Natural living enthusiasts rejoice! Spring has come again. It’s time to open the windows, break out the shovels, dig in the garden, and … track all manner of dirt and grime into your home?
That’s right. Spring also means it’s time to clean – whether it’s just a few errant muddy footprints or the whole house – Natural Living Ideas has you covered with these 40 green cleaning tips for every room in your home using simple, non-toxic ingredients.
Only four ingredients are required for the majority of these tips, including:
In the Bathroom
1. Clean, disinfect, and deodorize bathroom surfaces by spraying with undiluted white vingar. Allow to soak, then wipe away and rinse with hot water.
2. Make your own disinfecting wipes for counter tops and other bathroom surfaces by adding rubbing alcohol to a pack of chemical free baby wipes – or try making your own baby wipes.
3. Instead of ammonia, try using a mixture of vinegar and water to clean mirrors and other glass surfaces.
4. Mix equal parts vinegar and warm water in the bottom of the tub or sink. Allow it to soak for at least 15 minutes before scrubbing away grime. Drain then rinse with with hot water.
5. Clean and shine faucets and other metal surfaces using a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol.
6. Remove hard water stains and restore shine to metal surfaces by applying lemon oil with a clean lint-free cloth.
7. Whiten porcelain surfaces by scrubbing with a paste made of baking soda and warm water.
8. Mix baking soda and vinegar in a spray bottle. Apply to tile surfaces to clean and disinfect, scrub with a damp cloth, and rinse with warm water.
9. For plastic or vinyl shower curtains, spray with vinegar diluted in water. Spray liberally to areas where mold and mildew grow, let sit for 15 minutes, then scrub and rinse with hot water.
10. For daily cleaning and disinfecting of showers and tubs, keep a spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol within easy reach of the bath. Simply spray down surfaces after each use to make cleaning quick and easy.
11. After bathing, sprinkle baking soda onto a rag and gently scrub wet surfaces in the tub and/or shower to remove grime and prevent future build-up.
12. Sprinkle baking soda into the bowl after flushing a toilet. Allow it to sit for 10 – 15 minutes then scrub with a toilet brush for easy cleaning. Flush again to rinse.
13. Spray tubs and other surfaces where soap scum has accumulated with white vinegar. Sprinkle baking soda onto a damp cloth and scrub for easy removal.
14. Unclog bathroom drains by covering with a cloth or small towel. Pour boiling water into the drain (through the towel to prevent gunk from spreading out) then use a plunger as necessary. Repeat until the clog breaks up and water flows freely down the drain – usually 2 – 4 tries does the trick.
15. Alternately to clear out a clog, pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, add 1/2 cup vinegar, cover with a small glass dish and leave it over night. In the morning, pour hot water down the drain. The baking soda and vinegar will break up most organic material, making cleaning a snap!
16. Want more tips for green-cleaning in wet places like the bathroom? Read up on these 6 Natural Ways To Rid Your Home Of Mold & Mildew!
In the Kitchen
17. Clean your stove and oven by spraying with vinegar or vinegar diluted in warm water. Allow to soak for about 15 minutes before wiping away, then rinse with hot water.
18. For stubborn stuck on food in the oven, try scrubbing with a crumpled piece of aluminum foil.
19. Remove hard water deposits from the dishwasher and prevent new ones by adding in a cup of vinegar during the rinse cycle.
20. Remove grease from stove tops and other surfaces by mixing baking soda and warm water into a paste. Scrub with a damp cloth and rinse with warm water.
21. Sprinkle baking soda onto fresh oil and grease splatters, allow it to soak up the liquid, then simply brush away for an easy clean-up.
22. After cleaning granite counter tops, spray them with a mixture of equal parts rubbing alcohol and water to keep them looking shiny and new.
23. Remove sticky spots from counters and other surfaces by applying a drop or two of lemon oil with a cotton ball or by rubbing with the inside of a fresh lemon peel.
24. Sprinkle salt onto wet pots and pans, then scrub with half of a lemon to clean and shine. Rinse well to remove all of the salt and prevent tarnishing.
25. Clean and brighten stainless steel (cookware, utensils, and surfaces) by sprinkling with baking soda and scrubbing with a damp sponge. Rinse with warm water and dry with a clean, lint-free cloth.
26. Alternately, clean stainless steel items by mixing up a baking soda and water paste. Apply with a damp cloth, scrub, then rinse with warm water and dry thoroughly.
27. Clean and disinfect vinyl or linoleum floors by mopping with vinegar diluted in hot water.
28. Sprinkle baking soda into the bottom of your kitchen trash bin to remove and prevent odors. To clean, simply add warm water and/or white vinegar, wipe, rinse, and dry. (Remember to add fresh baking soda when you’re finished to prevent future odors!)
29. Baking soda isn’t just for cleaning up in the kitchen and around the house. Be sure to check out 24 Baking Soda Uses & Why You Need It In Your Home for more great natural living ideas using this incredibly versatile ingredient!
In the Laundry
30. Remove musty odors from fabrics by adding 1/4 cup of white vinegar to the wash cycle.
31. Revive dingy whites by adding about 1/2 cup of baking soda or 1/4 cup vinegar to each load.
32. Soften clothes by adding distilled white vinegar during the rinse cycle. (Try using a fabric softener ball for easy dispensing!)
33. Pre-treat stubborn organic stains (such as yellowing caused by sweat) with a paste of baking soda and water before washing.
34. Remove hard water deposits from the washing machine and prevent new ones. Allow the machine to fill, then add a cup of vinegar and let it soak for about 15 minutes before draining.
All Around Cleaning
35. Keep a spray bottle filled with white vinegar for multi-purpose disinfecting around the house.
36. Clean and shine wooden furniture and other wood surfaces by mixing equal parts vinegar and hot water. Add a few drops of olive or lemon oil and apply with a soft cloth.
37. The same mixture of equal parts hot water and vinegar may be used to mop hardwood floors. Optionally, add olive or lemon oil to give wood floors a nice shine.
38. Add a few drops of lemon oil to water and spray onto a lint-free cloth for general cleaning and around the house. (Remember to shake well before each use!)
39. Wipe down delicate surfaces like televisions and computer monitors with a used dryer sheet to remove dust without scratching.
40. Want to “green up” your home even more? Learn about mixing your own non-toxic soaps, cleaners, and detergents in this article revealing how to replace 10 household products with Castile Soap!