Spring cleaning is a time-honored tradition that refreshes your home and mindset after the long winter months. Instead of relying on harsh chemicals, you can embrace natural cleaning methods that are safer for your family and the environment. Using simple, everyday ingredients like vinegar, lemon, and baking soda, you can achieve a sparkling clean home while reducing your ecological footprint. Here’s how to do your spring cleaning naturally, with easy DIY recipes and practical tips.
1. Declutter Before You Clean
Start your spring cleaning by decluttering your space. Sort through your belongings room by room and decide what to keep, donate, or recycle. This step not only makes cleaning easier but also helps you organize your home and avoid accumulating unnecessary items later.
2. Make Your Own All-Purpose Cleaner
A versatile natural cleaner can be made by combining equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, adding a lemon rind and a few sprigs of rosemary. Shake and let it infuse for a week before use. This mixture effectively removes hard water stains, cleans trash cans, and wipes away wall smudges. However, avoid using vinegar on natural stone or finished wood surfaces.
Alternatively, mix 3 cups of filtered water, 1 cup of white vinegar, 2 tablespoons of baking soda, and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice for a powerful all-purpose cleaner suitable for countertops and stains.
3. Use Baking Soda and Lemon for Tough Stains
Baking soda is a mild alkali that dissolves dirt and grease when mixed with water, making it perfect for scrubbing sinks and removing odors. Lemon’s natural acidity acts as an antibacterial and bleaching agent, ideal for tackling limescale and refreshing cutting boards. You can also microwave a bowl of water with lemon slices to loosen grease inside your microwave and freshen the air.
4. Deep Clean Kitchen and Bathroom Fixtures
Soak oven racks in your bathtub lined with towels to prevent scratching, then scrub with a heavy-duty pad and grease-fighting dish soap. For bathroom surfaces, create a bleach alternative by mixing 2 cups hydrogen peroxide, 2 cups water, and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Store this solution in a dark bottle to maintain its potency and use it to clean grout and tough stains.
5. Polish Wood Naturally
Combine two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice to make a natural wood polish. Apply it to wood furniture, countertops, and cutting boards with a clean cloth to nourish and shine the surfaces without harsh chemicals.
6. Freshen the Air with Essential Oils
Create your own air freshener by mixing 30 to 60 drops of essential oils (like lavender or citrus), 1 teaspoon of vodka or witch hazel, and 50 ml of water in a spray bottle. This chemical-free option keeps your home smelling fresh and inviting.
7. Choose Sustainable Cleaning Tools
Replace synthetic sponges with natural alternatives like cellulose sponges with loofah scourers, which are biodegradable and compostable. This reduces plastic waste and supports a more eco-friendly cleaning routine. Some of the top tools include:
- Blueland Clean Essentials Kit: This zero-waste cleaning kit includes reusable bottles and refill tablets for foaming hand and dish soap, laundry detergent, and surface cleaners, minimizing plastic waste.
- Free The Ocean Biodegradable Kitchen Sponges: Made from sustainably sourced plant cellulose, these sponges are plastic-free, compostable, and highly absorbent, offering an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic sponges.
- Simply Natural Canada 100% Compostable Toilet Brush: Crafted from sustainable beechwood and natural plant-fiber bristles, this brush is fully compostable and plastic-free, providing a zero-waste solution for toilet cleaning.
- Plantish Compostable Kitchen Scrubber Sponge: A plant-based, plastic-free sponge combining wood pulp and loofah fibers, it is durable, non-scratch, quick-drying, and fully compostable, ideal for various household cleaning tasks
8. Wash Bedding Thoroughly
Spring cleaning is a great time to deep clean bedding, including pillows and comforters. Follow care instructions carefully and air out bedding outside if possible to remove dust mites and allergens, promoting a healthier sleep environment.
9. Use Eco-Friendly Natural Products
If you prefer ready-made options, brands like Seventh Generation offer biodegradable, fragrance-free powdered kitchen cleansers in recyclable packaging. These products lift grease and disinfect without toxic residues, making them a safe choice for food preparation areas.
Get Cleaning!
By embracing these natural spring cleaning methods, you’ll create a healthier home environment while minimizing your impact on the planet. Using common household ingredients and sustainable tools, your spring cleaning can be both effective and eco-conscious. Enjoy the fresh start that a naturally clean home brings.