Spring cleaning is one of the traditions that always sounds so good. It is spring after all. Who doesn’t want to have their home spring time fresh? After winter, throw open the windows and let the spring air and sunlight refresh your home. What can be more appealing?
Yet there is the other side of Spring cleaning, the actual cleaning part. While cleaning is actual work, it is one of those activities that when done well and with enthusiasm, can bring a great sense of fulfillment. It is even more fulfilling when you know that the cleaning products you use are safe for you, your family and your pets. While sometimes modern cleaning products are a must, many times there are great natural products that can accomplish much without harming the environment or causing people and pets harm. Here are just few.
Sunshine One of the best natural freshening and cleaning agents is good ole Sunshine. Many times what those musty pillows, drapes or feather mattresses need are just an afternoon in the sunshine to wipe away that left over stale winter smell. Not only does a good dose of sun take away the stale and put in the fresh, it often can brighten light colors.
Baking Soda This inexpensive additive is often a forgotten treasure. Add it to laundry, your mop bucket or even your bath every once in a while and you will be amazed at how it cleans, deodorizes, and softens water.
Cornstarch With just the right touch of elbow grease, cornstarch in a little water, is a super alternative that can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs.
Soap This is the very definition of natural clean. You can find unscented soap in liquid form, flakes, powders or bars. It is biodegradable and will clean just about anything. Be sure to avoid using soaps which contain petroleum distillates.
White Vinegar Clean the windows, wipe down the cabinets, and mix in a bucket for just about anything. This kitchen ingredient cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains and wax build-up.
Borax (sodium borate) This gem of an additive will do so much: it cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, cleans wallpaper, painted walls and floors, with ease. As a bonus, roaches hate the stuff.
Citrus Solvent Got something that really needs a kick behind it to clean paint brushes, remove oil grease and some stains? With just a little bit of effort you can find great cleaners that have things like orange oil or other citrus solvents. (Citrus solvent can cause skin, lung or eye irritations. Be careful if you are very sensitive as even natural products can be irritating.)
Lemon A lesser version of Citrus Solvent is this little secret ingredient that Grandma used. Since it is one of the strongest food-acids, it is effective against most household bacteria. Just be sure not to let it sit so long as to pit what you are cleaning.
So take care of your greatest investment, your home, with these easy to use eco-friendly work horses of the cleaning world.
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