Since we’ve been using essential oils more and more in our daily lives, I knew I wanted to start making my own homemade products. A DIY Thieves Household Cleaner was the first thing I wanted to make and it’s so easy. I also love that it’s less expensive to make your own and you can have control over what goes in it. If you’ve followed my blog for long, you know I care about the food we put into our bodies at our house. So it only makes sense for us to take it to the next level and start replacing all the chemicals we are using around the house.
Most of us assume that the products we are using in our home are safe, but that is not the case. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that cleaning supplies have hidden toxins such as ammonia, lye, and chlorine. These ingredients can cause external irritation, and are harmful if inhaled. You can cut these chemicals by making your own cleaning supplies and that is exactly what I’m starting to do.
Some really cool background info on Thieves. I love this story!
Thieves was created based on research about four thieves in France who covered themselves with cloves, rosemary, and other aromatics while robbing plague victims. In the Late Middle Ages, Europe was devastated by the Bubonic Plague, which killed a third of the human population. Out of this period, a legend emerged of four thieves who were captured and charged with robbing the dead and dying victims. When the thieves were tried, the officials offered a lighter sentence if they would reveal how they didn’t contract the horribly contagious disease.
Thieves Oil, developed by Young Living, is inspired by this story. Thieves essential oil is a proprietary blend of cinnamon, clove, lemon, rosemary, and eucalyptus therapeutic grade essential oils. It smells insanely good!
We started with just diffusing Thieves oil or applying it topically to help support a healthy immune system. I am now also using the amazing Thieves to make this non-toxic spray for all my cleaning tasks around the house. I love it, feel great using it and my house smells incredible! I’m using it to clean counters, clean toddler toys, anything that needs cleaning – Thieves has it covered. Such a versatile essential oil – I’m in love!
The basic Thieves all-purpose spray solution for cleaning around the home is this:
1 drop of thieves essential oil for each ounce of water, or for a stronger solution, 1 drop for every 1/2 ounce of water.
Add the thieves oil first, then add water. It mixes better that way. Shake vigorously before each use. You can use this basic recipe or change it up by adding vinegar or castile soap.
I have a 16 oz bottle I use in the home – like this one:
These are my new favorite glass bottles, I love the blue color and the reusable chalk labels are just SO CUTE!
AND it’s great to have the cleaner in smaller bottles to carry with you. I clean shopping carts, high chairs, toilet seats, basically anything that needs cleaning out there 😉 with these bottles – like these:
- 1 drop of thieves essential oil for each ounce of water
- 1 drop for every ½ ounce of water (for a stronger solution)
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup white vinegar
- 8-16 drops thieves essential oil
- 1 cup water
- 2 teaspoons castile soap
- 8-16 drops thieves essential oil
- Pour thieves essential oil into a dark glass spray bottle.
- Add remaining ingredients.
- Shake well before use.
- Store in a cool, dark place.
Looking to learn more about essential oils or to get a Young Living Essential Oils Starter Kit at a fabulous price? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Click HERE to learn more and get you some Thieves Oil!
XOXO,
Jennifer
we are absolutely loving essential oils around here, so glad we started using them too =)
Wow! I’ve heard of the oil, but didn’t know the story. How fascinating!
Hi Barbara! I know such an interesting story!! =)
I love everything that is homemade and everything related to diy. I will try this one.
Let me know what you think! =)
I started reading this yesterday and I was interrupted before I could leave a comment! Kids!
I love Young Living and I never knew the many uses of the oils. I have the Peace & Calm one and I keep it at my desk for stress breaks. I think it works nicely.
What’s funny is that the cats are obsessed with it and rub by it and always smell very nice after.
I am loving learning all about them and I can’t wait to share it all with you guys! I’m having so much fun with it all! YL has a lot of really cool products, check out their website…I’m loving the ART skincare line right now and I have Ningxia Juice coming next month =) xoxo
Can you mix with Hydrogen Peroxide ?
I have never done that, not sure, I will ask around!
I have switched out all my cleaners to all natural ones, but a DIY one is even better. I will definitely check out the oils. What an interesting story about the origin of Thieves – thanks for the history lesson!
I love making my own, it’s really so easy. I’m going to share a lemon oil version one next…there are so many uses for the oils and I can’t wait to share it with you all…it’s been so life-changing around here…message me if you have any questions! xoxo
Thanks for the recipe! I’ve been looking for a good one to use with my thieves oil! Love it!
you are very welcome!! =)
Do u have to use glass bottles?
yes! the EO can eat away at plastic 😉
Is this a leave on cleaner, or do you have to wipe it off like a traditional all purpose cleaner?
I wipe it off like a traditional cleaner =)
What type of water to do you use? Distilled, tap or purified?
I just use tap water for mine =)
Thanks! I’ve been searching and searching for ehat kind of what to use.
