Spring Cleaning: The Natural Way!
by Viyahta Robinson
House cleaning can be fun and rewarding! It just takes a “creative” attitude, energy and the right tools. Think of it as a trip to the gym only better. You’re creating a healthier environment for you and your home and the reward is a good sweaty workout. Having the right tools includes non-toxic products and techniques that are not too time consuming or energy draining. After five years in the house cleaning business, I’ve simplified the process and learned some great time saving techniques.
Moving through the house with an attitude of Love, brings Divine energy into the atmosphere and the end result of your work will be a more peaceful atmosphere. Numerous times over the past five years I’ve heard comments like “it feels different in here”, when I’ve completed cleaning a house. This has given me Purpose and a mind that says “it’s not about the toilets”.
Tips to make the job fun:
Our mothers used white distilled vinegar to clean just about everything and it remains a great “green” inexpensive product to keep you and your house healthy. Use un-diluted vinegar on those hard water faucet stains. Just spray vinegar full strength and let it set for a minute or two (depending on how long they’ve been there) then use a scrub sponge to just wipe away. Use about 1 tablespoon of vinegar to a gallon of hot water to keep your tile floorsshiney. You can also use a teaspoon of vinegar in a 16 oz spray bottle to clean off your counter tops.
Wood floors can be cleaned with a teaspoon of vinegar and a half tsp of olive oil in a bucket of water. Other alternatives would be Murphy’s Oil Soap and Bona wood floor cleaner. Whatever your choice you don’t need to have a soaking wet mop. I’ve seen scuffs disappear just by using a little more oil.
The hotter the water the less likely you’ll need any other cleaning products. Hot water is a great sanitizer and removes the sticky stuff easier. Those bathroom mirrors don’t need window spray. Just use hot water and a sponge and it removes those splash spots easily. 100% cotton T shirts make the best drying cloth for mirrors and they also are great for dusting. For the other mirrors use half a teaspoon of vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
For the bathroom and kitchens, Bon Amis a great non-toxic scouring powder that’s inexpensive (89 cents at a local supermarket) and great on tubs , tile and all kinds of tough spots. Bon Ami can also be used with Hydrogen Peroxide to kill mold and mildew. Depending on the depth of the mold, let the two products sit for a while and then rinse. Health food stores carry a variety of mold cleaners but if the mold is tough to remove it may be time for re-grouting. Prevention is key for mold elimination. Keep a squeegee in the shower so moisture doesn’t remain.
Orange cleaners are popular in the grocery stores so experiment and find the one that agrees with you and your family. I have found some to be too sudsy, so start out with a very small amount when diluting the concentrated products.
For the furniture place a couple of drops of lemon juice and olive oil in a dish then dab your cloth as you dust.
Keep those sponges bacteria free by placing them in the microwave for 2 minutes. This kills about 99.9% of all germs and bacteria. Anti-bacterial soaps are toxic and unnecessary. One report states that the chemicals in these soaps “eventually create anti-biotic-resistant germs”. Plain soap and hot water works better than all those chemical.
Keep fresh flowers in the house for more oxygen and to lift your spirits. Keep the cleaning products safe and simple and enjoy the workout!
As the owner of Holistic Home & Body Care, Viyahta works as an herbalist, Health Coach and house cleaner. Her experience as a house cleaner and 10 years in the health food business,
have helped her focus on balancing the home environment and the body for optimum health.