If you want Christmas cleaning tips without filling your home with strong holiday-scented laundry detergents and sprays, focus on low-tox products, good ventilation and simple, natural ways to create a festive feel. In this guide, we’ll show you how to make your home feel cosy and smell like Christmas using everyday ingredients, not synthetic fragrance.
Every year, as soon as the weather turns colder, the world seems to explode into “cinnamon swirl nights”, “sugar cookie sink spray” and “gingerbread laundry pods”. Shelves fill up with seasonal scents promising instant festive magic in a bottle.
You won’t see holiday scented laundry or ginger spice floors from us.
Here’s why we’re not jumping on the seasonal fragrance bandwagon – and how you can create a genuinely cosy, festive home without buying a single extra “limited-edition” product.
Are holiday-scented laundry detergents and cleaners really necessary?
No, you don’t need separate holiday-scented laundry detergents or cleaners. A small set of effective, low-tox, year-round products will clean just as well without the extra synthetic fragrance, plastic packaging and cost. Seasonal versions are mostly a marketing layer on top of the same formulas, so they add clutter and indoor air pollution rather than real cleaning benefits.
1. Are seasonal fragrances really about you. Or about selling you more?
Most seasonal launches are not about better cleaning or better health. They’re a marketing layer on top of products that already exist.
The formula usually stays the same. The bottle gets a wintery label, and the fragrance changes name and notes. You’re encouraged to buy the latest TikTok sensational scent, even though the product does the same job as the one already in your cupboard.
We built Spruce to simplify, not multiply, what you need at home. Our focus is on products that genuinely work, all year round produced with high standards, safe ingredients. Our refills and concentrates help you reduce waste and clutter.
We don’t want you to need five different versions of the same product just because the calendar changed.
2. Do you really need a whole range of products that do the same job?
No, you don’t need multiple cleaners that all do the same thing. One good multi-surface cleaner, a bathroom cleaner and a laundry detergent are usually enough for most homes. Buying lots of different “specialist” or seasonal products adds cost, clutter and plastic, without meaningfully improving how clean your home is.
Take a look under most kitchen sinks in December and you’ll find:
-
Everyday multi-surface spray
-
Christmas limited-edition multi-surface spray
-
“Winter spice” bathroom cleaner
-
“Festive pine” floor wash
-
Multiple different laundry scents to make your home feel festive
All of these are, in reality, products that do exactly the same thing. However, the problem isn’t just cost or clutter or even just limited to the cleaning routine. It’s the mindset promoted by these companies: that every season, room, or mood needs its own product. That more is always better.
Our philosophy is much simpler: Find a few products you trust, that are safer for your health and the planet – and use them well. Our values align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, promoting conscious consumption over wasteful, mindless production.
3. What’s the problem with seasonal synthetic scents?
Synthetic festive scents are quite problematic, not only by promoting overconsumption, but truly harming your family's health. Those festive fragrances don’t just disappear after you spray or pour them. Most household and laundry fragrances are made from complex blends of synthetic fragrance chemicals and solvents that release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into your air. Research has shown that fragranced consumer products (like air fresheners, cleaning sprays and scented laundry products) can contribute significantly to indoor air pollution and may trigger headaches, asthma and other sensitivities in some people.
In winter, this matters even more:
-
We keep windows closed.
-
Ventilation drops.
-
Heating goes on, and air recirculates the same mixture of dust, particles and VOCs.
That means the vapours and fragrance compounds from your “festive” products can linger in your indoor air for much longer, especially in smaller or poorly ventilated spaces.
If you or your family are already prone to allergies, asthma, skin irritation or headaches, layering multiple scented products on top of each other – laundry detergent, fabric softener, candles, air fresheners, floor cleaner, bathroom spray – can quickly become overwhelming.
We’d rather your home felt clean, calm and comfortable than “Christmas-scented” at any cost.
Is scent important for a festive home at Christmas?
Absolutely. We’re not anti-smell, and we’re certainly not anti-joy. We just don’t believe that more synthetic fragrance is the only way to make your home feel festive, cosy and relaxed. Especially when those same fragrance blends can contribute to poor indoor air quality, allergies and end up in waterways once they’re washed down the drain.
