“Green” Spring Cleaning

“Green” Spring Cleaning

Ahh, Spring. Now is the time to throw open the windows, put on some upbeat music and start spring cleaning. Let’s get started, but let’s do it without harsh chemicals that can harm your body. Many people believe, inaccurately, that the only way to effectively clean their homes is with bleach, ammonia or other harsh, yet common, cleaning products. Cleaning with “green” products is not only effective but can be rather pleasant, due to thier luscious natural oils. If you are not sure if your regular products are safe, visit the Environmental Working Group’s website at: http://www.ewg.org/ to check to see if the ingredients are toxic.

What you’ll need:
∑ bucket, big enough to accommodate a mop
∑ rags, preferably old facecloths or cut up towels (the “tooth” on these really pick up dirt well)
∑ rubber gloves (your hands will thank you)
∑ apron with big pockets to keep cleaning supplies in
∑ microfiber cloth(s) Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Cleaning Pads
∑ low fiber paper towels
∑ magnetic dusters, small one and longer one, with telescopic handle or microfiber mop
∑ mop
∑ vacuum, preferably one with HEPA filter*
∑ natural cleaning products, e.g.: Mrs. Myers Clean Day All Purpose Cleaner or BioKleen All Purpose Cleaner, Mrs. Myers Window Spray, Bon Ami scouring powder and Murphy’s Oil Soap**

Start by choosing one room to clean at a time. Trying to clean the whole house is overwhelming and over-taxing for most people. Put on your apron and fill it with spray cleaners, small dusters and microfiber cloths. Fill your bucket with Mrs. Myers All Purpose Cleaner and warm water. Open one window at a time, and wash the windowsill with the rags and the cleaning solution. Clean windows with Mrs. Myers Window Spray and paper towels (try to clean windows when it is not sunny to prevent streaks).
Next, dust all the small items in the room with the micorfiber cloth and/or small electromagnetic duster (you’ll intuitively find which one is better suited for the job.) Now dust furniture, baseboards, ceilling corners and low areas with the long telescopic magnetic duster or a damp microfiber mop. Afterwards, the magnetic dusters need to be shaken out outside. If you are cleaning the bedroom, you might want to wash the bed linens (put a few drops of eucalyptus oil in the washer machine to kill dust mites.)
Next, clean the floors. Vacuum first—both floors and rugs. I highly recommend a vacuum with a HEPA filter so it doesn’t spew the dust back out into the room as you clean. Lastly, fill the bucket with Murphy’s oil soap and water and damp mop the floors. Using the attachments, vacuum the drapes or alternately wash any curtains. Taking down curtains and rehanging them is a task that is easily accomplished with two people.
Cleaning the kitchen usually takes longer if you are doing a big thourough cleaning. Start by using Bon Ami scouring powder to clean the sink. Next wash down all counters and appliances with Mrs. Myers all purpose cleaner. (If you are feeling energetic, clean the inside of the referigerator as well.) I also use Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Cleaning Pads to get rid of scuffs and marks on walls and floors. Use your mop and the BioKleen All Purpose Cleaner to clean the kitchen floor.
Now everything in your home should look and smell wonderfully clean. And no harsh chemicals were used, so you now have peace of mind that you haven’t made your home unnecessarily toxic. Now all you have to do is buy a some fresh flowers or plants and your home should look and feel spring fresh.

*Even though they are expensive to purchase, I strongly recommend buying a decent vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. They clean better and don’t spew the dust and dirt back out into the room as you vaccuum. They are a necessity if you have allergies or asthma. I am loving my Dyson DC-23 Stowaway cannister vacuum. The amount of dust and dirt that it picked up was satisfying and horrorifying at the same time. If you treat and maintain your vacuum properly, you should have it for many years.

**If you haven’t had a chance to try Mrs. Myers natural cleaning products (http://www.mrsmyers.com), you are in for a pleasant surprise once that you do. The products contain wonderful oil essences, like lemon verbena (my favorite), lavender and geranium and effective cleaning agents. The products smell so good and work well that you may find yourself cleaning more often. I have also found BioKleen products (http://www.biokleenhome.com) to smell and work effectively as well. Good old Murphy’s Oil Soap has been around for decades and works well on wood floors. Bon Ami scouring powder has been around for years as well, and contains no harsh chemicals.

green cleaning products that smell lovely

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