Décor & Design

Spring Green Cleaning: Here’s How To Do It

March 3, 2024

Many families today are turning to green cleaning to help reduce their exposure to artificial fragrances and other chemicals found in conventional cleaning products. In addition to promoting better health, many green cleaning products are also better for the environment. Here’s some tips from our friends at Home Hardware on how to adopt an eco-friendlier cleaning routine for your home. —Vita Daily

Green Cleaning 101

Different people define green cleaning in different ways. For some, it means using products that just contain fewer chemical ingredients and fragrances. Others strictly adhere to natural or chemical-free cleaning agents, such as lime juice, vinegar and baking soda, while others choose to use commercial green cleaning products. Eco-friendly cleaners can also include those that are biodegradable for minimal impact on the environment.

How to Clean Your Windows

Window cleaning

Deep cleaning your windows a few times a year is a great way to give your home an instant facelift. Here’s how: 

  1. Clean the frame and trim with eco-friendly soap, water and a natural wood fibre cloth 
  2. Give your window glass a good spray with a non-toxic, biodegradable window cleaner or vinegar 
  3. Use a squeegee to wipe away the excess liquid 
  4. Polish out any streaks in the glass with a microfibre cloth 
  5. Dry the windowsill and trim with a reusable soft cloth vs. disposable paper towel

How to Clean Laminate & Hardwood Floors

Sweeping hardwood

Doing a deep spring cleaning of your floors is one of the most important parts of any heavy-duty cleaning project. If you have a hardwood floor make sure it’s well sealed with urethane and a good hardwood floor wax before applying any cleaners to it: 

  1. Sweep any larger debris with a soft bristle broom 
  2. Use your vacuum on a hard-floor setting to remove any additional dust and around baseboards 
  3. Use an eco-friendly laminate & hardwood floor cleaner and a soft mop to remove dirt and grime 
  4. Scrub any stuck-on areas or tight spaces around table legs with a natural wood fibre cloth 
  5. Dry away any excess moisture on unsealed flooring

How to Clean Your Bathroom

Cleaning bathroom faucet

The bathroom is one area of your home that probably needs spring cleaning the most. Here’s some tips on how to get your bathroom sparkling clean: 

How to Clean Your Toilet

The toilet is one of the least enjoyable areas of spring cleaning, but it must get done. Here’s how to go about it: 

How to Clean Your Carpets

Vacuuming a rug

All your carpets should be cleaned thoroughly during spring cleaning for the health of your home. They can harbor bad odours and bacteria, as well as allergens such as dust and pollen. Here’s how to get them clean: 

How to Clean Your Tiles & Grout

Cleaning tiles

Tile and grout cleaning can be tricky, but not impossible. Here’s how to do it in an eco-friendly way. 

How to Clean Your Kitchen

Dirty dishes

Cleaning your kitchen is one of the biggest jobs when spring cleaning. You will need to go over the usual areas, as well as locations you might not clean as frequently: 

How to Clean Your Patio & Walkways

Raking

When spring cleaning your home, don’t forget outdoor areas. Using an eco-friendly cleaner will help prevent runoff of harmful chemicals into the environment. 

  • Sweep or rake away any stray leaves, branches or dirt 
  • Spray a green cleaner onto any stained or discolored areas 
  • Use a large brush or utility broom to scrub your walkway or patio 
  • Rinse using the garden hose 
  • Use a pressure washer on hard to clean areas

Reusable Cloths & Materials

Using eco-friendly cleaning accessories is also important, both for your health and the environment. Here are some items to keep on hand: 

  • Use eco-friendly rags and cheesecloths in place of disposable paper towels 
  • Refill cleaning solution bottles with concentrate to reduce plastic waste 
  • Use brushes and other supplies made from wood, bamboo and other non-plastic materials 
  • If you do use paper products, try to find recycled or compostable options

Spring cleaning is never fun, but when it’s done you have a well-deserved sense of satisfaction. Using natural and eco-friendly cleaners will help give you peace-of-mind as well.