I just used this cleaner recipe, and am officially a Thieves lover now. I only made one cup, because I only had a plastic spray bottle and wanted to use it all. It was enough to damp clean 2 bathroom floors, 1 bedroom laminate floor, and the kitchen floor. Then, I still had enough left over to soak a washcloth and did bathroom sink fixtures, stove, appliance fronts, refrigerator doors/handles, all door handles (including cabinet knobs), and one large (now sparkling) glass light fixture. I was impressed with how far I felt I could stretch it. I wasn’t the least bit worried about the dogs (or me) breathing any fumes, or the dogs incidentally licking the floor. AND, instead of smelling like heavy cleaners or bleach, my house smells pleasant with hints of cinnamon and clove. LOVE IT!!
it’s the best!!! thanks for sharing! =)
The best part about the DIY Thieves Household Cleaner is that it is affordable and easy to make at home with a blend of your own choices. I love the fact that it is completely chemical free and this helps me keep my house safe from any sort of illness and also improves the ambience of a home to a great extent.
It’s unfortunate that we do not have Thieves oil where I’m from, but I do love the idea of making your own anything. DIY using organic and natural materials is great because you know every single thing that goes into whatever you’re making. You know it’s safe. Maybe I could whip something out of ginger, lemongrass, lemon, even the herbs included in Thieves to come up with my own cleaning concoction. Ha ha!
I know I’m probably going to get sent to Essential Oil prison for this comment but do you have a Walmart where you live?
If so check in the pharmacy section on the aisle with all of the vitamins. They actually carry Natures Bounty brand essential oils. They have all of the main EOs or at least Peppermint, lavender, Eucalyptus, chamomile, lemongrass, jasmine, & Rosemary. They also have their own Thieves blend that is called “Thrive”…
I know it’s not Young Living (which is what I always use ) but I have used them quite a few times when I was in a pinch financially (they are $5.97 per bottle here) or waiting on my order to arrive.
I have done the same thing. Their thrive blend is awesome. I can’t afford young living oils. Another one to use that has the same ingredients as young living is the Now brand oil called Natures Shield. I get it on amazon and it comes out to being even cheaper than the natures bounty and it’s awesome. Smells just like thieves by young living. I love NOW oils. They are very good quality.
Thanks for sharing!! I have tried other brands of oils and I’m sensitive(get headaches from them) to most of them but the young living oils don’t do anything like that to me but only help me, I do believe they are some of the purest oils out there from my own experience~
I have heard of (and used) several essential oils, but have not heard of the Thieves essential oil. Quite an interesting story! I love homemade cleaners and this is something I must try. I have used a combination of water, vinegar and lemon essential oil, but this sounds better.
I wonder if the 4 thieves is a reference to 4 of the most important herbs in this recipe. Herbs are so much better than chemicals.
DIY Thieves Household Cleaner seems a very different product. The name itself is very catchy. Can it be used for cleaning kitchen countertops and sinks? Can it be used to remove the stains on carpet?
Oh wow I have never heard of this oil, but this is so fascinating. I am happy to see that we can make things out of simple stuff. I would love to make some homemade cleaners for my home, because some of the cleaners you buy are strong as all outside.
Anything organic is safe, basically. But we do must remember we gotta use it in moderation and with the right quantity, mixtures etc..I would love to try that Thieves and perhaps see around some specialty organic shops if they do have here in the Philippines. But currently, what I am using as a DIY household cleaner, is lemon of course, which is really in abundant supply in my area, also its great with hands and body as well. Charcoal to eliminate such bad odors also having plants inside the house, helps a lot to combat such unwanted smells and also provides artistic natural elements as part of the interiors.
That is quite an interesting product. I’m all for the natural stuff. Unlike the usual cleaning chemicals I purchase, I won’t have to worry much about having such things around the house. Although, this article would be more helpful if the price and availability information are already included. Links can be such a pain sometimes. Then again, thank you for sharing this info!
Great recipe and tutorial for safe household cleaner. I have been thinking about converting to more environmental and household friendly products for a while now. And now is the time to take the plunge!
I’ve never heard of this thieves household cleaner. I really have to try this, sounds very useful!
I have been thinking about learning to make organic cleaning product for awhile now. I’ll look into thieves. Thanks for inspiring. You always encourage me to better myself. 🙂
I have just purchased a bottle. Can you use this on Wood Service? Can you tell me what I can use it on.
I use it on my wood floors but I would test an area first just be sure 😉
I’d like to make a Thieves concentrate to dilute further to mop floors. Is this the recipe above or is it just for a spray cleaner already diluted? Any help on a concentrate?
I’m not really sure, sorry but I can ask around! 😉
I used your variation 2 recipe. I used 1 cup of filtered water. Then I used 2 tsp of Cover pure & vegan castile soap. Then I used 16 drops of Vivorific Triple defense. It’s the closest to thieves that I have on hand. I washed the kitchen floors & some of the hard wood floors also. Floors dried up nice and are not sticky when you walk on them. My bf loves this scent. He has a sensitive nose and this scent doesn’t bother him at all. It’s a strong oil and you don’t need a lot at all. Thanks for the recipe. I love it!
Awesome Stephanie! Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated!
Typically I can use my Thieves Household Cleaner to clean most everything, but sometimes I need a little more quot;muscle.
I have recently started using essential oils. And, now I have realized how many benefits do they have.
awesome, glad you enjoy using essential oils, I love using mine!