With the changing of the seasons upon us, the snow melting and grass returning to vibrant green, we are reminded that spring is here and it is time to clean! Spring is full of fresh starts and there is no better way to prepare your home then to re-arrange, clean and let the fresh air wash the winter out of your home. Here are some of the tools and tricks we found useful while Spring Cleaning our home.
The inspiration behind this post comes from the recent release of the Netflix show “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo”. Marie helps families clean their homes and shows them ways to tidy much more effectively. She also has written two books on the subject which you can find on her website.
Her philosophy revolves around six basic rules which are:
- Commit yourself to tidying up.
- Imagine your ideal lifestyle.
- Finish discarding first.
- Tidy by category, not by location.
- Follow the right order.
- Ask yourself if it sparks joy.
If you are able to do all six of these then you are well on your way to successfully start and finish your Spring Cleaning!
Bedroom
Let’s start with the bedroom. In this space, the key features that should be looked at are your bed, closet, and dresser space.
To clean your mattress in a natural way, you can use lavender essential oil and baking soda. Combining 1 Cup Baking Soda and 4-5 drops of Lavender Essential Oil in a container is all you need to make this magic cleaner. Mix, and use a sifter to sprinkle it over your mattress until covered. Let it sit for one hour and then vacuum. This cleans and makes your bed smell like lavender! We have a few different varieties of lavender essential oils on our website shop so if you’re interested in using this technique check out our oils HERE. (Source: How To Clean A Mattress Quickly And Easily)
Let’s move our way to the closet now. To de-clutter, your closet space a tip Kondo suggests is taking all of your clothes and putting them in a pile. As you go through your clothes decide if this piece brings joy to your life. If you say no or it takes you too long to decide then it’s time to donate or throw away that item. This is the key to creating space inside your closet and tidying up that category. (Source: Marie Kondo’s Netflix show inspires viewers to ‘tidy up’: 3 popular organizing tips)
Another great organization tool for your bedroom involves your dresser. Many people tend to fold their clothes in a way where every time you go to find your favorite shirt you destroy the perfect piles you made. To fix that problem and organize your shirts and pants, fold them upright so each article of clothing is visible as shown below.
A suggested tip to keep your clothes smelling fresh long after you wash them is by using our Lavender Shirt Stacks and Sachets. Stick these in your dresser or closet and you’ll have lavender scented clothes to indulge in. To view, these products click HERE.
Bathroom
The bathroom is our next stop. We have a ton of cleaning tricks you can utilize to have your bathroom clean and smelling fresh in no time.
The first item essential to your bathroom cleaning is an all-purpose natural lavender disinfectant spray. You can purchase these at a store, like our gift shop, or make your own DIY style. This is good for all surfaces in your bathroom including your sink.
The materials you will need to make your own are: a spray bottle, 1/4 cup of white vinegar, 2 1/2 cups water, and 30-40 drops of lavender essential oil. Once you have all those ingredients, mix them up inside the spray bottle and you have yourself an all-purpose, good smelling, spray! (Source: 3 GREEN CLEANING LAVENDER OIL USES + RECIPES)
Another cleaner necessary for your bathroom is an all-purpose no rinse floor cleaner. This recipe can be used on tile, linoleum, and wooden floors. The ingredients include 1 gallon of warm water, 1/2 cup white wine vinegar, and 1-2 cups lavender hydrosol. You can use more of the hydrosol if your floors are really dirty. Once you are done cleaning your floors, you can empty the liquids into your toilet and scrub as an extra cleaner. You can find lavender hydrosol on our website, which is made directly from the plants on our farm! (Source: Fresh and clean: DIY natural lavender cleaning products)
If you’re looking to get really crafty, then this section is for you. Below is a recipe for Toilet Bombs, which are essentially a natural toilet cleaner and deodorizer you can make at home with just a few ingredients. This is a great project for all of you who are continuously looking for ways to move away from chemical based products to more natural home remedies. This recipe was found on DIY Natural, for the full article click HERE.
To get started on this project you will need:
- ½ cup baking soda
- a ½ cup citric acid
- ½ cup borax or cornstarch
- water in a spray bottle
- gallon size zip-top bag
- 25 drops lavender essential oil
- a mold of your choice (plastic Easter eggs that come apart, a plastic measuring spoon, or silicone molds all work)
To make the Toilet Bombs:
- Place all dry ingredients into the gallon bag. Seal the bag, and knead to the combine ingredients of the toilet bombs.
- Open the bag, spray 2-3 times with water, and close the bag. Mix and knead the bag until all the moisture is absorbed. Repeat this step a few times.
- You’ll know it’s ready as soon as you squeeze the bag and the mixture stays clumped together inside the bag when you let go. It should be roughly the consistency of pie dough.
- Add 25 drops lavender essential oil and mix again.
- When it’s the right consistency, pack into desired molds.
- Leave the toilet bombs to dry for a day or two and then unmold. The toilet cleaner bomb will be fragile at first but will harden considerably over the next few days.
- Store in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid until ready to use.
When you’re ready to clean your toilet, drop the toilet bomb into your toilet bowl and wait for the fizziness to stop. If you want to get the upper rim of your toilet, feel free to use a scrubber to get those hard to reach spots. Once you’re satisfied with the cleanliness of your toilet, flush it away. (Source: DIY Toilet Bombs that Clean, Disinfect, and Deodorize)
Living Room
Let’s give your living room a breath of fresh air by cleaning fabrics and clearing out the dust.
Furniture fabric can often be neglected if it is not removable, so how do you clean it? At Lavender Hill Farm, we make a Lavender Linen Spray; the perfect pick-me-up for your couch. This can be used on all different linens around the home. The smell of lavender will fill your home in a natural way and help you relax after those long hard days at work.
To combat the dust in your home, we found a recipe for DIY dusting cloths. Keep your home smelling fresh naturally without the harsh chemicals other products may have. Found on The Nerdy Farm Wife, the full article can be found HERE.
The process is very easy:
- Cut an old t-shirt or piece of cotton fabric into squares
- Soak the rags in a solution of 1 cup hot water, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and 10-20 drops of lavender essential oil.
- Squeeze the rags out and hang until
complietly dry - Store the rags in a glass container and pull out to use whenever you need them
There’s no need for any other liquid or spray because the essential oil soaked in the rag picks up the dirt while leaving the relaxing smells behind! To reuse, simply wash them and hang them to dry. After 2-3 uses, you can re-soak the squares into the solution again. (Source: How to Make Lavender Dusting Cloths)
Kitchen
The final stop on our spring cleaning tour is the kitchen. All of these recipes below come from the site Greatist, and you can find the full article HERE.
The microwave can become very dirty very quickly. Pour vinegar and lemon juice in a small microwave save cup and microwave for 2 minutes. Let it sit, with the door closed for a few minutes then use a warm cloth or sponge to wipe down the interior of your microwave in a few easy swipes!
One item in your kitchen that tends to never get cleaned correctly is your cutting boards. The best way to properly clean and disinfect the board is to use a lemon! All you have to do is cut the lemon in half and rub it along the board. Once it’s fully soaked and scrubbed down, let it sit for about 10 minutes. If you need more elbow grease for the really bad stains, try using salt with the lemon as well.
(Source: 27 Chemical-Free Recipes for DIY Spring Cleaning)
Final Thoughts
We hope this post inspired you to spring clean the natural way. Don’t forget to light a candle and sit back and enjoy your clean home when you are done!