The good news? You can create a beautiful, seasonal atmosphere with:
-
Natural materials
-
Things you already have at home
-
Low-waste habits that don’t involve yet another plastic bottle
How can I make my home feel festive without buying more Christmas scented products?
You can make your home feel festive by refreshing what you already have: wash bedding and throws, clear and restyle a few surfaces, add real greenery like pine or eucalyptus in jars, use warm lamps or fairy lights, and create natural scent with simple things like simmering citrus peels and spices, instead of buying extra Christmas-scented sprays, candles or cleaners.
Here are some simple, low-waste, natural ways to bring that warm festive feeling into your home.
No “gingerbread floor cleaner” required.
How can I make my home smell like Christmas naturally with kitchen scraps?
Yes. One of the easiest ways to scent your home naturally is to use what’s already in your fruit bowl or spice drawer. Try these tips:
Step-by-step Recipe: Natural Festive Home-Made Scent (No Toxic Sprays)
Use this simple “simmer pot” instead of Christmas-scented sprays or plug-ins.
Ingredients
-
Orange, clementine or lemon peels (a handful)
-
1 cinnamon stick or ½ tsp ground cinnamon
-
3–5 cloves
-
Optional: 1–2 star anise
-
Water
Step-by-step instructions
-
Save your citrus peels
Keep the peels from oranges, clementines or lemons after eating or juicing them. -
Fill a small pan
Place the peels into a small saucepan and add enough water to cover them. -
Add warm spices
Drop in a cinnamon stick (or a pinch of ground cinnamon), a few cloves and star anise if you have it. -
Simmer gently
Put the pan on the hob over low heat and let it simmer, not boil. You should see gentle steam, not vigorous bubbling. -
Top up with water as needed
Check the pan every so often and add more water when the level drops, so it doesn’t dry out. -
Enjoy the natural scent
As it simmers, your kitchen will fill with a soft, cosy, festive aroma – without aerosols, propellants or synthetic fragrance blends. You’re also making good use of citrus scraps that might otherwise go straight in the bin.
How can greenery transform a space without adding plastic?
Instead of plastic garlands and glittered decorations, choose real greenery:
-
A few sprigs of fir, pine, eucalyptus, holly (careful with kids and pets), rosemary or bay in a jug, jar or vase
-
A simple branch styled on a mantlepiece or shelf
-
A mini arrangement on a bedside or bathroom shelf
On the other hand, decorating with real greenery:
-
Looks elevated without trying too hard
-
Brings a subtle, natural scent (especially pine, eucalyptus and rosemary)
-
Can be composted when you’re done
-
No plastic, no landfill, no box of dusty decor to store all year.
Can fragrance-free laundry still make my home feel clean and festive?
No, you don’t need separate festive-scented laundry detergents or seasonal Christmas cleaning products; a few effective, fragrance-free or low-tox products will clean just as well without adding extra synthetic fragrance to your air.
A lot of the cosy feeling we associate with the holidays isn’t from products at all. It’s from clean, comfortable, cared-for spaces:
-
Fresh sheets on the bed after a chilly day
-
A clean kitchen before friends or family arrive
-
Soft, freshly laundered throws on the sofa
You don’t need a “limited-edition gingerbread detergent” to get that feeling.
Opt for a fragrance-free, low-tox laundry detergent and let the real scent of clean fabrics be the star. When your laundry is properly rinsed and free from heavy fragrance, it doesn’t compete with the natural smells of food, greenery, or fresh air when you do open a window.
Can lighting do more for mood than fragrance?
If you’ve ever walked into a room lit only by a harsh overhead light, you know how much lighting changes everything.
To make your home feel instantly more festive and relaxing, try:
-
Swapping main ceiling lights for lamps in the evenings
-
Using warm-toned bulbs instead of cold blue-white
-
Adding a simple string of fairy lights along a shelf, mantle or window
-
Lighting one or two candles, rather than covering every surface in jars
Light shapes how we feel in a space far more than we realise – and it doesn’t add extra chemicals to the air.
If you enjoy candles, choose one or two good-quality options in reusable containers, with minimal or natural fragrance, instead of hoarding a fleet of heavily perfumed jars.
How can you make things feel special without adding clutter?
