I tend to enjoy dusting when I use something that smells nice. I especially like lemon-scented Pledge dusting spray. It smells really good and I like how it wipes away the dust and dirt while at the same time leaving my furniture looking polished.

Unfortunately, Pledge and most other commercially sold dusting sprays are heavily chemically ridden. That’s very concerning, especially since I like to inhale the odors!

Fortunately, homemade dusting spray that is completely non-toxic, safe to sniff, and even okay if you drank it (though by itself I can’t imagine it tasting too great) is within reach. And it’s super easy to make!

My recipe for lemony dusting spray consists of three simple, common household ingredients. Here is a list of each ingredient and an explanation as to why I selected each for this recipe:

Olive Oil. This helps to moisten and therefore loosen dust as well as make it more dense so that it wipes up onto a dusting cloth rather than poofing into the air only to settle on furniture again later. It also helps to polish furniture, especially wooden pieces. Don’t worry, you don’t have to use your expensive extra virgin olive oil for this–an inexpensive, light olive oil will do.
Lemon Peels. These add grease-fighting properties to the oil so that grimy patches are more easily wiped up. It also makes the oil smell oh-so-yummy!
Thyme. This is a well-known anti-germ herb. So, when the oil is infused with it, it helps to clean surfaces as well as to remove dust.
Lemon Essential Oil. This amps up the lemon scent and the grease-fighting powers.

lemonandthymeoliveoil — Dusting spray during the infusion process.

The only setback with this recipe is that it takes a minimum of 2 weeks to infuse. So it does take a bit of thinking ahead. But once you’ve got it started, it’s easy to keep up with it. For me, when I get down to about 1/2 cup, I get another batch started as that final 1/2 cup typically last me at least the two weeks before the next batch is ready.

Homemade All-natural Lemon Dusting Spray

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Ingredients

2 c. olive oil (doesn't have to be extra virgin)
lemon peels
1 tsp. dried thyme
30 drops (1/4 tsp.) Young Living lemon essential oil (optional)*

Instructions

Measure the olive oil into a pint- or quart-sized mason jar. Peel lemons like you would an orange and place the peels into the olive oil (save the lemons for other purposes). Add the dried thyme.
Adjust a lid to the jar and allow the lemon and olive oil mixture to infuse for 2 to 4 weeks inside a cool, dark cabinet. Shake occasionally as it is infusing.
Once the few weeks are up, strain the oil (discard or compost the peels and thyme) and put in a spray bottle. I run it through a tea towel to thoroughly strain everything.
Add the lemon essential oil.
Quickly shake the mixture before using it. Lightly spray surface and wipe away with a soft cloth.

Notes

When using quality essential oils like Young Living's, store the dusting spray in a glass bottle as plastic will eventually melt from the strength of the essential oil.