Spring is just around the corner, and you know what that means – it’s almost time for spring cleaning. If you need a bit of of a nudge in the right direction, these easy and green cleaning tips will help kick-start your motivation to make your place shine like the long-awaited sun.
Environmentally friendly DIY cleaners
Strong detergents and toxic-smelling cleaning sprays are not your only option when it comes to effectively cleaning dirty surfaces. For an inexpensive and enviro-friendly option, all you need to do is look in your pantry to make this effective DIY all-purpose cleaner. No time to make your own? You can also grab an eco-friendly cleaner at your local London Drugs.
- In a bowl, mix together 4 tablespoons of baking soda and one quart of warm water.
- Optional – add a few drops of your favourite essential oil for fragrance (we recommend grapefruit or orange)
- Pour over a sponge or fill a spray bottle, and get cleaning.
[More at Good Housekeeping]
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Wash your plastic shower curtain in the laundry
Plastic shower curtains can become mildewy and yellow faster than you may expect. Instead of spending hours scrubbing it down with a sponge or purchasing a new one, throw it in with your laundry.
- Remove the plastic shower curtain from the hooks.
- Place it in a washing machine with two white (or lightly-coloured) towels.
- Add 1 cup of baking soda and 10 drops of tea tree oil (optional).
- Wash on a gentle cycle.
- Hang-dry the shower curtain on its hooks and dry the towels as you’d like.
[More at Clean My Space]
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Let your slow cooker clean itself
Slow cookers are perhaps one of the most versatile appliances you can have in your kitchen. Not only do they allow the busiest of cooks a hands-free and economical way to prepare meals, but they can even clean themselves.
- Making sure your slow cooker is turned off, fill with water until above the most concentrated food stain.
- Add 1 cup of distilled white vinegar to a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Very slowly add a cup of baking soda.
- Turn your slow cooker to the lowest setting, cover and cook for 4 hours or overnight.
[More at Life Should Cost Less]
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Revive a burnt cookie sheet
Consider yourself lucky if you haven’t had the task of cleaning a baking sheet after a particularly burnt batch of cookies has coated its surface. Thankfully, what may seem like an impossible job can be relatively simple with a few easy steps.
- Loosely coat your stainless steel baking sheet with a layer of baking soda, a layer of hydrogen peroxide and another layer of baking soda.
- Let it absorb for 1-2 hours.
- Use a cloth or rag to scrub away the stains.
[More at Tip Hero]
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If you try one of these tips, we’d love to hear how it worked for you! Leave your reviews in the comments below.
