Getting rid of clutter is one of the goals of spring cleaning. However, if you buy lots of products for the job, you may end up accumulating additional waste. Instead of buying, check the supplies in your kitchen and laundry area. You might find the ingredients for the following DIY spring cleaning solutions.
Kitchen Cleaner
You’ll only need four tablespoons of baking soda and a liter of water to make a kitchen cleaner. This cleaning solution is suitable for the sink, countertops, backsplashes and appliances.
Glass Cleaner
To make a glass cleaner, mix two cups of water and 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Pour 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol (70% concentration) to boost the vinegar’s disinfecting ability. Add two drops of any citrus essential oil to freshen up the glass surfaces.
Marble and Granite Cleaner
Many DIY cleaners involve lemon and vinegar. The said acidic ingredients aren’t ideal for tidying marble and granite. Acids etch and damage the finish of the said materials.
You can still make a dedicated cleaner though. You just need two cups of lukewarm water, 2 drops of mild dishwashing liquid, and a sponge. Clean and rinse thoroughly. Then, wipe them to dry using a soft cloth.
Scrub
Abrasives are often used to manage hardened stains. However, they may leave behind scratches or cause discoloration.
If you prefer a less harsh yet effective scrub, grab a lemon and a cup of borax powder. Slice the lemon in half. Dip the sliced part on the cup of borax. Then use it to scrub ceramic and metal surfaces.
Laminate Floor Cleaner
Laminate flooring is cheaper and easier to maintain than solid wood. The former may even look a lot like the latter. However, lack of upkeeping will make laminate floor appear like low-cost wood flooring.
You can avoid that by cleaning it using a mixture of vinegar, baking soda, and tea tree oil. Put 1/2 cup of vinegar, three drops of tea tree oil, and two tablespoons of baking soda in a spray bottle. Fill it with two cups of water. Shake well before using it to remove stains in your laminate floor.
Brass Cleaner
If you have brass-made knobs, latches, pulls and decors, you’ll need a separate cleaner for them. Don’t worry because it’s one of the easiest to prepare. Get a sponge, a soft cloth and a pail of water. Bring your bottle of vinegar and a cup of salt as well.
To clean brass, pour a bit of vinegar on the sponge. Then, sprinkle some salt over the sponge. Next, wipe the brass items. Wash it. Using the soft cloth, wipe the items until they’re dried.
Wood Cleaner
Wooden tables and countertops are prone to water stains. To get rid of the stains, simply cover them with non-gel toothpaste. Scrub it using soft cloth. If that’s not enough, add baking soda. Baking soda and water can also be mixed together to clean other kinds of stains on wood.
Wood Polish Remover
Old polish can take away the allure of your wooden furniture or countertops. You have to remove it so you can apply a new one.
Using two teabags, you can have your own wood polish remover without much effort. Start by boiling a pot of water. Once boiled, put the teabags and leave them to cool. Afterwards, grab a cloth and dip it in the water. Wipe the wood polish accordingly. Use clean water to rinse the wood. Wipe it right away as well.
Metal Polisher
Bringing back the glow in your metal handles or stainless-steel frames isn’t that hard. If you have baby oil at home, you can treat it as a metal polisher alternative. Before applying this, clean the surfaces using vinegar first. Rinse and coat the surfaces with baby oil.
Wiping metallic surfaces with olive oil will also make them shiny. However, this may be impractical if you often use such oil for your meals.
In any case, you should only use small amounts to avoid making the surfaces too slippery. You should also avoid applying these near or on the gas range.
Mold Remover
Most of the mold and mildew growing in homes aren’t deadly. Even so, you might still want to remove them because they’re eyesores. They can also spread out to other places in your home.
Unless there’s a case of deadly mold in your area, you can deal with the problem on your own. Arm yourself with a cloth and a water-vinegar solution. Aside from killing the mold, the acid in the vinegar prevents future growth.
Bonus
As you tidy many parts of your home, leave slices of lemon in your fridge, oven and cupboards. The citrus fruit is bound to freshen up those places.
To spend less time in your next spring cleaning, practice spot cleaning. This will help prevent stain from building up.