Win! A $400 Home Hardware Spring Prize Pack!

Congrats Akanksha A. of North York, ON, who will receive a $400 Home Hardware Spring Prize Pack, including:

  1. CLASSIC Bladeless Tabletop Fan ($299.99) 
  2. Natura 23′ Heavy Duty Wood Clothes Dryer ($69.99)
  3. Natura 2kg Borax Laundry Detergent ($9.99) 
  4. HARMAN Tulip Sponge Cloth – 6.5″ x 8” ($6.69) 
  5. HARMAN Lemon Sponge Cloth – 6.5″ x 8” ($6.69) 
  6. Natura 650mL All Purpose Cleaner ($3.99) 
  7. Home Essentials Sliding Door Cleaning Brush, with Scraper ($2.79) 

Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadailymedia. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding.

share:

  1. Marilyn

    March 4th, 2024 at 9:15 am

    I use baking soda to clean my kitchen sink, makes it shine! @marilyn_kaluza

  2. myrna johnson

    March 4th, 2024 at 9:16 am

    Crushed eggshells onto/into soil for all plantings.

  3. Pnina Lutwak

    March 4th, 2024 at 9:21 am

    Used coffee grinds in my plants

  4. jan

    March 4th, 2024 at 9:38 am

    Beeswax wraps are wonderful
    @jan_leeu

  5. Mary M

    March 4th, 2024 at 10:34 am

    water and vinegar for windows @maryandcedar

  6. Adrienne

    March 4th, 2024 at 10:57 am

    Vinegar and water to clean floors! @adriennstagram

  7. Jason Woods

    March 4th, 2024 at 11:31 am

    Repurpose old toothbrushes as cleaning tools!

  8. l p

    March 4th, 2024 at 1:19 pm

    vinegar in water works here. thanks
    @asdsafel

  9. Kari

    March 4th, 2024 at 1:49 pm

    Baking soda really helps with those things that require a bit of scrubbing.
    @maildropk

  10. Lynda Larsen-Baldry

    March 4th, 2024 at 1:56 pm

    I use vinegar in the laundry
    @LarsenBaldry

  11. Wendy Hutton

    March 4th, 2024 at 2:56 pm

    I use vinegar instead of windex to clean windows and mirrors they come streak free every time @wghutton

  12. Kath

    March 4th, 2024 at 2:59 pm

    We add a little lemon juice to water when wiping counters, appliances, bathrooms
    @conkatp

  13. Carole Dube

    March 4th, 2024 at 4:42 pm

    I like using vinegar to clean! @caro.craftnook

  14. Mary Ann Dudragne

    March 4th, 2024 at 5:49 pm

    @maadhatter22

    I use vinegar to clean as well as baking soda (have to be careful not to use these on certain surfaces… check a reliable source before using these to clean.)

  15. Jessica

    March 4th, 2024 at 7:35 pm

    I switched over to eco friendly clothes @gypsyblossom25

  16. Wanda Tracey

    March 4th, 2024 at 7:38 pm

    I use vinegar to wash my windows, a vinegar and baking soda paste to clean my oven and a half of a lemon to clean my cutting board. ❤️??

  17. Barb Matwie

    March 4th, 2024 at 9:17 pm

    I use baking soda and vinegar for all my kitchen and bathroom cleaning. Makes the sinks shine and it takes no effort.
    @brabm ig handle

  18. Mel p

    March 4th, 2024 at 9:18 pm

    Banana peel water for plants!! Natural magnesium for them, works so well.

  19. Allison Snetsinger

    March 5th, 2024 at 5:22 am

    I use refillable bottles and go to the refill depot for laundry soap, dish soap and counter spray. @alisnets

  20. Rachel C.

    March 5th, 2024 at 6:00 am

    my best green cleaning tip is swedish dishcloths! they’re reusable and last a long time — just throw them in the dishwasher to keep fresh and clean!

