Dandelion+Burdock

After some lovely spring weather, upstate New York got hit with a Nor’Easter dumping nine inches of snow, burying all signs of spring life. Sigh. Just when I was plotting my biannual deep clean. After six months of wood stove burning, two constant shedding German Shepherds, and a lot more time spent indoors, the cabin needs a complete and thorough cleaning.

This week looks much better and hopefully spring will resume course. Little by little, I have been replacing commercial cleaners with more natural ingredients for several reasons. I like having a clean home that isn’t negatively impacting my health or that of my dogs. I also like thumbing my nose at the corporations churning out environmentally damaging cleaning products that are full of harsh chemicals. And I don’t want to dump anything into my soil that is harmful to the environment. On top of all those benefits, natural cleaners are much cheaper so can save you a ton of money.

Natural Cleaners for Every Job

Top of my cleaning list is white, distilled vinegar. It cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains and wax build-up. I dilute it with water and it makes windows and fixtures sparkle. 

Second on my list is baking (or washing) soda. Soda is sodium carbonate decahydrate, a mineral. It cuts grease, removes stains, softens water, cleans walls, tiles, sinks and tubs. Use care, as washing soda can irritate mucous membrane. Mix vinegar and soda to remove hard water or other stubborn stains. You can also use for cleaning upholstery and rugs.

Third on my list is Castile soap. Made from olive oil so its completely biodegradable and cruelty free. Besides using it in my homemade body wash, I use it with hot water to wash my floors and other surfaces. I recommend getting a gallon from Dr. Bronner. They also have a sampler set with different natural scents.

Hydrogen peroxide is fourth on my list. It is a is an effective disinfectant and its foaming action aids in cleaning. Hydrogen peroxide can be used as an natural disinfectant in every room in the house killing viruses like the flu, and it’s a must in the medicine cabinet to treat wounds.

Borax is fifth on my list. Made of sodium borate, it cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, cleans wallpaper, painted walls, and floors. It also keeps insects away. It can be used in place of baking soda.

I usually just keep these ingredients in their original packaging and mix with water in a bucket or glass spray bottle when I am ready to clean. I used to use microfiber cloths, but since learning how they are full of tiny pieces of plastic that get into everything, I am switching to terry cloth towels.

Enhance Natural Cleaners with Essential Oils 

Not only do they smell amazing, adding essential oils to your natural cleaners make them even more effective because they all have antibacterial properties and kill germs naturally. They are all safe for children and animals so you don’t have to worry about locking them up. Use at a dilution of 1%. Here are my top picks:

Lemon — one of the strongest food acids, effective against most household bacteria. Use to clean sinks and it will neutralize odors in drains.

Thyme – shown to be highly effective against a wide range of germs and mixes well with lemon and peppermint.

Sweet Orange – cuts through grease and grime, use on cutting boards and kitchen counters.

Peppermint – effective against a wide-range of germs and also a natural rodent deterrent. 

Lavender – Its calming scent makes it a great addition to cleaners for your bedroom and laundry.

Making safe effective natural cleaners

Bathroom: make a paste with water, baking soda, few drops of of Castile soap and  essential oils to clean sinks, toilets and showers.

Kitchen: combine water, vinegar and drops of essential oils to a spray bottle for cleaning counters, sinks, and tile.

Windows and appliances: mix vinegar, water and drops,of essential oils in a bucket.

Floors: add Castile soap and drops of essential oils to hot water, mix until foamy and mop. Rinse with hot water if needed.

Tough jobs: Use gloves for this. Mix soda and vinegar into a paste to remove grease buildup, calcium deposits and other stuck on dirt.

Getting used to replacing your normal products takes time, but knowing I am helping my septic tank be more productive, my groundwater more pure, and my home have better air quality is motivation to keep walking past the commercial cleaners at the store and opt for these if slightly old-fashioned, yet absolutely excellent, natural products. Do you have a natural cleaner you love? Tell me about it in the comments. I always want to discover more ways to clean. Happy spring green cleaning!

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