5 Green Friendly Spring Cleaning Tips

15 Mar 5 Green Friendly Spring Cleaning Tips

Clean and Green for Spring

Spring is in the air, and if the air in your house feels a little musty, it’s time to let in some freshness. Take a new approach to cleaning with these eco-friendly cleaning ideas from the team at Carpet Keepers that will get your house gleaming.

1. Cook Up Some Cleaning Products

Your kitchen can be an outstanding source of green cleaning supplies. With some lemons, vinegar, baking soda and other household items, you’ll have the makings of several new ways to clean.

• Lemon juice or vinegar mixed with water is great for cleaning windows.
• Add white vinegar to your laundry rinse cycle to soften clothes.
• Lemon juice mixed with olive oil makes a fragrant alternative to furniture polish for wooden furniture.
• Instead of bleach, use vinegar to disinfect kitchen surfaces and cutting boards.

2. The Dish on Soap

Thinking that you need harsh cleaners to get your hands, clothes or bathrooms clean is a mistake. That harshness can translate to allergic reactions and worse, so opt for gentle but effective alternatives.

• Frequently using antibacterial soaps can lower your immunity levels.
• Avoid soaps, shampoos and cleaners that contain harsh sulfates, palm oil or petroleum.
• You can use castile soap to clean everything, and it’s gentle on your skin.
• Buy or make your own cleaning products and ask your cleaning service to use them.

3. Launder with Love

Laundry detergents are some of the worst environmental offenders. Lessen their impact by using these tips on washday.

• Whenever possible, launder in cold water.
• Use hydrogen peroxide or oxygen-based bleach instead of chlorine bleach.
• Rig up clotheslines outside and also in your laundry room so you can hang-dry clothes all year long.
• Add baking soda to the rinse cycle to soften clothes and remove odors.
• You can buy all-natural detergents and softeners, and ask your cleaning service to use them if they include laundry in their service.

4. Clear the Air

Don’t rely on aerosol sprays with false chemical smells. Try these natural alternatives to keep your home smelling fresh and clean.

• Look for drawer sachets filled with natural herbs and essential oils, and use them in your closets and drawers.
• Boil your favorite spices and herbs like cinnamon and cloves in a small pot of water on the stove.
• Mix plain water with essential oils or lemon juice in a spray bottle for an excellent homemade air freshener.
• Whenever possible, open the windows and let fresh air flow through.

5. Boot the Borax

Some people think borax is a good green cleaner, but you can use baking soda instead of borax in many applications.

• Mix baking soda and vinegar into a paste to clean your toilet bowl, tub and sink.
• The same paste will clean anything in your kitchen, including your fridge and stove.
• Use baking soda to scrub tough food stains from dishes and pans.
• Sprinkle baking soda into the bottom of trash cans to reduce odors.

Buy or Make Green Cleaning Products

With many green cleaning products on the market now, you have more choices than ever to find products that will leave your home sparkling and won’t bring harmful toxins into your home, or into the environment.  One reason Carpet Keepers has developed our time tested eco-friendly cleaning PureScience™ process.

You can also make your own products, having fun trying different recipes and saving money while you do. Whichever option you prefer, make sure anyone else you hire to clean your home uses those products, or supplies their own green cleaning supplies.

Here’s to a spruced-up house for Spring, and a fresh new take on cleaning.  If you need a professional carpet cleaner in Leesburg or Ashburn area – contact Carpet Keepers for free eco-friendly carpet, upholstery and rug cleaning.