If you have a love-hate relationship with spring cleaning, you’re not alone. There’s something cathartic about a clean, clutter-free home. According to Cleveland Clinic psychologist Dr. Susan Albers, the ritual can be like “a magic wand to our mental health.”
Still, the last thing we want to do is spend the first warm-weather weekends cleaning the house we’ve been cooped up in. On the bright side, a deep clean minimizes the spread of bacteria and promotes respiratory wellness by keeping dust and dirt at bay.
But just how “clean” are your cleaning products and routines?
Many traditional cleaners are loaded with chemicals that not only affect our health but can pollute the air and end up in waterways or landfills. We asked Norwex consultant Barbara Beasley, a direct sales company in the sustainable home and personal care arena, to suggest some alternatives.
“I was blown away when I saw what you can do with just a microfiber EnviroCloth, Window Cloth, and water. In addition to removing 99 percent of bacteria from surfaces, you’re eliminating chemicals that can leave behind harmful residue.”
According to Beasley, many consumers think they have to spend more on green cleaners. “Not so,” she said. “I actually save money. For starters, I no longer buy tons of different products, paper towels, and single-use disposals.”
Fun fact #1: Americans use a lot of paper towels—we’re talking $5.7 billion per year. Research also suggests 51,000 trees per day are required to replace the number of paper towels that are discarded every day.
Fun fact #2: As little as 5 percent of plastic actually gets recycled. Reducing your reliance on single-use plastic could be the greenest change you make this spring.
“A variety of products have been introduced that help to reduce single-use plastic packaging, including reusable dryer balls, dissolvable cleaning tablets you dilute in water, and plastic-free dishwasher pods sold in cardboard boxes,” said Bonnie Wright, author of Go Gently: Actionable Steps to Nurture Yourself and the Planet.
Read on for more tips to make spring cleaning kinder to you, your pocketbook, and the planet.
De-clutter before deep cleaning
Go room to room to pick up stray items. Decide whether to toss, put away, or donate. A clutter-free home is not only quicker and easier to clean – seeing those tidy surfaces can help boost your motivation to keep going.
Clean task-by-task versus room-by-room
Pick one task — dusting, vacuuming, mopping — and repeat it in every room rather than start the same job over and over again. Instead of feeling like you’re in an endless cleaning cycle, you’ll save time and effort.
Kitchen Appliances
Oven: Chances are you haven’t done a major cleaning since the holidays. Beasley is a huge fan of Norwex Oven and Grill Cleaner. “Enzymes do the work without the fumes of caustic chemicals. And because it works in a 100-degree oven, you’re saving energy,” she said.
Microwave: Fill a large microwave-safe bowl with one cup of water and a lemon, lime, or orange cut into thin slices (or several tablespoons of vinegar). Turn the appliance on high for several minutes or until the solution boils and the window is steamy. Let it cool for five minutes, remove the bowl, then wipe inside and out.
Refrigerator: Wash bins and shelves in warm, soapy water to help get rid of food bacteria and spillage. “Norwex Refrigerator Drawer Liners are ultra-absorbent cloths that cushion and protect fruits and veggies — not to mention, extend their shelf life by up to two weeks,” Beasley said. An added bonus: Drawers stay cleaner, longer.
Windows
Simply mix two tablespoons of white vinegar into a gallon of water and pour into a reusable spray bottle. Remove with newspaper or a microfiber cloth to avoid leaving streaks behind. Good Housekeeping tip: Wait for an overcast day to clean windows and start on the shady side of the house.
Bathrooms
Begin by washing your bath linens, shower curtain, and mat. Next, do an inventory of your medicine cabinet and shelving to throw out expired products.
Safely remove soap scum, heavy calcium, lime, and rust deposits with an environmentally friendly descaler. Keep it smelling better than ever with all-natural Poo-Pourri toilet spray in new Blush Florals or Botanical Waters.
Or make your entire home smell like spring with Home Pourri. Made from essential oils and plant-based ingredients, “it leaves any room smelling better than you found it — guaranteed,” touts the Pourri website.
