How to make lemon cleaning oil? Simply amazing! I love finding simple and unusual ways to clean my home, especially when it is something I have never tried before. Believe it or not, the idea of using lemon oil for cleaning actually came to me while I was watching a movie.
There was a hotel cleaner in the movie who introduced a guy to lemon oil and showed him how it was used when cleaning the hotel rooms. I had never really thought about using lemon oil for cleaning before, so of course, this caught my attention. I was surprised, but at the same time, I was interested and wanted to know more.
So, I did a little research and decided to make my own homemade lemon cleaning oil and try it around my home.
I am so glad I did.
The fresh lemon smell alone makes cleaning with it enjoyable. It leaves such a nice, fresh scent behind, and I especially love using it when I am cleaning and polishing certain surfaces around the house.
If you have never made lemon-infused cleaning oil before, don’t worry. It is actually very simple to make, and below I am going to show you exactly how I made mine.
How to Make Homemade Lemon Cleaning Oil
Instructions:
1. Wash and completely dry 4 to 5 lemons. Make sure there is no moisture left on the lemons before you begin.
2. Peel away the yellow outer skin. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the yellow part of the lemon peel, avoiding as much of the white pith underneath as possible.
3. Place the lemon peels in a clean, dry glass jar. Loosely fill the jar with the peels without packing them down too tightly.
4. Completely cover the peels with oil. Pour in enough fractionated coconut oil or mineral oil so that all of the lemon peels are submerged.
5. Seal the jar and allow the lemon peels to infuse for about two weeks. Keep the jar in a cool, dark place and gently shake it every few days.
6. Check the lemon scent. After about two weeks, the oil should have taken on a noticeable fresh lemon scent.
7. Strain out the lemon peels. Pour the infused oil through a fine strainer to remove the peels and any small pieces left behind.
8. Transfer your lemon cleaning oil to a clean, dry bottle or jar. Keep it tightly sealed and stored in a cool, dark place until you’re ready to use it for cleaning.
Heads-Up!
Lemon oil is one of my favorite go-to homemade DIY cleaners, but there is one thing you should know before using it. While it is great for cleaning surfaces, adding a beautiful shine, and leaving your home smelling fresh and amazing, lemon oil is not a disinfectant or sanitizer. If you need to disinfect or sanitize an area, you will want to use a cleaner that is made specifically for that purpose. I love lemon oil for those everyday cleaning jobs when I want things to look clean, glow, smell wonderful, and simply make my home feel a little fresher.
What Can You Clean With Homemade Lemon Cleaning Oil?
Now comes the fun part—actually putting your homemade lemon cleaning oil to work.
Because this is an oil-based cleaner, I wouldn’t use it as an all-purpose cleaner on everything in the house. I find it much more useful for jobs where a small amount of oil can help clean, shine, or freshen a surface. You can find how to use lemon oil for cleaning and what not to clean with lemon oil below.
Here are a few ways you can try using it around your home:
- Wooden furniture – Apply a very small amount to a soft cloth and use it to wipe and refresh finished wood.
- Wooden cabinets – It can be useful for wiping fingerprints and light grime from sealed wooden cabinet doors.
- Wooden tables and chairs – Use a small amount when wiping down finished wooden furniture.
- Baseboards – A little on a cloth can help wipe away dust and leave them looking refreshed.
- Stainless steel appliances – A tiny amount can be buffed onto stainless steel to help with fingerprints and add shine.
- Stainless steel sinks – After cleaning and drying the sink, a very small amount can be buffed over the surface for shine.
- Faucets and fixtures – Try a tiny amount on a soft cloth to polish suitable metal fixtures.
- Finished wooden doors – Use it to wipe and freshen sealed wood while leaving behind that lovely lemon scent.
- Wooden trim – It can also be used sparingly on sealed wooden trim and molding around the home.
You really don’t need a lot. Put a small amount of the oil onto a clean microfiber cloth rather than pouring it directly onto the surface. Wipe the area and then buff away any excess oil with another clean, dry cloth. You don’t want the surface to feel greasy when you’re finished.
What Should You Not Clean With Lemon Cleaning Oil?
Even though homemade lemon cleaning oil can be useful for cleaning, polishing, and adding shine, it isn’t suitable for every surface. Because it contains oil, it can leave some surfaces slippery, greasy, stained, or difficult to clean.
I would avoid using lemon cleaning oil on:
- Floors – Oil can leave the floor slippery and create a fall hazard.
- Unsealed or unfinished wood – The oil can soak into porous wood and cause dark spots or uneven staining.
- Natural stone countertops – Marble, granite, limestone, and other porous stone may absorb oil and develop stains. Some stone sealers may also react poorly to cleaning products.
- Fabric and upholstery – Oil can leave difficult-to-remove grease stains.
- Carpet and rugs – For the same reason, the oil can soak into the fibers and leave oily spots.
- Glass and mirrors – It will likely leave behind an oily film and streaks rather than giving you a clear finish.
- Electronics and screens – Don’t use an oil-based homemade cleaner on televisions, computer screens, phones, or other electronics.
- Food-preparation surfaces – I wouldn’t use this homemade oil as the primary cleaner for cutting boards or countertops where raw meat or other potentially hazardous foods have been handled, because it isn’t a disinfectant or sanitizer.
- Bathtubs and shower floors – The oil could make these surfaces dangerously slippery.
- Any surface that specifically says not to use oil-based cleaners – Always follow the manufacturer’s care instructions.
When in doubt, test your homemade lemon cleaning oil on a small, hidden area first before using it on the entire surface.
How to Store Your Homemade Lemon Cleaning Oil
Once you have strained out all of the lemon peels, keep your cleaning oil in a clean, completely dry bottle or glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
Store it somewhere cool and dark rather than leaving it sitting in direct sunlight. I also like the idea of putting the date on the bottle when you make it. That way, you don’t have to try to remember how long it has been sitting there.
And just like you would with any homemade product, check it before using it. If the oil develops an unusual or rancid smell or you notice anything that doesn’t look right, it’s better to make a fresh batch.
Final Thoughts
Thank you for reading! I hope learning how to make your own homemade lemon cleaning oil gives you another simple cleaning trick to try around your home. I certainly didn’t expect a movie about a hotel cleaner to send me down this little cleaning rabbit hole, but I’m glad it did.
Sometimes the simplest cleaning ideas turn out to be the ones you enjoy using the most. And if you love a fresh-smelling home as much as I do, that beautiful lemon scent makes this one even better.