spring cleaning au naturel

On the back of Spring, comes my desire to totally, all-out, no holds barred, clean my home. Yep, that means scrubbing every corner and hidden crevice, washing and rewashing the floors and walls - cleaning the house from top to bottom.

I mentioned in a previous blog how addicted I am to homemade, all natural cleaning remedies.  Here's a link to that post.

If you're getting ready for your own cleaning party then you might enjoy using some of my favorite homemade recipes -

1) ALL PURPOSE CLEANER (I rarely use anything else)
In a spray bottle combine 1 tablespoon liquid dishwashing detergent (I use a natural soap like Meyers or Method) with 6 oz. tap water.

2) COUNTERTOP DISINFECTANT
Add three drops of Lemon Tea Tree Oil with warm water. Spray counters to disinfect naturally.

3) PAINTED MILLWORK AND WOOD FURNITURE (my go-to fav)
Mix equal parts Distilled White Vinegar with tap water, add 6 drops of Olive Oil. Soak cotton rags in solution. Wring the rags until damp. Lay out and add a few lemon rind peels. Fold/roll and store in a clean jam jar until ready to use.

4) GLASS/MIRROR CLEANER
Combine 2 cups water with 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon dish soap in a spray bottle.

5) HARDWOOD FLOOR CLEANER (be sure to dry the floors after)
Combine in a spray bottle one cup tap water with 3/4 cup Distilled White Vinegar, 3/4 cup Isopropyl Alcohol (Rubbing Alcohol) then top off with two-three drops of a natural Dish Soap (my preference is Meyers). Screw on the lid and shake well.

6) TRAVERTINE/LIMESTONE FLOOR CLEANER (use every time)
Mix one part Rubbing Alcohol with four parts tap water.

7) CARPET CLEANER
Combine 20 drops of Tea Tree Oil with Borax

8) BATHTUB/SINK SCRUB (toss rag in washer to freshen it up)
Mix 1/2 cup Baking Soda and 1/2 cup Distilled White Vinegar with 5 drops of Bergamot.

9) CLEANER FOR PAINTED WALLS (I like this but it isn't perfect)
In a spray bottle mix 1 part tap water and 1 part Distilled White Vinegar with 1/4 part Lysol Cleaner.

10) CLEANER FOR THE DISHWASHER (use once a month)
Spray the inside floor of your dishwasher with Distilled White Vinegar and wipe away with rag. Pour one cup of Distilled White Vinegar in the inside bottom of your dishwasher, then place one cup of Baking Powder in the bottom of your dishwasher, add three drops of Lemon Oil and run an empty dishwasher through a normal cycle.

11) KEEPING TRASHCANS ODOR-FREE
Place a Cotton Ball with two drops each of Lemon Oil and Tea Tree Oil at the bottom of the trashcan - helps clear odors and detoxify the can.

12) PURIFY THE AIR
Add Tea Tree Oil to a Diffuser to kill mold and other pathogens in the air.

13) CLEANER DISHES
Add a few drops of Lemon Oil to the dishwasher before starting.

14) REMOVE SOAP SCUM
Mix one cup of Liquid Fabric Softener with one quart of warm water - gently wash the glass in circular motion then rinse with warm water.

15) TOILET BOMBS
Posting with recipe here.

16) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Some fabulous cleaning tips can be found on this great site

Well, I am off to do a little cleaning....until next time.

la chasse au bonheur