10 Ways To Spring Clean Your Home Without Chemicals

It’s spring cleaning time!

Did you know that some cleaners actually leave your house less clean than when you started?

Did you know that they may also be detrimental to the long-term health of you and your family?

Your house may look clean, but those cleaners fill your home with chemicals — many of which are known to be poisonous, toxic, or irritating.

Luckily, you can clean without chemicals — and your home will shine from top to bottom. Say hello to homemade cleaners! You probably already have most of the ingredients.

And the bonus? They are incredibly easy to make — and economical too!

Here are 10 of the most common areas of your home and how to keep them naturally clean.

1. The Kitchen Sink

• Sprinkle with salt and scrub with a cut lemon.
• Rinse and dry.
• Your sinks will sparkle, and they will smell fresh, too!

2. The Oven and Stove

• Mix baking soda and water the form a paste and spread over the oven.
• Leave for a few hours or overnight.
• Wipe with a wet cloth. Be sure to remove all of the baking soda!
• Baking soda and water will clean your stove top, too.

3. The Counters

• For an all-purpose cleaning spray, mix 1 cup vinegar and 2 cups water.
• Add 20 drops essential oils. I like eucalyptus, tea tree, and lavender.
• Spray counters and wipe with a dry cloth.
• If you have granite or stone counters, find a homemade cleaning recipe here.

4. The Fridge

• Mix about 2 tablespoons baking soda with 4 cups warm water.
• Remove all the food from your fridge and use the baking soda mix and a soft cloth to clean all surfaces.
• Remove all drawers and wash either with the baking soda mixture or dish soap.
• Dry all surfaces before replacing food.

5. Bathroom Sinks and Tubs

• Sprinkle with baking soda and slightly dampen. A spray bottle of water makes this really easy.
• Scrub.
• Rinse well.

6. The Toilets

• Pour about 1/4 to 1/2 cup vinegar into toilet. Sometimes I will add 1 or 2 drops of tea tree essential oil as well.
• Scrub.
• Let sit for 1 hour — set a timer if you forget what you’re doing, like me!
• Scrub again and flush.

7. The Floors

• Mix equal parts vinegar and water.
• If you have lots of dirty sticky spots, add a little castile soap after mixing the vinegar and water.
• Mop as normal, either with a traditional mop or a spray mop.
• Or, if your floors need a little extra attention, use a spray bottle and cloth to scrub by hand.
  
• Be careful with wood floors. I use this on my wood floors by making a weaker vinegar and water solution, spraying a small amount on the floor, and then mopping with a dry mop.

8. The Carpets

• Mix baking soda with a few drops of an essential oil. Lemon, lavender, or peppermint work well!
• Sprinkle over your carpets.
• Let sit for 15 to 20 minutes and then vacuum.
• When steam-cleaning your carpets, use a mix of equal parts vinegar and water instead of a chemical cleaner.

9. The Windows and Mirrors

• Combine 1/2 cup vinegar and 2 cups water in a spray bottle.
• Spray window or mirror surface, and wipe with newsprint or a lint-free cloth.
• If you like, you could add a few drops of essential oils to the mix. Lemon is a nice choice.

10. Dusting

• Mix 1 tablespoon castile soap with 1 cup water and 10 drops lemon essential oil.
• Spray on your cloth and dust.
• Be careful with wood! Test on a small area first. Add a tablespoon of olive oil to help polish wood surfaces, or try this recipe here. 

Have you started spring cleaning yet? Do you clean without chemicals? What are your favorite natural cleaners?