Spring Cleaning

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Spring cleaning season is finally upon us! We've scoured the web to track down the best tips and tricks for you to have your home sparkling clean with as few chemicals (and dollar signs) as possible. Read on for some sweet home-cleaning strategies.

Check out these great tips:

  • Fill a dish wand with half vinegar and half dawn dish soap. Keep the wand in your shower. Before taking a shower, scrub the walls with the wand then rinse off. (DIY Home Sweet Home)

  • Simple toilet bowl cleaner: Sprinkle a toilet brush with baking soda and scrub away! Occasionally disinfect your toilet by scrubbing with borax instead. Wipe the outside of the toilet clean with straight vinegar. (Spark People)

  • Ketchup is the perfect cleanser for copper pots and brass fixtures in your home. (iVillage)

  • Recycle your worn clothing by turning old fabric into rags to clean quick spills and tidy up the house. - See more at: http://www.greenmomsmeet.com/2013/04/6-eco-friendly-spring-cleaning-tips/#sthash.dJZl1e6c.dpuf To clean fan blades, toss a pillowcase over the blade then slowly pull off. All of the dust and dirt will stay contained inside the pillowcase. (DIY Home Sweet Home)

  • Parmesan cheese containter lids will fit on mason jars! How about keeping baking soda by the sink for a mildly abrasive cleanser. Or flour near where you kneed your bread - just sprinkle on the counter. (The Make Your Own Zone)

  • Clean your burners without scrubbing. Place in a sealed ziploc bag with a 1/4 cup of ammonia. Leave overnight, then wipe clean with a sponge. (DIY Home Sweet Home)

  • Pour boiling water down the tub once a week to keep the drains clear and prevent those nasty, hard-to-scrub tub rings, and do the same in sinks. Always try using water first to clean up spills on a carpet. (iVillage)

  • 2 parts hydrogen peroxide to 1 part Dawn (original blue) will take the stains out of almost ANYTHING...even if they're old stains!  (Pinterest)

  • Use a few drops of water, cream of tartar and a sponge to get your stainless steel appliances looking brand new again. (Buzzfeed)

  • Spend less time shining your facuets, sinks, and tiles by polishing them with Turtle Wax. The wax acts as a protective barrier preventing water and soap buildup. (DIY Home Sweet Home)

  • Homemade furniture spray: 1-3/4 cups water, 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar, 2 teaspoons olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon lemon essential oil (about 8 to 10 drops). Mix in a spray bottle; shake well to mix. While you use it, you'll need to continue shaking the bottle to ensure the combination stays mixed. (The Make Your Own Zone)

  • Easy way to get rid of mold in shower caulk : bleach and cotton coil, let sit overnight. (This Blessed Home)

  • Mix a few drops of essential oil with one cup baking soda. Sprinkle on your mattress and let sit for one hour before vacuuming. The baking soda will absorb any dirt, moisture and odors while the essential oil will leave the mattress smelling fresh. (DIY Home Sweet Home)

  • Make your own citrus vinegar cleaner. Place citrus peels in a jar and cover with vinegar and let the solution sit for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, strain and dilute 1:1 with water. (DIY Home Sweet Home)

  • Clean Dirty Blinds with vinegar and old sock. (Keep Home Simple)

  • Use a lemon to remove hard water stains from your faucet. Simple cut a lemon in half and rub the open fruit against the metal. (DIY Home Sweet Home)

  • Clean up mold and mildew: Wipe with straight vinegar. (Spark People)

  • Make your sink shine by mixing borax with lemon juice to make a paste. Rub it on, then rinse it and wipe clean. (DIY Home Sweet Home)

  • Use a rubber glove to wipe up pet hair off upholstery and bedding—hair will stick to the rubber.

  • Clean your pans with tea tree oil to remove tough stains. (DIY Home Sweet Home)

  • Use a Q-tip to clean tight spaces in window tracks, then wipe with a paper towel. (DIY Home Sweet Home)

  • Homemade daily shower cleaner spray: 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide, 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol, 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap, 1 tablespoon dishwasher rinse aid (like Jet Dry or Finish), 3 cups water. (Make Your Own Zone)

  • Clean stubborn stains by spraying with a water and vinegar solution and then use an iron to lift the stain. (DIY Home Sweet Home)

  • After cleaning your vents, apply a layer of wax to them to help repel dust. (DIY Home Sweet Home)

  • Clean the glass on your wood stove by dipping a wet paper towel in the ashes then wipe your glass with it. (DIY Home Sweet Home)

  • To clean your cabinets: Mix 1 part vegetable oil with 2 parts baking soda, then scrubbing with a toothbrush.

  • Make floors look new again: Spray on a mixture of 7 cups water, 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/3 cup ammonia (or lemon juice) and 1/4 cup vinegar. Let sit for an hour and scrub off. (DIY Home Sweet Home)

  • Remove rust spots from your kitchen knives by soaking them in lemon juice. (DIY Home Sweet Home)

Got a great cleaning tip you'd like to share? Email us at info@betterfarm.org.

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Nicole Caldwell

Nicole Caldwell is a self-taught environmentalist, green-living savant and sustainability educator with more than a decade of professional writing experience. She is also the co-founder of Better Farm and president of betterArts. Nicole’s work has been featured in Mother Earth News, Reader’s Digest, Time Out New York, and many other publications. Her first book, Better: The Everyday Art of Sustainable Living, is due out this July through New Society Publishers.