Festive doesn’t have to mean more things. It can mean more intention with what you already own. Try:
-
Clearing one surface – a coffee table, bedside table, or console – and styling it simply: a book or two, a sprig of greenery in a jar, a candle, a small bowl of nuts or clementines.
-
Rotating textiles you already have – a wool throw from the bedroom to the living room, a favourite cushion cover from the sofa to a reading chair.
-
Creating small rituals – a cup of tea in your favourite mug with the lamps dimmed, a family board game night with phones away, or a weekend morning spent changing bedding and airing out rooms.
These tiny shifts often feel more grounding and luxurious than another bottle of “Frosted Sugar Cookie” spray.
What does a calm, low-tox Christmas home actually look like?
A sustainable, healthier holiday season looks like:
-
Fewer products, used more wisely
-
Fragrance-free or minimally scented everyday essentials
-
Real greenery instead of plastic decor
-
Natural aromas from food, spices and fresh air
-
Lighting and rituals that create genuine comfort
We don’t need to sell you a different version of your cleaner every time a calendar page turns. Our job is to support a home that feels truly clean and calm, without the extra fumes, plastic and pressure to buy more.
This year, if you’re craving “holiday scented laundry” and “ginger spice floors”, try this instead:
-
One simple, safer cleaner
-
One fragrance-free laundry detergent
-
A pan of orange peels and spices on the hob
-
A sprig of greenery in a jar
-
Warm light, soft textiles and a moment to breathe
That’s the kind of festive magic we’re here for.
FAQs: Christmas Cleaning, Holiday Scents and Indoor Air Quality
1. Are holiday-scented laundry detergents bad for you?
Holiday-scented laundry detergents aren’t automatically “bad”, but many use complex synthetic fragrance blends that add to indoor air pollution, especially in winter when windows are closed. If you or your family have asthma, allergies or sensitive skin, fragrance-free or low-fragrance detergents are usually a safer choice.
2. Do I need special Christmas cleaning products for my home?
No, you don’t need special Christmas cleaning products. One good multi-surface cleaner, a bathroom cleaner and a laundry detergent are enough for the whole year. Seasonal bottles and scents are mostly marketing and often just duplicate what you already have.
3. How can I make my home smell like Christmas naturally?
You can make your home smell like Christmas naturally by simmering orange or clementine peels with cinnamon, cloves or star anise in a pan of water, using real greenery like pine or eucalyptus, and opening windows briefly to bring in fresh air. These simple steps add a cosy festive scent without aerosols or synthetic air fresheners.
4. What are low-tox Christmas cleaning tips for a festive home?
Stick to a small set of low-tox products, clean high-traffic areas regularly, and focus on fresh textiles, clear surfaces and good ventilation. Add warmth with lighting and greenery rather than layers of fragranced sprays, candles and plug-ins.
5. Are synthetic Christmas scents bad for indoor air quality?
Synthetic Christmas scents from sprays, candles and plug-ins can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that build up indoors, particularly when homes are sealed against the cold. Using fewer scented products and choosing fragrance-free or minimally fragranced options can help keep indoor air cleaner.
6. Is fragrance-free laundry better for sensitive skin during winter?
Yes, fragrance-free laundry detergents are usually better for sensitive or dry winter skin because they avoid many common fragrance allergens. They still clean effectively, especially when you use the right dose and wash at the correct temperature for your fabrics.
7. How can I make my home feel festive without buying more Christmas products?
You can make your home feel festive by rearranging and refreshing what you already own: wash throws and bedding, clear and restyle one or two surfaces, add a few sprigs of greenery in jars, and use warm lamps or fairy lights. Small, thoughtful changes often feel more special than extra seasonal clutter.
8. Are Christmas-scented candles safer than scented cleaning sprays?
Scented candles, room sprays, synthetically scented cleaning sprays, laundry detergents and fabric softeners release harsh fragrance chemicals into the air. If you enjoy candles, choose a small number of good-quality, non-paraffin options and burn them for limited periods, and pair them with low-tox, fragrance-free cleaning products to reduce overall fragrance load in your home.
We hope we help you keep a naturally relaxing home that you can savour all year long.
Leave a comment (all fields required)