to chemical products? Thanks to essential oils, it is possible to make ecological, effective and economical cleaning products.
"Clean Splash" All-Purpose Cleaner
This homemade cleanser removes limescale, soap scum and bacteria, leaving a fresh and pleasant scent.
Ingredients:
- 500 ml white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 10 drops tea tree essential oil (powerful disinfectant)
- 5 drops lemon essential oil (descaling and sanitizing)
Preparation & use:
- Mix the white vinegar and the bicarbonate of soda in a spray bottle (be careful of the effervescence).
- Add the essential oils and shake.
- Spray on the surfaces to be cleaned (sink, shower, bathtub).
- Leave on for 10 minutes, then scrub with a sponge and rinse with clean water.
Result:
- A perfectly clean and disinfected bathroom, without harsh chemicals.
"Farewell Limescale" Anti-Limescale Spray
Limescale builds up quickly on shower walls, taps and tiles. This 100% natural spray helps dissolve limescale and make surfaces shine.
Ingredients:
- 250 ml white vinegar
- 250 ml water
- 10 drops lemon essential oil
Preparation & use:
- Mix all the ingredients in a spray bottle.
- Spray on areas with limescale (shower walls, taps).
- Leave for 15 minutes, then wipe with a soft cloth.
Result:
- A bathroom with no traces of limescale and a brilliant shine!
“Crystal Mirror” Anti-Fog Spray
After a hot shower, the mirrors and windows mist up. This natural spray with Eucalyptus radiata prevents misting and delicately scents the bathroom.
Ingredients:
- 200 ml water
- 50 ml white vinegar
- 10 drops Eucalyptus radiata essential oil
Preparation & use:
- Mix all the ingredients in a spray bottle.
- Spray on the mirrors before wiping with a soft cloth.
- Repeat the application after each shower for a prolonged effect.
Result:
- No more fog on the mirrors, perfect visibility after the shower!
“Clean Combs” Purifying Bath
Hairbrushes and combs accumulate sebum, hair product residue and bacteria. This purifying bath gives them a new lease of life.
Ingredients:
- 500 ml lukewarm water
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 10 drops of true lavender essential oil
Preparation & use:
- Fill a bowl with lukewarm water.
- Add the bicarbonate of soda and the essential oil of true lavender.
- Soak your brushes and combs for 1 hour.
- Rinse thoroughly with clean water and leave to dry in the open air.
Result:
- Clean and sanitized brushes and combs, free of residue and bacteria.
“Fresh Breeze” Natural Air Freshener
Humidity can cause unpleasant odors in the bathroom. This deodorizing spray purifies the air and leaves a pleasant, natural scent.
Ingredients:
- 100 ml water
- 1 tablespoon household alcohol
- 10 drops lemon essential oil
- 5 drops true lavender essential oil
Preparation & use:
- Mix all the ingredients in a spray bottle.
- Shake before each use.
- Spray in the bathroom after showering or when the air is too humid.
Result:
- A bathroom that smells fresh and clean, without artificial perfume!
General Precautions for Using Essential Oils
To take full advantage of these synergies, follow this advice:
- Precautions specific to diffusion: Do not diffuse for more than 30 minutes per session to avoid saturating the air. Use a diffuser suitable for the size of your room.
- Dilution: Dilute essential oils before applying to the skin to avoid irritation.
- Tolerance test: Before use, perform a skin tolerance test by applying a small amount of the diluted synergy to the crook of the elbow and wait 24 hours to check for an allergic reaction.
- Do not use on children or pregnant or breastfeeding women without medical advice: It is imperative to consult the essential oil information sheet and consult a healthcare professional before use in these specific cases.
- Precautions in case of pathologies: People suffering from chronic illnesses (asthma, epilepsy, hypertension, etc.) should consult their doctor before using essential oils, as some may have adverse effects or be contraindicated with their treatment. The doctor is the only person who can make decisions about your health.
- Beware of photosensitizing oils: Some essential oils, such as citrus oils (lemon, bergamot, grapefruit), can cause burns or skin spots if you are exposed to the sun after applying them. Do not use them before direct exposure to the sun.
- Avoid contact with mucous membranes and eyes: essential oils can cause severe irritation. In case of accidental contact, rinse thoroughly with vegetable oil, not water. Consult your doctor.
By integrating these homemade recipes into your maintenance routine, you can enjoy a clean and healthy bathroom while respecting the environment and your health. Whether it's with a multi-purpose cleaner, an anti-limescale spray, a purifying bath for your brushes and combs or a natural deodorizer, you now have all the keys to maintaining your bathroom in a simple, economical and 100% natural way.
Adopt these natural solutions today and transform your bathroom maintenance into a healthy and enjoyable ritual!
References
Sources of information (bibliography)
Sylvie Fabre, Les huiles essentielles - désinfecter, parfumer, assainir, Édition Massin, 19 octobre 2021,63 pages, ISBN : 9782707212429
Françoise Couic-Marinier, Dr Anthony Toubol, Le Guide Terre vivante des huiles essentielles, Édition Terre vivante, 17 novembre 2017, 477 p. ISBN : 9782360982752
Maison Jacynthe disclaims all responsibility. None of the information on this page is intended to replace justified allopathic treatment or to exclude the expertise of the medical profession. It is up to each individual to take charge of their health, to inform themselves and to make the necessary changes to improve their condition. Therapeutic supervision by a qualified health professional is, of course, recommended.