    @rachelanncartwright

  21. Ellie Kavanagh

    March 5th, 2024 at 10:10 am

    I have used this for years now in the bathroom to clean the toilet and sinks, it works great and smells wonderful
    1/3 cup liquid Castile soap
    2 cups water
    2 tablespoons baking soda
    A few drops of lemon essential oil
    a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil
    a few drops of lavender essential oil

  22. Mary D.

    March 5th, 2024 at 5:03 pm

    I do a few green things around the house. I keep windows open as often as possible to allow fresh air in and keep toxins flowing out. I also go green with laundry detergent eco-strips and I am a huge fan of cleaning with baking soda and vinegar. Huzzah!
    @msdanieli

  23. Chantal Piche

    March 6th, 2024 at 8:36 am

    Dryer sheets can have more than one life. Reuse them to scrub you dirty cookware or as a duster.

  24. Monique L.S.

    March 6th, 2024 at 8:48 am

    A baking soda paste makes a great natural cleaner for spills in the oven. IG @minty_mo2020

  25. Rita Duff

    March 6th, 2024 at 9:38 am

    I use baking soda paste for cleaning @duffmr

  26. David Smith

    March 6th, 2024 at 10:28 am

    Use vinegar to clean bathrooms and glass @coach_Daves9

  27. Deanna Dahl

    March 6th, 2024 at 7:41 pm

    I started using more and more vinegar for cleaning. I also just recently learned how to make home made fabric softener: baking soda, vinegar and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. I also use baking soda in the laundry instead of bleach, whitens so nicely, You can make a stain remover by just adding a bit of water to your baking soda to make a paste and pre-treat your laundry. I was so impressed with these methods!

  28. Pamela Humphrey

    March 7th, 2024 at 2:10 pm

    An old toothbrush is your cleaning friend. pamalot28 is my Instagram username.

  29. Angela Griffin

    March 8th, 2024 at 6:44 am

    I use baking soda for cleaning

  30. Bobbi Pentney

    March 9th, 2024 at 7:52 am

    I use vinegar and baking soda.

  31. Nolan Smith

    March 9th, 2024 at 9:37 am

    Vinegar can be used to clean most of the house @sass.ls

  32. Anthony S.

    March 9th, 2024 at 8:41 pm

    Use Vinegar instead of windex when cleaning windows. @crazyalbertan9

  33. Jenelle Fraser

    March 10th, 2024 at 4:49 pm

    Soaking your dish sponge in a bowl of hot water and salt to get rid of that dirty sponge smell! @jenelleefraser

  34. Lana hood

    March 12th, 2024 at 4:02 pm

    I use a spray bottle of vinegar and water to clean my mirrors and countertops
    @prairieloon

  35. Sarah Jean

    March 12th, 2024 at 5:58 pm

    Use vinegar for cleaning. Use essential oils instead of artificial scents. I’m Sarah Jean on Facebook

  36. Jan J.

    March 12th, 2024 at 7:12 pm

    Vinegar in a ziplock bag to descale shower head.
    @caperwheeljan

  37. Xu Li

    March 12th, 2024 at 9:26 pm

    Always recycle and upcycle! @xuliang889

  38. Michelle Cox

    March 12th, 2024 at 11:48 pm

    I clean almost everything with my vinegar and water mixture!

    @mcox12

  39. Hoda

    March 13th, 2024 at 2:29 am

    Use hand towels instead of paper towels/tissue!
    Thank you ?
    FB:Hoda Montazeri Motlagh

  40. Kristy

    March 13th, 2024 at 6:22 am

    My favorite tip is using vinegar and water in a spray bottle to clean windows!

    Kristymun

  41. Shannon Bridge

    March 13th, 2024 at 12:40 pm

    Vinegar and essential oils! @shannongayle

  42. Johanna Newman

    March 13th, 2024 at 10:51 pm

    Make my own cleaning product with vinegar, hot water, & essential oils (grapefruit, lavender, lemon)
    ????? @JohannaNewman88

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