Today we’re celebrating the beginning of spring with a seasonal post. Sometimes it can be hard to set aside time for a thorough cleaning but with the changing of the seasons we’re feeling inspired to get cleaning, so we’ve pulled together a spring cleaning post to give Hazelview residents the scoop on DIY and green cleaning alternatives.
First off, you’ll need some basic materials to prepare your made-at-home cleaning options:
- Vinegar (and lots of it! This is the driving force behind a lot of the natural cleaning recipes)
- Baking soda
- Borax (sold in a box in the laundry aisle)
- Liquid castile soap
- Laundry bar soap
If you enjoy the fresh scent of store bought cleaning products, you can also add any of the following to our suggested recipes for a nice smell and extra cleaning power:
- Citrus
- Essential Oils
- Tea Tree Oil
Bad smell be gone
In a spray bottle, mix three parts white vinegar with one part water. Spray the mixture away to neutralize odours or surface smells. Another alternative is to leave a bowl of water with a drop of essential oil in the corner of a room, the smell will fill your apartment; there’s no need for a fancy diffuser.
Natural toilet bowl cleaner
Sprinkle a light dusting of baking soda into the bowl, then drizzle with vinegar and scour with a toilet brush. This combination will clean while also deodorizing. Don’t try mixing this in combination with store-bought toilet cleaners, it could create toxic fumes and that’s the opposite of what we’re looking for!
Tile and Countertops
Combine two parts vinegar, one part baking soda and four parts water. Apply to kitchen or bathroom countertops and tile, scour then wipe away.
Get Mopping
In a large bucket, mix 1 cup of white vinegar with about a gallon of hot water. If desired, add a few drops of pure citrus or essential oil for a pleasant scent. After damp mopping your floors, the smell of vinegar will clear quickly, leaving behind only the fresh scent of the oil.
Super Easy Microwave Cleaner
This steam cleaning trick is an old standby: microwave a bowl of warm water with slices of lemon, cook in the microwave for a minute, then let stand another three minutes and wipe the microwave down with a damp sponge or paper towel. Any cooked-on food or grime should come off easily.
Carpet Makeover
To clean and deodorize carpets, sprinkle with baking soda and let sit for at least half an hour. Vacuum thoroughly and you’ll see results immediately.
DIY Laundry Detergent
Though we’ve never had the chance to try it, we’re feeling inspired by friends who have been using this recipe for years. The ingredients required include: washing soda, borax and one bar of simple laundry soap. For full details on this recipe head to DIYnatural.com. The site features simple pictorial instructions and an effective recipe.
For more information, check out CanadianLiving.com’s Spring Cleaning Made Easy article for a full rundown of tips and resources. Especially interesting is the article on how clearing clutter can help you lose weight – who knew?
If you don’t have the time to throw together your own cleaning products – there are also some great green brands that you can buy in-store. Styleathome.com has put a number of green cleaners and some Canadian products to the test, check out their article: Environmentally friendly cleaning products.
Leave us your spring cleaning tips and DIY tricks in the comments below.