Thrifty & Nifty Spring Cleaning Recipes

Photo from Guido Gerding

In the spirit of Spring cleaning, here are a few recipes that are eco-friendly, cheap and easy, with ingredients that you might already have floating around your house.

Surface Cleaner for the Kitchen and Washroom:
1/2 cup cider vinegar
3 cups water
10 drops of lavender essential oil

Place it in a clean spray bottle, and just wipe down during use. Lavender is antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral; it also smells luverly. For sinks, toilets, and tubs I like to sprinkle some baking soda and then spray this concoction then scrub.

Oven cleaner (or other large greasy messes):

4 or 5 drops tea tree oil
About 1 cup of baking soda or borax
About 1/4 cup of hot water

Mix altogether in a paste and plaster on the inside of the oven (or other mess). Let it sit for about 15 minutes and then scrub and rinse. Make sure to clean thoroughly.

Carpet deodorizer:

Enough cornstarch (depending on how large the area is)
Enough dried lavender flower powder
Enough dried thyme powder

Sprinkle on and leave for about 1 hour, then vacuum.

Laundry Soap:

1 and 1/2 cups castile soap
1/2 cup vinegar
1/3 cup sea salt
1/4 cup baking soda
15 drops lavender oil
10 drops tea tree oil
5 drops thyme oil or
5 drops jasmine oil

This will make about a gallon of detergent. Place in a clean container, and use about 1/4 cup per load.

Dish Soap:

2 cup castile soap
1/8 cup baking soda
10 drops tea tree oil
5 drops lemon oil

Place in a clean container.

Furniture Polish:

2 cups olive oil
1/4 castile soap
15 drops orange blossom oil

Place in a clean container. To use, take a clean soft cloth, dip in the polish (just a small amount goes a long way!) and apply in circular wipes.

Room Spray:

2 cups distilled water
20 drops of your favourite essential oil(s)

Place in a clean spray bottle.

If you have any recipes, please share them! Happy cleaning ;)

Sláinte!

Laurel