Six Non-Toxic Ways to Jumpstart Your Spring Cleaning!
The Oily Home Companion
Winter blues got the best of you? Well, perk up because the anticipation of Spring has come to an end! The trees are full bloom, wildflowers are beginning to peek out of the ground, and the sun is here to grace us with its rays. As spring has made its entrance, so has the time come for Spring cleaning to make its way into our homes.
Spring cleaning may seem a little overwhelming, but we’re here to offer some tips, provide a free checklist, and some DIY recipes to get you started. We want to provide you with some DIY recipes that are natural alternatives to freshen up and give your home a spring makeover to welcome in the new season.
REFRESH YOUR HOME
Before you start cleaning anything, we’d advise bringing out your diffuser and refreshing your air with spring scents that’ll be sure to get you in the mood to clean. Here are some of our recent favorites:
Hello Spring!
1 drop of Geranium
2 drops Lemon or Citrus Fresh
1 drop Grapefruit
Springtime Clean
2 drops Lavender
3 drops Lime
3 drops Lemon
2 drops Rosemary
Sunny Day
4 drops Orange
2 drops Bergamot
2 drops Ylang Ylang
Is that Anthropologie?
2 drops Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood
2 drops Lemon Myrtle
2 drops Lime
2 drops Tangerine
2 drops Rosemary
CARPET CLEANING
Photo by Picsea
Smelly feet got your carpet smelling a new kind of funk? Help get rid of that with this DIY carpet cleaning recipe. Definitely try to do this as one of your first tasks, as you have to let it sit for a couple hours before you vacuum. It’ll make you feel better about face planting on your floor after you tackle your spring cleaning! And what’s even better is this only takes two ingredients that you most likely already have!
Ingredients
- 2 cups baking soda
- 30 drops of Lavender, Citrus Fresh, or Purification essential oil (could do another oil that you like or a blend of two different oils— the choice is yours 😉 )
Directions
- Combine baking soda and essential oil in a jar.
- Put lid on jar and shake well.
- Use a spoon to scoop and shake liberally onto carpet.
- Let sit for about an hour to two, then vacuum thoroughly.
FRESHEN YOUR TRASH CANS & DRAWERS
There’s truly nothing worse than the smell of mixed trash and smelly shoes. Give your trash cans a good wash and dry, then place a paper towel or a few cotton balls with a few drops of Purification, Thieves, or Citrus Fresh to help deodorize any foul smells. What’s great about this tip is that instead of masking the smell with harsh cleaners, you’re cleaning and refreshing the air with non-toxic products!
OVEN CLEANING
Turkey, green bean casserole, and homemade pies galore – your oven probably yearns for a good clean after the holiday season. All the crust and grease that has been baked on is ready to be cleaned off. So try using this natural DIY oven cleaner. (Tip: We’d recommend doing this in the evening, after dinner or before bedtime because you’ll need to let it sit overnight)
Ingredients
OPTION 1
- 1 1/3 cup baking soda
- 2 tablespoons Castile liquid soap
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- Add water as needed
- 6 drops of Orange Essential Oil
- 6 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil
- Optional: 6 drops of Pine Essential Oil if you have it
OPTION 2 — Recipe from OHC Member Christina Escajeda
- 2 parts baking soda
- 1 part Thieves Cleaner
- 10 drops of Lemon Essential Oil
Directions:
OPTION 1
- Take out oven racks, as you will need to clean those separately.
- Mix baking soda, Castile soap, vinegar, and oils together in a medium sized glass bowl. You will add water as needed to form a thick paste to spread. We recommend maybe half a tablespoon at a time. Use your judgement.
- Spread mixture with a brush all over the oven surfaces until completely coated.
- Get in your PJS and let the mixture sit overnight.
- Wipe the oven clean with a sponge and clean water. You’ll want a bowl of water to clean the sponge every time.
OPTION 2 - from OHC Member Christina Escajeda
- Mix Thieves Cleaner with baking soda and added the 10 drops of Lemon Essential Oil.
- Apply mixture to inside of oven and let it sit for 20-30 minutes.
- Then use a scrub brush to remove the more difficult areas and a clean cloth for the easy parts in the oven
TOSS AND REPLACE
Photo by Jonny Caspari
This is more of a bonus, but if it’s been a while since you’ve updated décor such as artwork, pillows, curtains, etc., this is a great time to do so. Sometimes, we get a little restless because of a piece in your home that doesn’t totally fit the vibe we’re trying to create. Replacing something small like a pillow can completely turn a room around and make it feel much more inviting. What we like to do is take something old, either try to sell it on a resale site (such as Facebook marketplace or Craigslist) or donate it, and purchase something new to us. This isn’t an necessary spring cleaning task, but can be a fun project!
CLEANING WITH THIEVES HOUSEHOLD CLEANER
Last, but not least, the famous Thieves Household Cleaner. What’s amazing about this product is that it’s versatile and can be used for so many different cleaning projects! Who doesn’t love a little 8-in-1 cleaner? Less is definitely more in the case of the Thieves Household Cleaner. All of your cleaning needs only requires a capful or less and you can ditch all of your other products. Here are a couple of DIY recipes that include Thieves Household Cleaner.
ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER
Mix 1 capful Thieves Household Cleaner and 3 cups of water in a glass spray bottle. (We suggest a glass spray bottle because it is BPA free and is a zero-waste product —reducing the amount of toxins you’re exposed.)
WINDOW MIRROR CLEANER
Mix 1 capful of Thieves Household cleaner, 4 cups of water, 1 tsp of white vinegar, and 5 drops of lemon or citrus fresh essential oil in glass bottle. Spray and wipe with paper towel.
WOOD CLEANER
Mix 1 capful of Thieves Household Cleaner, 1 cup of olive oil, and about 10 drops of either lemon, pine, or citrus fresh to give off a spring scent! Be sure to test in an inconspicuous area first before using it for the rest of the floor.
DEEP CLEAN SCRUB
Mix 1 capful of Thieves Household Cleaner and 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda to form a thick paste. Scrub on desired surface, then rinse and wipe clean with a wet cloth.
Need help knowing where to begin with deep cleaning your home?
Download this handy Spring Cleaning Checklist!
What are some of the ways you’re cleaning this spring? Share with us your ideas / plans on #theoilyhomecompanion. 💛
