Instead of food, today we’re talking all about Natural Spring Cleaning and some simple tips to keep your home clean and green!
This post has been sponsored by P&G. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Since having a baby, everything in my life has changed, and I do mean everything. Before Norah came along, I didn’t give too much thought to the products used around the house. Now, bio-based cleaning has become one of the things at the top of my weekly to-do list. Since Spring is officially here, I thought I’d share with you some tips for natural Spring cleaning, along with a few of my favorite new plant-based products.
My first tip when it comes to Spring cleaning is to go au naturale. What’s the point of deep cleaning your home if you’re leaving behind harmful chemicals in the process? I was recently introduced to a brand new line of plant-based dish soap, surface cleaner, and laundry products called Home Made Simple. If that name sounds familiar to you, that’s because the line originated from an award-winning OWN show of the same name. How cool?! I’ve been testing out their products for a while now, and I have to say, I am in love! Everything is made with biodegradable cleaning ingredients and formulated without phosphates, gluten, parabens, or phthalates. The line is dye-free and it’s all made right here in the USA. If you’re into essential oils, you’ll love that their scents are derived from essential oils and smell so fresh and not at all overpowering. You may be wondering if products so natural can still be effective, and the answer is, oh yeah. I’ve had a beef with plant-based laundry detergents leaving my clothes feeling less than clean, but the Home Made Simple laundry products are tough on stains and dirt, yet gentle on skin, which is essential for baby. P.S. both are totally high-efficiency friendly.
Something not everyone knows about me is that I’m SUPER picky about dish liquid. I’ve used natural dish products for a while because the thought of washing things that go in my mouth with potentially harmful ingredients bothers me. Not only that, but the suds have to rinse clean. I can taste dish soap on a glass from two miles away, okay? The Home Made Simple dish soap is perfection. I love the lavender scent, but I’m dying to try the rosemary! Plus, the bottle on the dish soap and multi-purpose cleaner is 100% recyclable. The multi-purpose cleaner is something that is new to our routine but definitely here to stay. I had no idea that I would do so much toy, high-chair, and changing table cleaning before becoming a mother. Let’s just say, this stuff is a life-saver for keeping baby goods clean without leaving behind harmful chemicals.
My second tip is to use newspaper to clean dirty windows and mirrors! I remember when I was a kid, my mom would make me clean the glass with vinegar and I hated the smell. But hey, it did leave a streak-free shine! All you have to do is mix a ¼ cup of white vinegar, 2 cups of water and 2 teaspoons of liquid soap (I recommend Home Made Simple!) into a spray bottle. Spray the mixture onto the glass and scrub with newspaper. Voila!
My last tip is to re-use mismatched socks and old t-shirts by turning them into rags for cleaning and dusting. In 2004, Americans threw away 83,000 tons of disposable towels. What?! That’s insane! Scrubbing your counters with an old T-shirt means you keep both the shirt and the disposable wipes out of the landfill. Win-win. What are some of the ways you like to stay green while cleaning?
Don’t forget to pick up some of the Home Made Simple products at your next trip to Meijer!
