3 DIY Eco-Friendly Cleaning Solutions for Your Spring Clean

Get your home sparkling this spring, with eco-friendly cleaners. Image: Marlowe Hues Color & Design

Spring cleaning is supposed to refresh your home. It’s a little counterintuitive, then, that traditional cleaning methods lean on harsh, often toxic chemicals to do the job. Your home may look better after using these products, but, in actuality, you’ve only swapped germs and grime for possible dangers to your family and the environment.

There’s a better way. These three eco-friendly cleaning solutions get your home sparkling while keeping it safe.

If you’re new to the do-it-yourself world, making your own cleaning solutions is a great place to start. All you need to do is throw ingredients together in a container, and you’re set. Plus, you probably already have the majority of what you’ll need on hand. Before you reach for the bleach, give these environmentally-conscious DIY cleaners a try.

A DIY all-purpose cleaner can be used on virtually any surface. Image: Blue Ocean Design

The king of eco-friendly cleaning solutions: homemade all-purpose spray

Get your surfaces to sparkle with an easy solution you can use in nearly every room of the house. In a spray bottle, mix:

• 1 part water (distilled is best)
• 1 part white vinegar
• Optional: 12-15 drops of essential oil (lavender and lemon are great options)

Spray this solution into a soft towel, and use on almost any surface. If you omit the essential oil, you’ll lose the refreshing scent, but can also use this solution as a glass cleaner.

Note: Vinegar isn’t safe for stone surfaces, such as marble or granite. As an alternative, a baking soda solution will get your counters shiny and spot-free.

Eco-friendly kitchen cleaners keep your surfaces safe for food preparation. Image: Showcase Kitchen & Bath

In the kitchen: natural grease remover

Getting rid of grease in your kitchen doesn’t have to be a headache. There’s a surprising solution to that pesky buildup on your stovetop: more grease!

Pour a small amount of vegetable oil onto a paper towel and rub it over grease-stained spots. The interaction of the new grease breaks down the old.

Once finished, go over the area with a damp sponge sprinkled with baking soda. This removes any residual oil, leaving your kitchen surfaces spotless.

Ditch bleach in the bathroom for a gentler–but equally powerful–cleaning solution. Image: Amy Trowman Design

In the bathroom: powerful, simple tub cleaner

If you have stubborn spots in your shower or tub, you’ve probably tried to clean it with lots of different chemicals. A surprising solution could unlock the like-new tub you’ve been looking for. Natural cleaning experts swear by this simple, eco-friendly cleaning solution.

In a spray bottle, combine:

• 1 part white vinegar
• 1 part blue Dawn dish soap

The specific soap formula of the blue Dawn makes the solution most effective. Plus, since it’s routinely used to remove oil from sensitive animals after oil spills, you can rest easy using it at home.

Coat your tub or shower with the spray and let it sit. 15 minutes is sufficient for mild buildup, but serious scum might require an overnight wait. After it sits, scrub the tub or shower and rinse thoroughly to reveala sparkling surface.

These eco-friendly cleaning solutions will help you tackle your spring clean without any toxic cleaners. Enjoy your beautifully cleaned home or apartment; take a deep breath of that fresh, chemical-free air!

Have any eco-friendly cleaning solutions, tips or tricks of your own? Let us know in the comments!

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