CLEAN GREEN THIS SPRING
As the days lengthen and the first buds appear, the urge to refresh our living spaces grows stronger. Spring cleaning is upon us, but this year, let's ditch the harsh chemicals and embrace a gentler approach – one that's kind to both our homes and the planet. From swapping out store-bought cleaners for DIY concoctions to creative ways to get those hard to reach spaces, we're diving into a world of eco-friendly hacks that will leave your home sparkling and your conscience clear.
DIY Hacks
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Remove Pet Hair from Furniture - try rubber gloves! Rub your hands (with gloves on) over the furniture surface. The rubber will cause the fur to gather into a ball that you can easily throw away.
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Steam Clean your Microwave - place a bowl of lemon juice and set your microwave for 2 minutes or until the juice comes to a boil. The steam from the juice softens any debris that will easily wipe away and your microwave has that citrusy fresh scent.
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Clean your Ceiling Fans - Slip a pillowcase over the fan blades one at a time, then wipe. The dust gathers into the pillowcase rather than on your furniture and floors.
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Clean Blinds - Put an old sock on one of your hands and spritz it with water. Then, grip each blind panel and slide your sock covered hand from end to end.
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Clean Ceilings - textured ceilings can be hard to clean. Roll a damp high-nap paint roller over your ceiling to pick up dust and cobwebs.
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Spot-Clean Fabrics - baby wipes have very little moisture, gentle cleaning agents and dry quickly, making them great for spot-cleaning.
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Comforters - using a tennis ball in the dryer will keep the stuffing from collecting in one corner.
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Clean your Dishwasher - First, add 1 cup baking soda to the bottom of your empty dishwasher and let it sit overnight. Then run the hottest possible cycle using vinegar instead of detergent. Don’t forget to remove any debris from the filter.
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Remove Hard Water Stains - soak paper towels in undiluted vinegar and place them on the buildup. Leave overnight, then scrub and rinse.
Homemade Cleaning Products
All-Purpose Cleaner
1 part vinegar
1 part water
The rind of a citrus fruit
Mix together in a GLASS spray bottle, gently shake to combine, and let sit for a couple of days before using.
Glass Cleaner
½ cup white vinegar
½ cup isopropyl alcohol
1 tbsp cornstarch
Mix together in a spray bottle and shake.
*To avoid visible streaks, dry using a microfiber cloth.
Bathroom Cleaner
â…“ cup white vinegar
â…“ cup isopropyl alcohol
â…“ cup distilled water
A couple drops of lemon essential oil
Combine vinegar, isopropyl alcohol and water in a spray bottle with the essential oil.
Granite Countertop Cleaner
¼ cup isopropyl alcohol
Small splash dish soap
1 ½ cups water
Combine ingredients in a spray bottle.
*Rinse with warm water and dry with microfiber cloth
Grease Cleaner
Splash of Dish Soap
Spoonful of baking soda
Warm Water
Add dish soap and baking soda to a spray bottle. Fill with warm water.
Sources:
https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/tips/cleaning-hacks/
