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Spring Cleaning|Spring Cleaning Month
Stock Your Home with Natural Cleaners : 7 Ingredients that Clean Just about Everything
March 3, 2020
Using green cleaning products is not only better for you and your family and the air you breathe in your home, it will simplify your spring cleaning as well. Why spend all that time cleaning with products that can potentially do more harm than good? With just a few key ingredients and hard-working products you can spring clean your entire home and I’m willing to bet that you’ll find some favorites too.
CLEANING SOLUTIONS
Choose ingredients with multiple uses and you’ll be able to mix and match to your heart’s content. One of the bonuses of DIY’ing cleaning recipes is that I have what I need on hand AND each batch costs just pennies to whip up. Run out of a cleaner, mix up a batch and keep cleaning. Simple ingredients, nothing harmful for humans or pets.
BAKING SODA
My favorite use is my Nightly Sink Scrub but that same recipe works for a Bathroom Scrub or general scrub too! Use it to freshen and deodorize carpet and mattresses and/or add a little water and soap for a scrub. Simple, yet effective, I use it so many different ways throughout the year but when it’s spring cleaning season it really shines.
WHITE VINEGAR
Think of white vinegar like a cleaning concentrate – you can use it in your carpet cleaning machine (equal parts warm water : vinegar), in an all-purpose cleaner, in an all-purpose disinfecting cleaner, to clean and polish wood, and a fabric softener. There are so many ways to use it – just keep it away from stone (granite, marble, silestone).
OXYGEN WHITENER
If you haven’t tried Oxygen Whitener yet, here’s a post with 12 uses – it’s not just for whitening laundry! I put it in a small mason jar and keep it handy for cleaning and I also keep a jar in the bathrooms to add to toilets for a little extra cleaning power.
CASTILE SOAP
It’s amazing what you can clean with warm water and a squirt of castile soap. Baseboards, doors, and floors, you can even add it to water and a foamer for hand soap.
RUBBING ALCOHOL
Put a little rubbing alcohol on a cotton pad to wipe down remotes and door knobs. The rubbing alcohol effectively cleans and kills germs. I also use it in my stone cleaning spray and window + glass cleaning spray – it helps dry the surfaces quickly while adding a little cleaning and disinfecting power. I also recommend using vodka in my Lemon + Lavender Fabric Freshener, my Daily Shower Spray and my Disinfecting Spray Cleaner.
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
Put a sprayer on a hydrogen peroxide container and you have a powerful disinfectant at your fingertips. Great for sinks and areas that need disinfecting. I spray it on my toilet brush after I’ve used it – see my method here. You can also use it to whiten grout and get rid of minor mildew in the bathroom. DON’T take it out of the brown bottle – it loses its effectiveness after about an hour of being in the light.
ESSENTIAL OILS
I love a little scent while I’m cleaning but I like to add it myself so I know it’s 100% natural and not synthetic or an artificial fragrance. Enter essential oils. I’ve talked about them quite a bit – you can see how I use them in most of my DIY recipes. Of course, use caution around children and pets.
Want to DIY your cleaners? Check out my labels, spray bottles, and jars here. You can also see my Favorites Page here and my Spring Cleaning favorites here.
If you’re looking for an in-depth cleaning guide, my brand-new PDF packet, Clean Mama’s Guide to a Clean Home: Finding Peace in Your Routine has amazing checklists, a quick-start guide, DIY cleaning recipes and more. Check it out here.
See all the posts for the Spring Cleaning Month series here.
Christina Taylor Says...
Good morning.
The recipe that you have on your site for the disinfectant, does that kill the Coronavirus if used properly, per your instructions?
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorI have not tested it for the Coronavirus but I use it for flu disinfection along with Hydrogen Peroxide.
Jessica Says...
Do you have any tips on using regular vinegar vs. cleaning vinegar?
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorThere’s a slight difference in acidity and regular is cheaper and more readily available so that’s what I use!
Maile Says...
What’s your favorite Castile scent? I’ve only used the baby unscented.
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorcitrus
Kristin Says...
What is the percentage of the rubbing alcohol you use?
Clean Mama Says...
Post author70 or 91
Angela Says...
Can you sub vodka for the rubbing alcohol in all your recipes? Asking since it’s so hard to find now. I regularly use the granite cleaner, disinfecting cleaner, and the odor spray.
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorYes you can!
Constance Umfress Says...
How long do these last?
Clean Mama Says...
Post author2-4 weeks!
Jill Moorman Says...
Can you put essential oils in Hydrogen Peroxide? I couldn’t find alcohol but did find Hydrogen Peroxide and I love a minty smelling bathroom.
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorNo – don’t add anything to the HP.
Jody Strnad Says...
What do you use for really tough grease? I have a hood above my stove that also has wood over it like the cabinets and the wood has a thick grease coat on it. I am afraid of taking the finish off the wood. Also, I have a painted wall behind the stove with grease on it from frying foods. How do I clean that without hurting the painted surface? This has always been one part of my home that needs the most attention. Any advice would be most helpful. And thank you for the Spring Cleaning Challenge I have been doing that even though I had done a huge kitchen cleaning in February when I rearranged the entire kitchen.
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