Baking soda is in a white heart-shaped bowl. Next to it are lemon, a natural fiber scrub brush, and toilet bowl cleaner. All items lay across a white and blue striped towel.
White vinegar, baking soda, and lemon are great ways to clean your home without all the harsh ingredients inside typical household cleaners.

Eco-Friendly Spring-Cleaning Tips

DECLUTTER, DEEP CLEAN, AND CLEAR THE AIR—THE NATURAL WAY.

By Mia Bencivenga

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May 5, 2021

Spring has sprung! And for many people, that means it’s time for a whole-house deep clean. Here are some easy, eco-friendly, and sustainable ways you can get your house in beautiful shape.

Declutter with Intention

The first item on our spring cleaning list? Getting rid of unused items that are taking up space and collecting dust in our homes. Yet, as cathartic as it can be to shed unused or unwanted items, it’s important not to dump everything in the landfill!

Before breaking out the trash bag, it’s good to go through and see what books, clothes, and other items can be donated first. You’ll also want to make sure your items fit the requirements organizations have for donating. For example, washing all clothes before dropping them off, and ensuring they’re in good condition.

If you have to get rid of something that isn’t in good shape, a quick google search can reveal places where you can recycle clothes, old pots and pans, electronics, and more. And don’t forget to save a few worn-out t-shirts and towels — they make great rags for cleaning.

 

Give your space a naturally deep clean

It can be tempting to break out extra-strength cleaners to tackle our homes' messiest spots, but most of the time, they aren’t necessary. Plus, they can emit harsh odors and leave harmful residues on your surfaces — and who wants that?

Instead, try some easy, cheap, and super effective DIY green cleaners made out of things you probably already have at home. All you’ll need is lemon, baking soda, and white vinegar.

Vinegar and lemon both have natural antibiotic properties, making them great for gently disinfecting your home. Meanwhile, baking soda causes grease and dirt to dissolve in water, which is why it’s so effective at cleaning even the most caked-on messes! With this powerful trio in tow, you can scour, scrub, and shine your home back to its cleanest self.

Got an oven or burners in need of some TLC? Mix baking soda with a little water to form a paste and rub it on your toughest stains. Let it stay on overnight and scrape off all the gunk the next day. 

Vinegar and baking soda also make an excellent DIY foaming toilet bowl cleaner. And here’s another great use for vinegar: window cleaner! All you’ll need is a solution of 50% white vinegar and 50% water and you’ll have a great all-purpose cleaner that’ll shine up your windows in no time.

Have a lemon lying around? You can use lemon juice to sanitize an area fast. Or you can throw some lemon peels into some vinegar for a few days. When it’s ready, you can use it as a great all-purpose cleaner.

 

Clear the air

A simple way to freshen up your home is to simply open your windows! The air inside your home is often more polluted than the outside, so simply airing out your space can do wonders. 

You may also want to incorporate houseplants into your spring-cleaning strategy. Spider plants, ivy, and others are amazing at cleaning the air and give off oxygen.

If you love to have a fragrance gently wafting through your home, forgo plug-in air fresheners that take up electricity and use unnecessary packaging and chemicals. Instead, you can make your own DIY diffusers, potpourri, and even place dried lavender in a vase for a beautiful and sweet-smelling decoration.

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by Mia Bencivenga