Spring Cleaning with Mother Nature

Using non-toxic materials for spring cleaning can save you of cash over the years, and it can even help prevent a trip to the  emergency-room. Non-toxic cleaning products are also gentle on the environment, so we’re all for them! To transform your home into a safe, nontoxic haven, look to kitchen staples like  as you plan your spring clean sweep.

• Mix together 1/2 cup baking soda and enough water to make a paste, and use this mixture to clean the bathtub. With the swipe of a sponge it scrubs away grime, leaving a sparkling clean tub with no fumes!

• Give your dust rag a boost with homemade furniture polish. Combine 1/2 teaspoon olive oil with 1/4 cup white vinegar.  Use a rag dampened with the vinegar mixture to wipe down wooden surfaces with ease.

• Freshen your garbage disposal with citrus: cut a lemon or lime into quarters. With the water running and garbage disposal on, add the fruit one piece at a time to the disposal. The fruit will help clean your drain and make it smell good, too! This is also a great way to use citrus fruit that’s on its way out.

• A mixture of 5 parts white cornmeal and 2 parts cornstarch makes a very nice carpet cleaner, without the heavy perfurmes and chemicals that are found in most commercial cleaners. Simply sprinkle the mixture onto dry carpet and let it sit for a few hours before vacuuming as usual.

You don’t need a lot of time to freshen up your home, just some basic kitchen items and a little creativity. If you’re looking for a more in-depth plan, check out this great article by Treehugger.