Spring cleaning aids

Spring cleaning in your part of the world!


With the Sun finally peeking out, and pollen in the air, many of us are about to start our spring cleaning.  With most indoor air quality being more toxic than the outdoors, we wanted to share some eco-friendly, non-toxic ways to clean your home.

Why not use store bought cleaners?

Many people gage the cleanliness of their home based on that “chemically clean” smell, what you are actually smelling is harmful VOCs that are extremely toxic to you and your family to breathe.  Have you ever looked at the warning labels on some of those cleaners?!  Here is a list of just some of the effects these toxic cleaners can have:

• Rashes = skin irritation
• Eye damage
• Allergies
• Lung, liver, respiratory damage
• Cancer
• Headaches
• Certain chemicals being mixed together can cause death (ammonia and bleach)

What are the benefits of natural cleaning?

Here are just a few reasons to give green cleaning a chance:

• Toxin free
• Effective
• Safe for use around children and pets
• Inexpensive

The Recipes
All Purpose Cleaner:
2 Cups White Vinegar
2 Cups Distilled Water
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Liquid Castile Soap
5-10 Drops of Lemon Essential Oil (Optional)
Mix baking soda, water, and liquid Castile soap together with essential oil (if using) into a large bowl.  Add vinegar slowly. Mix.  Pour into a spray bottle.
Kitchen/Bathroom Spray
With Oranges, comes orange peels!  Just fill a quart jar with peels, and when you fill it, pour white vinegar to the top.  Let sit for 10 days or so…strain out the liquid and use as a great degreaser, & soap scum fighter!  Easy, cheap, natural, smells good!  This is one of my favorites!
Creamy Soft Scrub

• 1/2 Cup Baking Soda
• Liquid Castile Soap
• 1 teaspoon Vegetable Glycerin
• 5 Drops of Essential Oil of Choice

Pour baking soda in a bowl.  Add liquid Castile soap a little at a time to make a frosting like texture.  Add in your essential oils and glycerin.  Store in a sealed glass jar.
Floor Cleaner

• 1 Gallon of Hot water
• 2 Tablespoons of Liquid Castile Soap
• 15 Drops of  Orange Oil
• 8 Drops of Lemon Oil

Combine ingredients in a large bucket.  Use a mop to clean the floor.  Rinsing is optional.
Wood Polish (Floors and Furniture)

• 1/4 Cup Olive Oil
• 1/4 Cup White Vinegar
• 10 Drops of  Lemon Oil

Mix and Apply to wood.  Buff out with clean, soft cloth.
What are some of the natural cleaning recipes that you use?  
Share in the comments below!
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1. 

   Dottie Finken on September 6, 2014 at 5:39 pm

   Opps! It looks like I forgot to add in that I also tried: a few drops of lemon essential oil in the Window cleaner recipe. This was something that I added in myself.  It works great! 🙂
   
   
2. 

   Dottie Finken on September 6, 2014 at 5:35 pm

   Hi! Just wanted to share that I have been cleaning windows, inside and outside, at my house today.  I was out of the commercial cleaner that I have used for years, and decided to try a natural approach.  I pulled out my Joey Green Cleaning MAGIC book, and found a recipe for a window cleaner.  Here it is:
   1/2 tsp. Murphy Oil Soap
   3 tbsp. Heinz White Vinegar
   2 cups of water
   Place these ingredients into a 16 oz. spray bottle.  Spray on, wipe with paper towel or cloth, and dry with a soft cloth.
   This recipe worked very well for me.  My family claims that it cleans better than the commercial brand!
   
   
   
3. 

   Kendra on May 23, 2013 at 10:52 am

   I was always told mixing vinegar and baking soda in the natural cleaners caused them to react together and made the two substances inert. Because they are an acid and a base so they cancel each other out when they react?
   
   
   • 

     Marie Crowe on June 5, 2013 at 12:43 pm

     They do react a little, so add slowly, and in a large enough bowl so they can expand.
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