Spring Cleaning Naturally

I recently recieved Herbally Grounded's latest newsletter and with their permission, I am excited to share it with you. This will be great to add to our other post we did a while back titled, Safe, Effective and Affordable Cleaning, by guest blogger Ashley Cole. I hope you enjoy the information as much as I did.

Ways to Clean, Disinfect & Deodorize Your Home Without Hurting Yourself or Our World!

You need only a few basic supplies to keep your home sparkling clean and smelling fresh! Using non-toxic, organic products is better for the family, for your pets and for the environment.

Basic Supplies:

Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate)
• As a mild scouring agent, removes stains from pots, countertops and sinks
• A polish for metals (aluminum, chrome, stainless steel, silver, etc.), jewelry, plastic, and porcelain
• Deodorizes (absorbs odor) refrigerator, smelly carpets, upholstery and drains
• Water softener for the laundry

Better Drains

Pour 1/2 cup Baking Soda and then slowly pour about 1 cup of Vinegar down the drain. This will foam up and create fizzy noises. Repeat if needed. Follow this treatment with hot tap water. Regular (weekly) treatment will keep drains and pipes running free. (from 'Green Clean Eco-Friendly Cleaning for the Home' published by L&K Designs 2007)

Drain Freshener

Sprinkle with Baking Soda and follow with an all purpose dishsoap cleaner. Turn water on and let it rinse down. Use to deodorize and to keep drains clean of residue.

Scouring Paste for Bathroom and Kitchen

1 cup Baking Soda
Lemon juice of one Lemon
Enough water to make a thick paste
5 drops Tea Tree essential oil (optional - to disinfect)
3 drops Lemon essential oil (optional - for fresh smell and additional cleansing)
+ White Vinegar in a spray bottle

Make the paste, spread on desired surface with a rag, and then spray with Vinegar. The mixture will bubble up and actually pull scum and dirt from the surface while you scrub. Great for Bathroom/Kitchen sinks, showers, toilets, etc. (from Emily Yates)

Borax (water soluble mineral)
• An alternative to bleach
• Deodorizes and inhibits mildew and mold
• Cleans, softens water, and adds freshness to laundry

Trash and Diaper Pail Odor

Sprinkle 1/2 cup Borax in the bottom of trash cans and diaper pails to inhibit mold and bacteria growth that cause odors.

Carpet Freshener

1 cup Baking Soda
1 cup Borax
10-20 drops essential oil (spruce or pine are very refreshing)

Mix well. Sprinkle on carpet (leave on for an hour if you have time) and vacuum. (from Jonelle Hughes, Aromatherapist)

Castile and Vegetable Oil-Based Soaps
• Comes as a biodegradable liquid, solid or powder
• May be used to safely clean almost anything

For Cleaning/Shiny Sinks/Countertops

Baking soda (as needed) liquid Castile soap (squirt of two) add a few drops of rosemary, orange or lavender essential oils for a fresh scent.

Cornstarch
• Cleans windows, polishes wood furniture
• May be used as a shampoo for carpets and rugs
• Absorbs oil and grease

Glass Cleaner

3 tablespoons cornstarch in 1/2 cup water. Mix ingredients well in a bowl. Dab a soft rag into the mixture and rub on the window. At first there will be a film, but as you keep rubbing, the window will become so clean you feel you could walk through it. (from 'Clean and Green', by Annie Berthold-Bond)

Essential Oils
• Eucalyptus - Disinfects, cuts grease and soap scum (rings around the bathtub, mirrors, counters, etc.)
• Lavender - Disinfects and has a pleasant fragrance
• Lemon - Cleanses, disinfects, deodorizes, and lubricates
• Orange - A solvent (dissolves sticky residues such as tape and stickers), conditions wooden furniture, cleanses and removes grease
• Tea Tree - Antiseptic, kills mold and mildew
• Other essential oils - For fragrance, and anti-microbial activity

Safety note: Essential oils are very potent. They should never be put into the eyes. If contact burning of the skin occurs, soothe the area with a carrier oil such as olive oil. Some citrus oils may stain the skin if exposed to sunlight directly after use.

Bed Sheet Sanitizer

Add 20-30 drops of Eucalyptus or Tea Tree essential oils to liquid laundry soap. Fill laundry tub with water, then stop and soak bed sheets for 1 hour before starting the laundry cycle again. Kills dust mites.

Bathroom Deodorizer

Add a few drops of a favorite essential oil to the inside of a tissue roll, or put on cotton balls and place in drawers, cabinets, and near trash cans.

Grape Seed Extract (found in most health stores)
• A natural disinfectant
• Good for sanitizing water for long-term storage

Glass Cleaner

1/4 cup Water
3/4 cup Vinegar
6-9 drops Essential Oil of your choosing

Shake well before spraying. Wipe off with rag or a crumpled newspaper (doesn't leave streaks).

Counter Spray

Adding 15-20 drops Grape Seed Extract to Glass Cleaner recipe (above) cleans and disinfects surfaces.

Hydrogen Peroxide - Sterilizes and disinfects. More gentle than bleach.

Disinfect Countertops by putting hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and spray wiped-down countertops. (You can refer to our Simply Healthful post with further information here)

Lemon/ Juice - Deodorizes, cuts through grease, cleans glass, shines brass and copper, removes perspiration and other stains from clothing, and is a mild lightener or bleach when used with sunlight. May be used to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits.

Cleanser Scrub

Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle with baking soda. Use to scrub dishes or cleanse and remove stains on counter surfaces.

Olive Oil - Moisturizes and conditions leather furniture, and may be used as a wood furniture polish

Furniture Polish

Small amount of Olive Oil in a bowl with a squeeze or two of fresh Lemon juice. The Lemon juice helps keep the polish from being too heavy. Leaves a great shine.

White Vinegar - Deodorizes, cuts grease, removes stains (on carpets, countertops, pots, tea and coffee containers) and is an excellent water softener. Can dissolve mineral deposits, grease, and remove traces of soap, mildew and wax buildup.

Mineral Build-up on Taps - Soak a cloth in vinegar then wrap around the tap (leave on for about a half hour) to remove mineral deposits.

Toothbrush Holder - Clean grime and caked-on toothpaste drippings by cleaning with a cloth soaked with vinegar.

Grime Clean-up - Use vinegar to loosen food grime and clean countertops, stove, and microwave. For the microwave, use 2 cups Water and 1/2 cup Vinegar in a microwave-safe bowl and boil (takes 3-4 minutes). Keep microwave closed for a few minutes to allow the steam to loosen grime, then remove the bowl and wipe microwave clean. Laundry Softener - Add 1/2 - 1 cup of Vinegar to the rinse cycle of your washing machine. This completely rinses out detergent and leaves clothes feeling soft. It also keeps lint from clinging to dark clothing.