• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Ascension Kitchen
  • About
    • Philosophy
    • About Lauren
    • Media & Events
    • Contact
    • Terms + Conditions
  • Naturopathy Consults
  • Blog
    • Plant-Based Recipes
      • Healthy Dessert Recipes
      • Mains
      • Snacks + Sides
      • Drinks
      • Kitchen Staples
      • Breakfasts
      • Salads
      • Healthy Dressings + Condiments
      • Ayurvedic Recipes
    • Natural Health
      • Natural Remedies
      • Plant-Based Nutrition
      • Functional Foods
    • Natural Living
      • Natural beauty
      • Natural cleaning recipes
      • Essential Oils
  • Shop
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Blog
  • Plant-Based Recipes
  • Natural Health
  • Natural Living
  • Naturopathy Consults
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
×
Home » Natural Living » Essential Oils » DIY soft scrub cleaner with lemon and eucalyptus

DIY soft scrub cleaner with lemon and eucalyptus

Published: Feb 10, 2019 · Modified: Jun 22, 2020 by Lauren Glucina • Naturopath, Nutritionist

124 shares
  • Facebook51
Jump to How-to Print How-to

A toxin-free soft scrub cleaner ideal for stovetops, ovens, sinks and bathrooms. Two minutes to make, with a long shelf life.

A homemade soft scrub on the kitchen bench

Back with another simple DIY cleaning recipe – this one is a soft scrub cleaner ideal for grimy surfaces.

Made from:

  • Baking soda
  • Castile soap
  • Water and
  • Essential oils

That’s it.

As a comparison, here are the ingredients as listed in a common store-bought lemon scented cream cleanser. Sure, there are some rather benign ingredients there, but check out the ones I’ve underlined: 

  • Calcium carbonate: low concern – abrasive/buffering/bulking agent
  • Sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate: rated C, modern concern to both health and environment. Some concern over developmental and reproductive toxicity, evidence of acute and chronic aquatic toxicity. This is a surfactant/emulsifying agent
  • Sodium carbonate: low concern – pH adjuster/buffering/bulking agent
  • c9-c11 pareth-6: low concern – this is a surfactant/emulsifying agent
  • Sodium cocoate: low concern - surfactant/emulsifying agent, coconut derived
  • Dodium bicarbonate: low concern – abrasive/buffering agent
  • Disodium distyrylbiphenyl disulphonate: low concern – surfactant/viscosity controller
  • 1,2 benzisothiazoline-3(2h)-one: moderate to high concern. Of moderate concern – organ system toxicity. Of high concern – irritation to skin, eyes and lungs. This is a preservative/antimicrobial
  • Perfume: who knows? Legally not obliged to disclose what these chemicals are. They are however likely petroleum derived. Chemicals used to fragrance consumer goods have been linked to a variety of adverse health conditions, from asthma and obesity, to infertility and cancer
  • Ci 19140: moderate hazard. Of high concern – bioaccumulation, of moderate concern – organ system toxicity. This is a synthetic yellow dye produced from petroleum – aside from cleaning, it is approved for use in food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics

[Source: Environmental Working Group]

[bctt tweet="Make your own no-toxic soft scrub cleaner - 4 ingredients, recipe here!" username="laurenglucina"]

Flat lay of a jar of soft scrub with a few essential oils, a sprig of eucalyptus and a wooden spoon

DIY soft scrub cleaner cost

A quick costing in NZD,

  • 1 cup (210g) baking soda: $0.83 (buy bulk – 3kg cost me $11.95)
  • ¼ cup (60ml) castile soap: $1.62 (bulk again – 1 litre for $27)
  • 1 tablespoon water: $0
  • 5 drops doTERRA lemon essential oil: $0.32
  • 5 drops doTERRA eucalyptus essential oil: $0.44
  • Jar: $0 – repurpose!

Total: $3.21

Sourcing your essential oils

Ready to get started?! Yay!

You can open your own wholesale account, receiving 25% off retail, and my personal support (with ongoing education), below:

Join doTERRA.

Enjoy the recipe – so incredibly simple!

Lauren.

 Close up of a soft scrub cleaner surrounded by essential oils

If you make and enjoy this recipe, please leave a rating below. And better yet – leave me a comment to tell me how you got on, or just say hi – I LOVE hearing from you. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest to see more of my everyday recipes and wellness tips.

If you’d like to chat with me about essential oils, or book in a class, you can do that here. If you’re after a Naturopathic consult, read more here.

