Spring is in the air””and so are chemical vapors and other potentially harmful airborne substances, if you’re using conventional products to do your spring cleaning. Sure, they get the job done, but why risk skin irritation, allergic reactions and harming the environment?
Blast dirt and cobwebs lurking in every corner of your home with these safe cleaners made from all-natural ingredients:
Surface Spray
Fill a spritzer bottle with a mixture of ¾ water and ¼ distilled white vinegar. Add a few drops of essential oil, such as lemon, orange or eucalyptus, for a clean, fresh scent. If you don’t have essential oil on hand, use half water and equal parts of vinegar and lemon juice.
Sink and Bath Scrubber
Place a cup of baking soda in a medium-sized bowl. Stir in about a ½ cup of pure, liquid castile soap until the mixture resembles frosting, then add a few drops of disinfecting essential oil, such as tea tree or rosemary. To use, scoop the paste onto a sponge and scrub away. Store the mixture in an air-tight jar for up to a year.
Floor Cleaner
For damp mopping, fill a bucket with warm water and about ¼ cup of natural dish soap, such as Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid. For scuff marks, sprinkle with baking soda and scrub gently with a soft sponge.
Toilet Shiner
Combine 2 tablespoons of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of olive oil and about 10 drops of a disinfecting essential oil. Pour solution into toilet bowl and use a handled scrubber to clean.
Laundry Powder
In a large storage container, combine 8 cups of baking soda, 6 cups of Borax and 4 cups of natural castile soap (grated into flakes). Use a wire whisk to blend in about 1-1/2 tablespoons of essential oil. For each load of laundry, add a little more than a cup to your washing machine.
Now that you know… it’s time to clean up your act!
