4 Eco-Friendly Ways to Use Clove Water Around Your Home

 Simple, budget-friendly DIY recipes to clean, deodorize, and pest-proof your space naturally.

Written by Favour


Image Credit: Kaboompics 

TABLE OF CONTENT

What Is Clove Water and How Does It Help Around the House?


Neutralize Food Odors on Dishes & Utensils


Natural Pest and Insect Deterrent


Natural Laundry Deodorizer & Softener Alternative


Freshen & Clean Kitchen and Bathroom Sinks



The clove water trend has been circulating the internet lately as a natural remedy for everything from personal fragrance to driving away bad odors and acting as a warm spice for cooking. Beyond these uses, clove water can also be a helpful addition to your eco-friendly home cleaning routine when combined with the right household ingredients.



What Is Clove Water and How Does It Help Around the House?


Clove water is made by simmering dried cloves in water. As the cloves heat, they release their natural oils, giving the water a warm, spicy fragrance.

Cloves contain eugenol, a natural compound that has antibacterial, antifungal, and insect-repelling properties. Clove water can be a useful natural addition to some household cleaning tasks, but it should not replace regular cleaning products or professional pest control. Keep clove water away from pets. Avoid spraying it where pets can reach it or on their bedding.


Neutralize Food Odors on Dishes & Utensils

Clove water can be useful for helping to neutralize strong food odors on plates and containers when used alongside regular dishwashing. It adds a strong scent and may help keep surfaces fresher.

 but clove water alone does not have the chemical ability to break down grease or effectively remove strong odors. 


For the best results, use it alongside an effective cleaning agent, such as dishwashing soap (Castile soap or plain unscented soap) and hot water. The soap helps remove the actual grease and food residue causing the odor.


How to use it:


• Wash your dishes as normal using hot water and unscented dish soap to strip away grease.

• Fill a basin with warm water and add 1 cup of prepared clove water.

• Let smelly containers or plates soak for 10–15 minutes to neutralize remaining odors.

• For ultra-stubborn odors, follow up with a baking soda paste scrub or a light vinegar rinse.


Natural Pest and Insect Deterrent


Spray clove water along baseboards, doorways, windowsills, and other areas where insects may enter or hide. The strong scent may help discourage pests such as cockroaches. You can also spray clove and cinnamon water around trash cans to help deter pests and maggots.


For stubborn cockroaches, make a stronger clove mixture by adding 2 tablespoons of whole cloves to a pot of water and boiling for 20 minutes. Let it cool, then pour it into a spray bottle. Add 1 cup of distilled white vinegar and a few drops of liquid dish soap, then shake well.


Spray the mixture directly into areas where cockroaches hide, such as cracks, corners, and other hard-to-reach spots. Repeat regularly. Keep in mind that natural remedies may discourage insects but may not eliminate an infestation. If you are dealing with a severe pest problem, professional pest control is still required.


Natural Laundry Deodorizer & Softener Alternative


Clove water can be used as a natural way to freshen clothes and add a pleasant scent. However, clove water alone cannot soften fabrics because it does not have the properties needed to remove the minerals and detergent residue that can make clothes feel stiff.


For softer clothes, you can combine clove water with distilled white vinegar. Vinegar can help remove detergent residue and mineral buildup, leaving fabrics feeling less stiff.


How to Use It

Boil 2 tablespoons of cloves in 2 cups of water for 15 minutes. Let it cool, strain out the cloves, and mix the clove water with an equal amount of white vinegar.

  • Wash your clothes normally with your regular laundry detergent.
  • Pour 1/4 cup of the clove-vinegar mixture into the fabric softener dispenser during the rinse cycle.
  • Let the washing machine complete the cycle.

For hand washing:

  • Wash your clothes normally with your regular laundry detergent.
  • Rinse the clothes thoroughly.
  • Fill a clean basin with water for the final rinse.
  • Add a measured amount of the clove-vinegar mixture and stir it into the water.
  • Place the clothes in the basin and let them soak briefly.
  • Remove the clothes, gently squeeze out the excess water, and hang them to dry. Do not rinse them again.

For white clothes

Avoid using boiled clove water on white clothes because it may leave a brownish stain. Instead, mix 10–15 drops of pure clove essential oil with 2 cups of white vinegar and shake well. Use this mixture as a rinse aid.

Freshen & Clean Kitchen and Bathroom Sinks


Clove water can help freshen your kitchen and bathroom sinks, while hot water can help loosen hardened grease, soap scum, and toothpaste buildup.


Adding white vinegar can provide extra cleaning power because of its acidity, while cloves add their strong natural fragrance. Cinnamon can also be added to the mixture for its natural antimicrobial properties.

  • Add 2 tablespoons of whole cloves and 1 cinnamon stick to a pot of water.
  • Simmer for 15–20 minutes.
  • Let the mixture cool, then strain it.
  • Add white vinegar and pour the mixture into a spray bottle.
  • Shake well before using.


How to Use It

  • Spray the mixture directly onto your kitchen sink, bathroom sink, faucet, and drain.
  • Let it sit for a few minutes.
  • Scrub the surfaces properly with a sponge or brush.
  • Rinse everything with clean water.
  • Use regularly to help keep your sinks fresh and clean.


Store any leftover mixture in the refrigerator and use it within 7–10 days.