10 Chemical Free Spring Cleaning Tips.
Ah Spring. My favorite season. Nothing feels nicer than that first day of early spring when it finally feels warm enough to open all the windows and give the house a good air. It feels so fresh and cleansing it no doubt leads us to wanting to have a good old spring clean.
So why then replace all that lovely fresh air with a heady chemical smell from all the cleaning products you need to use.
Here’s the secret. You can go chemical free and still get a good clean. In fact I would argue many natural products will not only save you money, be better for your health but clean far better.
Here’s 10 things you can do this spring without a single harsh chemical.
Before you start your going to need a few ingredients in stock.
White Vinegar.
Can be found in any supermarket in a glass bottle. It’s acid so cuts through tough dirt.
Bicarbonate of Soda
Also known as Baking Soda or Bicarb. Can also be found in a cardboard box in most supermarkets of budget stores. Your Grandmothers would have used this for everything and with good reason.
Oranges and Lemons.
No need to buy fresh ones. Left over orange peels and the end of a lemon after you’ve squeezed it into your dinner will do. These will leave everything smelling fresh and clean.
Washing Up Liquid.
If it’s good enough to get your greasy pots and pan clean enough to eat off, it’s good enough for everything in my book. I have worked in catering for the last 10 years, with 5 star hygiene. Hot Soapy water is what is recommended for cleaning equipment to this standard.
Soda Cystals.
These are hard to buy without plastic because of how they need to be stored so I use them less but they are really good for some cleaning. A good one to have in the house.
Citric Acid.
Also can be brought in cardboard and most budget stores.
Essential Oils.
I’m actually not a fan of essential oils as I don’t like strong smells but many like to add them to their cleaning sprays or washing for a nice fragrance.
Olive Oil.
Used for polishing.
Something to make.
I make up a vinegar spray which lasts me a good few months using an old spray bottle (you could buy a nice amber glass one which will keep your solution fresh for longer, but use what you have first) To this I add 1 part vinegar to 2 parts cooled boiled water. I add in the peel of 1 orange to make it smell nice. Although the smell of vinegar will disappear once it dries I like the orange to take it away. You can also soak the orange peel in vinegar first and then stain it in, the longer you leave it the better but I go with this lazy girls options and just add it to the bottle. You could also use lemon or grapefruit peel.
Now you stocked up your ready for an all natural spring clean.
1. Deep clean your microwave.
Pop half a lemon in a bowl with a little water. As I mentioned before I often use a used lemon. It works just as well as there is always juice left in there and saves a lemon.
Put the bowl in the microwave and set the timer for 3 minutes. The lemony steam will soften any dirt or greasy. It will now be easy to wipe down and smells lovely.
I then squeeze the lemon out well into the water. This hot lemony water is also great for cleaning. I often use it to clean around the cooker as it breaks through grease well.
2. Freshen your Mattress.
Sprinkle your mattress with bicarbonate soda. I use roughly half a 100g box when doing this. Leave for half an hour. The bicarb will absorb any bad odors and yuk that can build up in our mattresses. Hoover it off and Viola, a fresh mattress. Remember to flip your mattress too, it’s recommended we do this twice a year.
3. Cleaning windows and mirrors.
Remember the vinegar spray I just had you making. Well this is great everywhere in the house but especially when cleaning windows and glass.
I spray and buff with an old cloth. Old muslins work the best. Mum’s will have tons of these hiding around the house.
In the kitchen however our windows seem harder to clean. Grease builds up easily in the kitchen, so if the windows haven’t been done for a while I’ll wash with warm soapy water first, dry with a cloth and then use my vinegar spray to get them shiny and streak free.
4. De-Limescale your kettle.
Add 3 teaspoons of citric acid to a full kettle. Boil. Leave to sit for 10 minutes. Rinse well.
You can do this with vinegar too but it’s harder to clean and get rid of the smell afterwards so I find this way is much easier.
5. CLean your washing Machine.
Until I started using cloth nappies and was advised to, I never knew washing your washing machine was even a thing. I mean it cleans stuff, you put soap in it so it’s clean right? Wrong. You can’t clean something in a dirty machine. So not only does this help clean your clothes it helps extend the lifetime of your machine by ridding any limescale (the magic of vinegar will do this).
To do this I put it on an empty wash at 90 degrees. I throw a scoop of soda crystals in the drum and a cup of vinegar in the draw. (Note you may want to pull out the draw first and wash with warm soapy water). It’s also worth getting a damp cloth and running around the seal inside the door. Mold can build up here, try to prevent this buy leaving the door open an inch when the machine is not in use to let it dry out.
If your using cloth nappies or washing a lot it’s recommended you clean your machine once a month. If your doing neither of these things once a quarter would be fine.
6. Clean the dull looking grout.
Make a paste from bicarb and water. Scrub it over the grout to get a lovely deep clean. It’s none abrasive so won’t scratch your tiles. I use a hardy hand brush to scrub it well.
However I have had problems getting the white back in parts of the grout. The bicarb method does work well but I had some real problem areas even bleach and harsh cleaners weren’t helping. It was making me think about having a new bathroom even though the rest of the room was fine. It was really bugging me. Until I found the magic of a grout pen.
I’m sure it’s not eco-friendly and of course is plastic but if this can save your bathroom, which in turn would save waste, then I down with that. You simply clean the area. Let it dry out and draw over the grout. It has really transformed our bathroom. I chose this one from B&Q. If your unsure how to use one do what I always do and head over to YouTube. There’s a tutorial for everything.
7. Clean the Oven.
It’s a hated job for all of us but turning to your good old faithful bicarbonate soda will help. Make a paste with bicarb and water, rub into all the burnt on greasy. Spray your vinegar spray over the top. You’ll see it start to fizz and get to work. Leave over night.
In the morning scrub clean and rinse well.
While your at it you might want to give the oven shelves a good clean to. Fill the sink with hot water and add 3 table spoons of soda crystals. Leave over night or for as long as possible. Scrub shiny and clean.
8. Polish the wood.
Fill a spray bottle 3/4 Olive Oil, 1/4 Vinegar, a few drops of Essential Oils. Rub into wood furniture with a dry cloth.
9.CLean the dish washer.
Fill a small bowl with vinegar and place on the top shelf of the dish washer. Put it on the hottest wash possible. This will help rid any limescale building up.
10. Cooker Hood, tops of shelves and cupboards.
Warm soapy water will get any type of dirt moving. If there is real tough area I add an extra squeeze of washing up liquid to my cloth. This teamed with a little elbow grease will do the job. It may leave streaks on stainless steel so dry with a cloth and use your vinegar spray if needed for extra shine.
Enjoy your spring cleans and may your homes be fresh and clean for the warm months ahead.
Hannah x
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