Open jar filled with a homemade soft scrub, on a blue linen napkin

DIY Soft Scrub Cleaner

Naturopath Lauren Glucina
Ideal for stovetops/ovens/sinks/bathrooms. To fill a mason jar.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
Servings 250 g

Equipment

  • 250g glass jar with lid

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup baking soda (210g)
  • ¼ cup castile liquid soap unscented (60ml)
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 5 drops lemon essential oil
  • 5 drops Eucalyptus essential oil

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients in a small mixing bowl and whip together. If you think it needs more water, add just one teaspoon at a time.
  • Spoon into a mason jar ready for use.

Notes

  • To use, spoon a small amount over your surface (eg stove), then scrub with a damp cloth.
  • To remove reside, use a fresh, wet cloth.
  • If you're using this to clean tile grouts, apply with a toothbrush
  • This recipe has a long shelf life.
Keyword Soft Scrub
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Flat lay of a kitchen bench top with a jar of soft scrub, essential oils and cleaning sponge

Related

Close up of a herbal facial steam for dry skin
Herbal Facial Steam with Essential Oils for Dry & Oily Skin
tubs of DIY dry shampoo for light and dark hair on a marble surface
DIY Dry Shampoo with Lavender & Ylang Ylang
Banner ad to purchase essential oils as natural mood boosters
4 Essential Oil Blends to use as Natural Mood Boosters

About the Author

I’m Lauren, practising Naturopath, Medical Herbalist, Nutritionist, and essential oils educator in Auckland, New Zealand. I’m incredibly passionate about food as medicine, and helping connect people with the healing power of Nature.

BNatMed, AdDip NutMed, BCS, Certified FitGenes Practitioner.

Reader Interactions

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

Ask me anything Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

ABOUT

I'm Lauren Glucina, a New Zealand based Naturopath, Medical Herbalist and Nutritionist. My main goal is to empower you to connect with the healing power of Nature. I've been sharing plant-based recipes, natural remedies and health articles here since 2012.

If you're here, you're not here by mistake. You're ready to put your physical, emotional and spiritual health first. Welcome!

BNatMed, AdDip NutMed, BCS.

READ MORE

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Search

Features

Graphic displaying logos of websites, publications and shows Lauren has been featured on

POPULAR POSTS

Chocolate Caramel Slice

BEST chocolate caramel slice (vegan)

Close up of zucchini and corn fritters with cream and dill on top

Vegan Zucchini and Corn Fritters

Close up of a herbal facial steam for dry skin

Herbal Facial Steam with Essential Oils for Dry & Oily Skin

3 essential oils for kids sleep

Essential Oils for Kid's Sleep Support

No-bake Snickers Cake on a white cake stand by the kitchen window

Raw Snickers Cake with Vegan Caramel

Ashwagandha Sleep Tonic

Ashwagandha Sleep Tonic

Two bowls of hot Tuscan soup on a marble counter.

Lemon White Bean Kale Soup

Two bowls of kitchari surrounded by fresh herbs and dried spices

How to make kitchari – an Ayurvedic healing meal

LATEST POSTS

  • Fall crockpot potpourri
    Fall crockpot potpourri
  • How to make dandelion tea (from flower, leaf and root)
    How to make dandelion tea (from flower, leaf and root)
  • How to make mugwort tea for lucid dreaming
    How to make mugwort tea for lucid dreaming
  • Amazing kawakawa – all about this versatile native plant!
    Amazing kawakawa – all about this versatile native plant!
  • BEST chocolate caramel slice (vegan)
    BEST chocolate caramel slice (vegan)
  • Easy feijoa loaf recipe
    Easy feijoa loaf recipe
  • Summer cherry tomato confit
    Summer cherry tomato confit
  • Heavenly spiced feijoa chutney
    Heavenly spiced feijoa chutney
  • Easy Moroccan matbucha salad recipe
    Easy Moroccan matbucha salad recipe
  • Hazelnut granola
    Hazelnut granola

CATEGORIES

  • Ayurvedic Recipes
  • Breakfasts
  • Drinks
  • Essential Oils
  • Featured
  • Ferments
  • Functional Foods
  • Healthy Baking
  • Healthy Dessert Recipes
  • Healthy Dressings + Condiments
  • Kitchen Staples
  • Mains
  • Natural beauty
  • Natural cleaning recipes
  • Natural Health
  • Natural Living
  • Natural Remedies
  • Plant-Based Nutrition
  • Plant-Based Recipes
  • Salads
  • Snacks + Sides
  • Uncategorized
  • Workshops

Footer


PRIVACY POLICY | CONTACT
© LAUREN GLUCINA 2012 - 2021, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Copyright © 2025 Ascension Kitchen on the Foodie Pro Theme

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
124 shares
  • 51

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.