Now that winter’s cold dreary days are past us, all eyes are looking forward to the warmer and sunnier days of spring. And nothing welcomes spring back like giving the home a thorough spring cleaning.
This spring, why not forego the chemical-laden cleaners you usually reach for and instead try using natural home cleaning products that are non-toxic, effective, and safe for your kids and pets. You are sure to find that your home will smell better than ever, and you’ll also feel a lot better about your choices.
Ready to roll up your sleeves and get started? Here are seven natural spring-cleaning products that will help get your home spic-and-span.
Lemons
So many chemical cleaners are made to smell like lemon because citrus is a clean, fresh scent. But why use fake lemon scent when the real thing not only smells better, but also cleans better? Lemons contain acid that can make short work of dirt and stains, especially when the juice is mixed with salt or baking soda to create a powerful and non-toxic scouring paste. Give it a try on your cutting boards, countertops, faucets, dishes, grout, and anywhere else you’re faced with a tough cleaning job.
Vinegar
Like lemons, the acid in vinegar makes it an exceptional cleaning agent for mineral deposits, rust, soap scum, and more. It simply just works well, and you won’t find anything cheaper. Plus, distilled white vinegar inhibits everything from mold and mildew to some types of bacteria, such as E. coli and salmonella.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of the best natural spring-cleaning products you can use to eliminate odors. Because it’s mildly abrasive, it’s also one of the best things to use to clean your barbeque grill and tools, stove burner grates, garden tools, stained concrete surfaces, walls, and stained coffee cups.
Table Salt
Salt is the cheapest scouring agent you’ll ever find. It can clean stubborn glassware without causing scratches. It’s ideal for cleaning greasy pots and pans, as well as wooden counters and tables. If you have artificial flowers, place them in a paper bag with some salt and give the bag a shake. The salt will scrub all the dust and dirt from the blooms, making them look like new again.
Liquid Castile Soap
Liquid castile soap is gentler than traditional cleaning agents, but it’s no less effective. This type of soap is made from plants and it’s ideal for cleaning everything from your floors to your car. And, because it’s not as abrasive as other cleaners, it cleans away dirt without dulling surfaces.
Vegetable Oil
Vegetable and other plant-based oils are great for other purposes besides being used in the kitchen. For instance, these liquids are very effective at restoring wood that’s been dried out by the sun. You can also use them to breathe new life into your leather shoes, rattan and wicker furniture, cast-iron pans and stainless-steel surfaces.
Borax
Borax is a cleaning agent your grandparents relied on, and it’s still around today for a reason – because it works. What makes it so effective is the fact that it’s alkaline, which makes it naturally powerful against mold and fungus. Add some to your laundry to get your clothes smelling fresh again, or let is sit overnight in your toilet to get rid of rust stains. There are dozens of uses for this old-fashioned staple.
Get Your Home Looking Its Best This Spring
Depending on the age of your home, sometimes even the most effective natural home cleaning agents can’t restore its beauty, such as when your siding or windows are just too battered and worn. In these kinds of cases, it makes better sense to replace the siding or windows. Investing in new siding or windows will restore your home’s beauty, improve its energy efficiency, and increase its market value, too.
At Thompson Creek, we offer a wide range of home improvement services that can make your home beautiful, safe and more comfortable. From roof replacements and siding installation to window and door replacements, clog-free gutter systems and more, we have the services you need to breathe new life into your home. To learn more about our services or to get a free estimate on the project you have in mind, contact the home improvement experts at Thompson Creek today.