It’s that time of year again, the time of year people feel the itch to dust off those cobwebs and clean their houses from top to bottom. Spring is always a great time to start fresh, to hit the reset button and come out of winter hibernation. In the light of the sun, you tend to notice all of those dust bunnies and dirty windows a little more, so you know it’s time to get out your cleaning supplies and get scrubbing.

But what kind of supplies are you using? Are they commercial supplies filled with chemicals? If so, maybe this spring it’s time to do a proper clean-up of all your cleaning supplies too (be sure to dispose of them safely), and replace them with natural cleaners that are safe for you, your family and the environment. So we’re here to help you get your place looking and feeling sparkling clean, without any harsh cleaners or chemicals.  Also, you don’t have to wait until spring to do a good thorough cleaning of your home, so feel free to use this guide any time you need to refresh your pad.

Vinegar and baking soda are everything…

When it comes to all natural cleaners, vinegar and baking soda are all stars. There is practically nothing these two natural ingredients can’t do. You might even have them in your home already since they are also used for food recipes. If you don’t, just pick up a large jug (preferably glass and refillable) of organic white distilled vinegar and some organic baking soda at the store and keep them on hand at all times because these will become your go-to cleaners. Here are a couple of recipes to get you started.

All Purpose Vinegar Cleaner

You can use this on windows, countertops, showers, bathtubs, mirrors, and pretty much anything else.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 10-25 drops of essential oil

Directions:

Mix the vinegar and water in a clean spray bottle and then add in the essential oil of your choice. A lemon, lime or orange essential oil will give you a nice, fresh, clean scent and uplift your mood. Lavender will provide a calming and relaxing effect. Once all of your ingredients are in the bottle, just shake, and it’s ready to use. Just spray on any surface and wipe clean. Always use high quality, pure essential oils whenever you use them.

Powder Cleanser

You can use this for your shower, bathtub, toilet bowl, sinks, oven, stovetop, patio furniture, countertops, etc.

Ingredients:

• baking soda
• water

Directions:

Mix enough baking soda and water together to make a paste. Rub the paste all over the area you wish to clean; your shower, bathtub, sink, oven, stove, etc. Allow it to dry and sit for 20 to 40 minutes, then take a scrub brush or sponge and scrub the area well. Rinse the baking soda off when you’re done all the scrubbing.

Dusting

For dusting your home, just use plain old warm water in a bucket and a cloth.  Just dip the cloth in the water and wring it out so it’s damp to use on any surface. Have a dry cloth handy too.

Create a System

Once you have your cleaning supplies ready to go, you need to figure out how to tackle the cleaning process to get everything done efficiently. The best way to clean your house is to have a system in place that works for you. You can try cleaning your home top to bottom, back to front, and left to right or right to left. It might sound confusing, but it’s actually going to simplify things a lot. Here’s what these directions look like in action:

Top to Bottom:

This means, start with anything at ceiling level; dusting chandeliers, fans, or light fixtures. Then work your way down to dusting cabinet tops, window and door frames, picture frames and decorations on the walls. Work your way down to the blinds, furniture,  and baseboards.  This way, you’re not getting dust on surfaces you’ve already dusted.

Back to Front:

Start at the back of your home, working your way to the front, and in each room work your way from the back of the room to the door.

Left to Right or Right to Left:

When you’re cleaning a surface, always clean from one side to the other, removing all objects from the surface. This way you know the whole surface has been cleaned thoroughly.

These simple cleaning tips will get you in the natural spring cleaning groove in no time. Since spring is a time to clean out the old and welcome in the new, you may also want to look into decluttering your space or maybe even becoming a minimalist. Happy cleaning!

Image source: Alexandru Tudorache/unsplash