Non-Toxic Spring Cleaning

The Northeast's recent burst of fantastic spring weather has sent many of us into a spring cleaning frenzy.  Once you've got the motivation part down, I'd urge you to take a second look at the products you're using in your home and consider adding some of them to the "toss" pile during your spring cleanup. 
  The switch to more natural products can seem overwhelming, especially financially, as you will likely notice the significantly larger price tag of these products sitting on the supermarket shelves. However, if you can reserve a tiny portion of that spring motivation, alternative products are easy to home-make and quite inexpensive this way.  Here are some ideas for do-it-yourself cleaning products which will be functional, efficient, and non-toxic:

 Furniture Polish
1/4 cup olive oil (regular, don't waste the extra virgin here)
1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
20-30 drops essential oil (I like lemon, but you can use any scent)
Use this polish with a dry cloth, polishing in the direction of the wood grain.  For scratches and stains, some helpful hints can be found here.

Air Freshener
To get rid of unpleasant odors, leave out a halved lime (make sure that the cut side is facing upward) in a bowl of baking soda. Instead of throwing the lime and baking soda into the trash when you’re finished using them, grind them up in your garbage disposal instead to freshen the surrounding area.   (Thanks to Peta.com for this tip!)

 All-Purpose Cleaner
2 cups water
2 cups white distilled vinegar
10-20 drops of essential oil (optional)
Use this mixture in a spray bottle or on your tile floors for an easy, inexpensive multi-purpose cleaning solution.  You can make more or less, just use equal parts vinegar and water.  For those who don't particularly care for the smell of white vinegar (though it fades relatively quickly), use a bit more essential oil in the scent of your choice. 

Carpet Deodorizer
Baking soda can work wonders here.  Mix a desired amount (based on how much area of carpet you need to freshen) of baking soda with your favorite dried herb or dried flower.  You can also use a few drops of your favorite essential oil for a more pronounced smell. Sprinkle this mixture on carpet and let it sit for 5-10 minutes before vacuuming it up.


see my previous posts for additional info on:
non-toxic laundry detergent 
non-toxic drain unclogger and toilet cleansers 
harmful effects of chlorine-based products 

My philosophy: keep your home clean enough to keep you healthy, but dirty enough to keep you happy.  But whatever you do, please don't feed the dust bunnies.