How to Clean Essential Oil Spills and Stains

How to clean up an essential oil spill on the floor

Spilled essential oils on floor surfaces are just as likely to happen as spilling it onto your skin or clothing, so you may need some help on how to ensure it doesn’t affect the material:

1. Essential oil spilled on wood: If you are dealing with an essential oil spill on wood, such as flooring or furniture, try to soak it up with a paper toil to stop it sinking too deep into the wood. Next, mix some mild washing powder with warm water in a bowl and use a cloth to apply the solution to the affected area. Rinse the wood with clean water, pat it dry and wait for the surface to fully dry out.
2. Spilled essential oil on carpet: When it comes to dealing with spilt essential oil on carpet material, start by blotting the spillage with a paper towel. Apply small amounts of rubbing alcohol to the stain, being careful to blot rather than wipe to avoid it spreading. Mix some warm water with washing up liquid and use a sponge to apply this to the stain, blotting until it can no longer be seen.
3. Spilled essential oil on plastic: Many people have vinyl flooring installed in their kitchen or bathroom, so it’s good to know how to remove essential oil stains from plastic after a spillage. Use a paper towel to wipe up as much of the oil as soon as you notice it, then use a combination of warm water, white vinegar, baking soda and castile soap to clear up the stain with a soft sponge. Rinse with clean water once finished.

Do diluted essential oils stain clothes?

Can essential oils stain clothes? The answer is yes, because whether diluted or undiluted – they can leave stains and marks on clothes in some cases.

However, there is some action you can take to potentially remove or lighten the stain on your clothing before they become permanent.

The most important thing is to react quickly if you spill an essential oil on a piece of clothing.

Like any stain, the quicker you take action to remove it, the more likely it is that the mark can be removed.

Always take care when cleaning essential oils, especially when undiluted, and wear clothes if necessary to reduce the chances of an allergic reaction.

Here are some things you can try to remove an essential oil spill from your clothes, with some of these suggestions acting as an absorbent for essential oils in case of spilling.

If you want to know how to remove an essential oil stain from fabric, you can also try the methods below:

• Try some washing up liquid: Squirt some washing up liquid directly onto the stain and gently rub it in using a sponge or old toothbrush and then rinse well under warm water. If that hasn’t worked, fill up the sink or a plastic tub that is large enough to soak the piece of clothing, and fill up with warm water and more washing up liquid. Leave it to soak for 20-30 minutes and then add more soap to the stain and gently scrub.
• Apply a little bit of baking soda: Baking soda is renowned for its cleaning abilities and could prove to be an effective essential oil stain remover. Dampen the garment with some warm water. Next, mix water with a handful of baking soda to form a thick paste and apply this to the stain. Scrub with a toothbrush or sponge and leave it to sit there for about one hour. Finally, rinse the paste away with warm water to see how much of the stain has been removed.
• Cleanse with eucalyptus oil: Using an essential oil to clean off an essential oil stain may seem counterproductive, but it is a method that can work. Eucalyptus essential oil contains cineole, which works as a degreasing agent, while also being antibacterial. Add 5-10 drops of the oil onto the stain and let it rest for 10-15 minutes. Rinse the item and check if the stain has been removed.
• Dissolve the stain using rubbing alcohol: Oils can also be dissolved using rubbing oil, which acts as a solvent. Remove any excess moisture from the garment before starting and soak a sponge or cloth in rubbing alcohol, before blotting it onto the stain. Let the clothing sit for 5 minutes before rubbing a bar of soap across the area until it soaps up. Now, rinse the garment in hot water to see if the stain has been removed to your liking.
• Wash the clothing on a hot cycle: Once you have finished trying one or more of the methods above, you should then place the item into a washing machine and set it to a hot cycle. Add the required amount of washing powder and half a cup of white vinegar. Let the cycle finish and dry the garment to see if the stain has been fully removed (it may be difficult to tell when the garment is wet, especially on dark clothing).