Getting ready to spring clean your home this spring season? If you made goals at the beginning of the year to progress and adopt healthier habits, contribute to your goals by using natural products in conjunction with these 5 natural spring cleaning tips while you clean your home.
For many individuals, spring is the best season. Spring brings in warmer weather, additional sunshine, more hours in a day, and we are graced with new life and new beginnings.
With warmer weather and additional sunshine, spring is the perfect time for spring cleaning and organizing!
By using natural cleaning supplies and recipes, you are cleaning your home in ways that will benefit your health, energy, and finances.
Another positive approach to using natural cleaning supplies is that we generally already have the items in our homes!
The following natural items and natural spring cleaning hacks will leave your home sparkly clean, fresh, with a nice scent, and are eco-friendly!
Baking Soda
Baking soda will always top the list as a natural powerhouse cleaning agent due to its low cost!
Baking soda can be combined with many other cleaning agents to create cleaning solutions that are out of this world. One baking soda hack is to create a baking soda paste. To create a baking soda paste, mix half a cup of baking soda with water until you create a paste and consistency to your liking.
You can also add a few drops of dish soap and vinegar and magic is instantly made!
This paste can be used to clean your stove and oven in your kitchen.
When cleaning the stovetop, spread the paste on the stove top and let it sit for a while. 30 minutes is a good time limit.
After 30 minutes you can wipe the paste off with a towel. If you feel, comfortable before wiping the paste off with a towel you can clean use a razor blade going back and forth to remove food particles.
If you do use a razor blade, make sure that your stove top is saturated with the paste AND lots of water.
You can use the same routine for cleaning the oven, however, it is best to let the paste stay inside the oven for a minimum of 12 hours if you have the time.
This paste also works wonders in the bathroom. I also let the paste sit in my bathroom sinks and shower for a minimum of 30 minutes to ensure that the paste has time to work its magic.
Cleaning with baking soda has so many benefits!
Lemons
Lemons are another natural powerhouse! They are cost-efficient but they have so many other benefits.
In your kitchen lemons can be used to clean stained containers, your microwave, refrigerator, oven, and counters, and so much more.
When cleaning your containers squeeze lemon juice inside the containers letting the lemon juice soak with a pinch of baking soda for 30 minutes. For severe stains allow the lemon juice and baking soda to soak for several hours.
Tackle tough microwave stains by placing a safe microwavable bowl in the microwave with water and freshly squeezed lemons. Place the bowl in the microwave and allow the lemon water to boil for 3-5 minutes. After 3-5 minutes allow the water to remain in the microwave for another 5 minutes before removing the water and wiping down the microwave.
Use this same method for cleaning your oven (use an oven safe dish). Use an oven safe dish and cut the oven on for approximately 30 minutes on 425 degrees. Allow the oven to cool before removing the water and wiping down the oven.
When cleaning your counters, lemons can be directly sprayed on the counters or you can create a lemon cleaning solution with a lemon, water, and vinegar.
I prefer to use a cleaning solution placed in a spray bottle and use this solution for the kitchen and bathroom.
To create the solution simply mix 1 cup of water, 1 cup of vinegar, and juice from a lemon in a spray bottle.
The lemon solution can also be used on floor cleaner when mopping your kitchen and bathroom floors.
Lastly, place lemon peels in the garbage disposal for a natural deodorizer.
Oranges
Another fruit that can be used as a natural cleaner is an orange. Natural Library of Medicine asserts oranges contain d-Limonene, an essential oil, that is often found in cleaning agents. D-Limeone helps to remove dirt, sanitizes, and also acts as a natural deodorant.
To make an orange cleaning solution, place orange peels with vinegar (the vinegar will need to cover the oranges) in a glass jar for approximately two weeks.
After two weeks transfer the cleaning liquid to a spray bottle. Many prefer to add an equal ratio to water when cleaning household items such as refrigerators, and countertops with the mixture. For example, if you used 1 cup of vinegar you would combine and add in 1 cup of water.
Similar to lemons, orange peels can also be used as a deodorizer for your garbage disposal.
Place your orange peels in your garbage disposal with running water.
Always test a small area before cleaning with the vinegar and citrus fruits to ensure that a negative reaction does not occur.
Essential Oils
After utilizing the natural cleaning hacks your home should smell fresh, especially if you have used lemons and oranges in the process. However, if you would like to add additional fragrances to your home during your spring cleaning process, essential oils are the natural way to go.
To create an essential spray that will deodorize your home in an eco-friendly way you will need a glass spray bottle.
In the glass spray bottle combine 15-20 drops of essential oils, 3 oz of water, as well as 1 oz of alcohol.
You may prefer to use additional drops of essential oil or a lesser amount of essential oils.
When you have combined all of the liquids inside of the bottle, place the top of the glass container. Next shake the liquids, spraying the fragrance in various spaces in your home.
There are many essential oils that you can purchase from stores or on the internet. Some common essential oils are jasmine, lemon, orange, lavender, sage, and rosemary.
If you have pets, they may be sensitive to essential oils. Contacting your veterinarian will help determine which essential oils are best for your home.
Open Your Windows
Our last natural spring cleaning hack only requires your muscle power!
During the windows due to the cold weather, our windows are closed and our heaters are on. As the weather becomes warmer, open your windows for natural ventilation!
Outdoor air has many benefits as fresh air gives your lungs a boost, will spike your energy levels, helps reduce stress levels, and can help fill your home with sunshine which promotes better concentration and productivity.
While you complete your spring cleaning tasks, cut on your favorite music, and open the windows to purge the stuffy air that has circulated through your home during the winter months. Your mood will definitely improve. I promise!
These are my top 5 natural spring cleaning go-to tips when spring cleaning my home in an eco-friendly way. Do you use any of these natural spring cleaning hacks in your spring cleaning tasks?
Feel free to brag about your natural spring cleaning tips in the comments and check out this Spring Cleaning Post for a free Spring Cleaning Checklist!
Leave a Reply