Easy Spring Cleaning Tips
Everyone knows this time of the year is for Spring Cleaning. I would rather be outside emerging from my winter hibernation than in the house cleaning because this is the “season” to clean.
Here are some Spring Cleaning tips to make the chore easier.
- Always wear comfortable clothes. It is harder to clean and bend in tight clothes.
- Quickly de-clutter your room before you clean. The room will look tidy with very little effort and items that do not belong in the room will be removed.
- Focus on 1 task or room at a time. Smaller pieces of a project are easier to handle.
- Corral cleaning products into a movable container to take from room to room.
- Start from the ceiling and work to the floor. Dust and dirt falls down – thanks to gravity.
- Clean and dust air vents, ceiling fans, and light fixtures
- Wash windows and screens
- Wash bed pillows 2 to 3 times per year (or at change of seasons)
Green Cleaning Products/Combinations
These cleaners can be made from ingredients you probably already have in your house.
Make an all-purpose cleaner from 4 Tablespoons Baking Soda and 1 Quart of warm water. Can be sponged on or sprayed on then wiped off with clean sponge or cloth.
Make a disinfectant with 2 teaspoons of borax, 4 tablespoons Vinegar, 3 Cups of hot water and 1/3 teaspoon of castile soap in a spray bottle.
Glass cleaner is ¼ Cup Vinegar and 1 Quart water in a spray bottle
Toothpaste is good for removing marker from wooden surfaces, cleaning silver and sneakers too.
Crayon marks can be removed from a wall with baking soda applied to a damp sponge
De-clog slightly clogged drains by pouring ½ Cup Baking Soda followed by ½ Cup Vinegar down the drain. Cover with a wet cloth for 5 minutes then flush with hot water.
Rub a combination of equal parts olive oil and lemon juice into wooden furniture. Use long even strokes for an even look.
Cleaning bathroom tiles and countertops is easy with a combination of 2 parts Vinegar, 1 part baking soda and 4 parts water
Toilet bowls become fresh and clean when wiping the brush in baking soda then wipe the bowl. Switch off to Borax occasionally for extra cleaning power. Wash/wipe the outside of the bowl with straight vinegar.
Mold and mildew is treated with straight vinegar.
Use a few drops of essential oil on cotton balls, strategically placed around a room as an air freshener.
Peace lilies, spider plants, rubber plants and (English) ivy are good natural air fresheners and make the area look lush. 15 -18 medium sized plants per 1,800 square feet of space is the “norm” to strive for.
Do you have any helpful/green cleaning tips to share?
