Spring Cleaning: The Non-Toxic Way
We’ve passed the half-way point, when hours of daylight exceed those of darkness, and I’m sure we’re all breathing a sigh of relief. Goodbye Hibernation. Hello Vitamin D!
But all those extra rays of sunlight streaming through our windows don’t just dispel darkness… rather they uncover all the dirt and dust that have accumulated over those long dank winter months.
Spring has SPRUNG. And so has the cleaning.
But what about all those chemicals? Sure they do the job, but what about their effects on the Earth, let alone your own health and that of your family?
Thankfully having a clean and green home is not oxymoronic.
While there are some really great companies out there creating quality, environmentally safe and non-toxic cleaning products, they can be quite expensive.
Making your own DIY natural, chemical-free cleaning products couldn’t be easier! And chances are you might have most of the ingredients…
Common Natural Cleaning Ingredients include:
- Baking Soda
- Borax
- Liquid Castille Soap (vegetable based soap… think Dr. Bronners)
- Essential Oils – Lemon, Orange, Lavender, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus & Peppermint
- Washing Soda – you can buy it here
- Distilled White Vinegar
- Vodka
A family friend of mine exclusively uses her all-natural, non-toxic cleaning products that she makes at home and was kind enough to share the recipes with me, which I now pass on to you all. They’re easy and amazing.
***All of these recipes produce rather large quantities (more than one spray bottle can hold).
Method
- Pour all the ingredients in a 2 gallon jug or container (my friend reuses her leftover plastic vinegar jugs)
- Mix it all together
- Fill your spray bottle & store the rest for future use
- Get cleaning!
***And don’t forget to label both the jug and the bottles!
All-Purpose Cleaner
- 1/2 cup Borax
- 2 tsp Liquid Castille Soap
- 120 drops Eucalyptus Oil
- 4 drops food coloring (optional)
- Fill the rest of the jug with hot water
Grease Cleaner
- 4 Tbsp Liquid Castille Soap
- 3 Tbsp Washing Soda
- 120 drops Orange Oil
- 4 drops food coloring (optional)
- Fill the rest of the jug with hot water
Bathroom Cleaner
- 10 cups water
- 6 cups Distilled White Vinegar
- 80 drops Lemon Oil
- 4 drops food coloring (optional)
Glass Cleaner
- 8 cups vodka
- 8 cups Distilled White Vinegar
- 2 tsp Baking Soda
- 120 drops Peppermint Oil
- 4 drops food coloring (optional)
There’s a wealth of information on the web too… tons of recipes that mostly call for the above ingredients, an empty spray bottle and a bit of elbow grease. In particular I found this website quite informative and helpful: Eartheasy. From stain remover to oven cleaner, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Another household staple is this tiny book with all the DIYs and natural home remedies your heart could desire by Raleigh Briggs, “Make Your Place: affordable, sustainable nesting skills” You can buy it here. I highly recommend it.
If you still want to clean green but lack the time to DIY, totally understandable. Life is busy. We get it. And maybe you have a “better” use for that vodka…
Then spring instead for Seventh Generation or Mrs. Meyers products. You can find them all on Amazon, Target or most grocery and drug stores, and they’re priced pretty reasonably too.
So here’s to fresh starts, to green homes and lots and lots of natural, non-toxic and chemical-free cleaning!