It’s a mucky job – full of unexpected cobwebs and a surprising amount of dust – but it needs doing and it naffs me off every time. I’m talking about the big Spring Clean. How did a house that I clean every week get so disgusting? Have I really been that lazy all Winter? Is it because I only vacuum the bits of carpet that I can see? ;) Whatever the reason, we are well and truly into the Spring season and if you’ve not already started looking at your home with fresh eyes and planning the traditional big spring clean, now is the time to get stuck in. I always have a blitz over the Easter weekend so you can imagine all the fun I had last week! Apparently it’s a “great idea” to give your home a deep cleanse each year because it keeps your living environment healthy – no more sneezing from dust, or allergies inflamed by mold spores – and it makes your home a more enjoyable place to live. Just think about how happy you were when you first moved into your house and it was empty and a clean-slate! I’m not suggesting that you clear everything out and start again, but I do think that a good scrub will work wonders for your family’s health and happiness.
One thing that bothers me about spring cleaning is the use of chemicals – I’m really fussy when it comes to using sprays and I really can’t stand the smells – even using nail polish remover is traumatic for me, so you can imagine how pouty I get when I have to clean with pungent sprays and liquids. It’s very tempting to use all the whizzy time-saving products out there to make the spring cleaning process as easy as possible, but I don’t like to splash out on expensive cleaners and it IS possible to get a shiny, fresh home using store-cupboard ingredients to make natural cleaning solutions and here’s how:
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- Baking soda mixed with lemon juice is an excellent combination for souring sinks and bathtubs. You can even use the lemon rind to scoop up the paste and rub onto the porcelain! Smear the mixture onto the surface, leave for 5 minutes, give it a little scrub then rinse off with water. The result is a shiny bathroom with a lovely lemon-fresh scent!
- You can unblock drains without sending chemicals out into the environment; simply put ½ cup of baking soda down the shower drain or sink plug-hole then pour in ½ cup white vinegar. The baking soda will start fizzing so cover with a saucer to keep the bubbles inside the drain. After a couple of minutes pour another ½ cup of white vinegar into the drain and leave for quarter of an hour before boiling a kettle and pouring the hot water down the drain to clear it completely!
- Get sparkling windows with one safe ingredient: club soda. No need for mixing vinegar, dish soap or cornstarch like some of the other natural window-cleaning recipes suggest – simply pour club soda into an empty spray bottle and spritz onto your windows. It’s safe enough for your little ones to help out because it’s just water so they can spray the windows while you wipe away with a soft cloth for smear-free windows. It’s ideal for mirrors and photoframes, plus you can use it to clean dusty house-plant leaves too!
- Make your own sprinkle-on dry carpet cleaner by blitzing 2 cups of baking soda, ½ cup of cornstarch, ½ cup of cornmeal, 4 bay leavels, 1 tablespoon whole cloves in a blender until all the ingredients are a powdery consistency, then put into a flour-sprinkle container (or used cake sprinkles tub) to sprinkle onto your carpets. The bay leaves and cloves provide antibacterial cleaning while adding scent your rugs plus the baking soda breaks down dirt build-up. Leave for 5 minutes before vacuuming your carpets for fresh, clean flooring!
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It is possible to do a whole house clean without using any chemicals, keeping your home a safe place for your children and pets, as well as being environmentally friendly. Do you have any other natural cleaning tips that you live by? Get in touch and let me know your favorite tips – tweet me @cassiefairy
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Categories: Home Design, Lifestyle | Tags: baking soda, chemical free cleaning, cleaning, diy, recipe, Spring cleaning, tidy | Permalink.
Author: Cassie Fairy
Cassiefairy blogs about everything she does & anything that inspires her; popular culture, film, art, fashion, recipes, craft and design.