Green Spring Cleaning Ideas for Your Home

Its that time of year again. The time we can open our doors and windows on a nice spring day and let the fresh air flow in. But after being cooped up inside all winter, we are all thinking about some well needed spring cleaning to freshen up our homes.

Here are some tips and tricks everyone can use for getting the house ready for spring, including some homemade solutions for green cleaners that don’t have all of the harmful chemicals found in regular household cleaners.

First let’s start with store bought cleaners.

There are many earth friendly products out there that can be found at almost any Home Depot, Home Hardware, Canadian Tire etc. Looks for brands like Attitude, Method, Bio-Life, and Seventh Generation. These contain ingredients that are safe for children and the environment.

Now that that is out of the way. There are many ingredients you may have around your home that can be used to make your own homemade green cleaning solutions. To make these solutions you’ll need:

– White vinegar
– Olive oil
– Baking soda
– Borax
– Liquid castile soap
– Essential oils like lavender or tea tree oil. See more uses for tea tree oil here
– Microfiber clothes
– Newspaper

Homemade Green Cleaning Solutions

Countertops & Bathroom Tile

Mix together 2 parts vinegar and 1 part baking soda with 4 parts water. Apply the solution and scour with a sponge (don’t be afraid to let it sit for a few minutes for harder stains), and then wipe it away.

Floor Cleaning Solution

Take 4 cups of white vinegar and a gallon of water and mix together. You can add a few drops of your desired essential oil for a nice spring scent.

Glass Cleaner

Mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 4 cups of water into a spray bottle. Spray it onto the glass and use a good cloth or old newspaper to wipe.

Wood Furniture

Mix together equal amounts of lemon juice and olive oil. Put a small amount onto a cloth and wipe furniture in long, even strokes.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Simply shower some baking soda onto a toilet brush and start scrubbing. Once in a while, use borax instead. You can use straight vinegar to clean the outside of the toilet or mix it with water. The strong smell of vinegar doesn’t take long to dissipate.

Homemade Disinfectant

Mix together 2 teaspoons of borax, 4 tablespoons of vinegar, and 1/4 teaspoon of liquid castile soap with 3 cups of hot water. Wipe the solution on with a damp cloth or use it in a spray bottle and wipe clean.

Mold

Simply wipe any mold or mildew with straight vinegar for best results.

Household Air Freshener

Put an essential oil of your choice on a cotton ball and put it in the corner of any room. The oils could irritate skin so keep it out of reach of children.

Happy spring everybody!