Eco-friendly green spring cleaning this season

Spring cleaning is all about clearing the air, banishing those last traces of the dismal winter months, welcoming back the sunlight, celebrating the return of the birds, the flowers and of course, all the beautiful green. Spring brings the return of green leaves on the trees and green grass in the fields. Extend that crisp airy green feeling into your home by forgoing traditional chemical-based cleansers and digging into your pantry or refrigerator for all the green spring cleaning tools you need- white vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice.

Great Green Spring Cleaning; Ways to Use Vinegar

White vinegar isn’t just for making salad dressing, it’s also a miracle tool for a myriad of cleaning tasks. The 1001 Uses for White Vinegar site suggests running it through your coffee maker to clean out all those nasty deposits; saturate a towel and wipe down that nasty, accumulated dust on top of your refrigerator, or pour it in a bowl and let it sit overnight to absorb odors in the air.

• To make your windows really sparkle, spray them with white vinegar and wipe down with balled-up newspapers. Don’t worry, the ink wont bleed onto the window pane.
• Add half a cup to your wash cycle to prevent lint from sticking to clothes or add it to the rinse cycle to fluff those wool sweaters.
• Banish fruit flies by leaving a bowl (preferably one you’re not going to use for food) of undiluted vinegar out on the counter or wherever else they appear.
• Unclog a drain by pouring 1 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar into it, let it sit for a few minutes, then flush with hot water. Halve the recipe and use it to deodorize your garbage disposal.
• Use undiluted vinegar in a spray bottle to slaughter germs in your toilet, sink and tub in the bathroom.
• Combine with Four Thieves Mix, let steep for 2-4 weeks in a sunny spot and use as a whole-house disinfectant. Bonus- this mixture was used during the Plague years to ward off infection, so you’re covered if the Black Death ever makes a comeback!

Green Spring Cleaning: Ways to Use Baking Soda

Baking soda is also useful for a plethora of spring cleaning tasks. Leave an open box in the fridge or sprinkle in the bottom of the garbage can to eliminate unpleasant odors. Sprinkle some on a damp cloth and use it to clean surfaces, or toss some on the carpet before vacuuming. Baking soda is also a great silver cleaner; make a paste by adding three parts baking soda to one part water, then rub it on your tarnished silver to bring back that shine.

Green Spring Cleaning: Ways to Use Lemons

Lemons and lemon juice require a little more care when using, as they can stain or bleach out certain materials.

• Combine equal parts lemon juice and water in a spray bottle to make a great eco-friendly all-purpose spray, but be sure to test on a small, inconspicuous spot before using.
• Shine your chrome or brass fixtures by mixing lemon juice with baking soda to form a paste, rub onto the fixture, rinse, then wipe with a soft cloth.
• Mix two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice to make an eco-friendly furniture polish.

Before you head off to buff and shine your home with these simple green spring cleaning ingredients, check out this great recipe for hardwood floor cleaner from Tania. I hope you enjoy green spring cleaning the eco-friendly way! For those, like me, who aren’t fans of cleaning, at least it only comes once a year.

Do you have any green spring cleaning tips to share?