Spring is here! It's the perfect time to clean up. But beware, many household products can be harmful not only to your health but also to the environment. Let's do our spring cleaning this year, but under the sign of ecology!
The equipment you need for an eco-friendly cleaning
If you want to reduce your impact on the environment and, closer to home, avoid poisoning your family, banish chemical cleaners and bleach from the start. For a good spring cleaning, it is not necessary to have a specific product for each room. The secret lies in eco-friendly multi-purpose cleaners. The 5 essential ingredients that you can mix according to the "recipes" are :
- white vinegar,
- black soap
- clay stone,
- lemon,
- bicarbonate of soda.
A small precaution: the chemical reaction of some products cancels their cleaning properties. This is the case, for example, with white vinegar and baking soda. To clean your floors, black soap is a natural degreaser and is a good option if you add water, white vinegar and a few drops of essential oil (depending on your taste).
For laundry, nothing better than Marseille soap! No need to go back to the washhouse and scrub the laundry on your knees! You can easily make your own laundry detergent with Marseille soap shavings, baking soda and water. Then use your mixture for your daily machine washings. When it comes to unclogging your drains, the baking soda + white vinegar cocktail will be extremely effective, if you leave it on for a few minutes and then rinse.
Do you know tawashis?
They are 100% ecological Japanese sponges, made with pieces of recycled fabric: socks, towels... Economical and ecological, these sponges are to be made by yourself with a small loom or, for the most gifted, to be knitted with a crochet hook. DIY!
Cleaning water rooms
The hunt for tartar and stubborn grease can begin in the kitchen. Take a look at your appliances to make them look like new again. Use white vinegar with diluted water to remove scale from your coffee maker and kettle. Then degrease your microwave by heating a bowl of water and lemon juice for 5 minutes. For your oven, sprinkle the walls with baking soda and our white vinegar. Let it work. Rinse and it's done! Cleaning also involves cleaning the refrigerator with a microfiber cloth, warm water and white vinegar. Also, sort out your food cupboards and throw out expired products... I'm sure there are some!
In the bathroom, to effectively descale your shower enclosures and walls, rub the surfaces with a damp cloth soaked in white vinegar. You can also dilute it with a little water and use a spray. To restore the white shine to your tile joints, use an old toothbrush dipped in a mixture of water, lemon and coarse salt.
Sanitizing living rooms and bedrooms
For your living and dining rooms, it's the season to clean carpets and rugs. First vacuum and then apply the "Cinderella method": on your knees, scrub with a brush dipped in a mixture of white vinegar and dishwashing liquid. For the less athletic, the use of a shampooer is allowed. You will still be "in line with your convictions"!
Don't forget to sanitize your mattresses and box springs, which are real havens for dust mites. Sprinkle them with baking soda, scrub, then vacuum up the excess. Shake your comforters and pillows in the open air to sanitize them and machine wash them (with tennis balls to keep them soft). If it doesn't fit, head for the dry cleaner.
After all these efforts, head for the chaise longue for a well-deserved rest!
Stéphanie SWIKLINSKI