Essential Oils | Life
Hi friend! Today I’m sharing a few tips on how I spring clean. I used to be a clean-freak, like clean windows and floors once a week kind of clean-freak, before kids. Now I just stick to the basics and keep things tidy as much as possible. Over the last couple of years, we have been very intentional about what we bring into our home and what we use to clean with. Two staples in our cleaning routine are nontoxic cleaners and steamers. As I use and approve of more nontoxic options I will share them here below under “shop”. I HIGHLY recommend you look up all of the products that you use for cleaning (some of them you probably use daily, like kitchen countertop cleaner) on the Think Dirty app to see what your working with.
The Best Nontoxic Cleaning Recipes | 5 Day Plan to Clean Your Whole Home
Tips for Success
- Make a list of everything you want to get done. Things like decluttering, cleaning rooms, dusting, grout, baseboards, windows, etc. I’ll share my list below.
- Plan out what you’ll need for each task (glass cleaner, sponges, paper towel, trash bags, steamer, etc.)
- Do one thing/room a day so you don’t get overwhelmed. This one is hard for me because I like to get everything done in a day like I used to before kids, but not it’s just not possible to do that so I go in sections.
- Do your cleaning in the morning if you can. If you work in the morning then plan to do it on your day off. The earlier the better and the more motivated you’ll be.
- Just start. Once you have everything planned out just start, it’s like working out or anything you procrastinate with, the hardest part is just getting there/starting. Turn up the music, start your diffuser, and get going.
Plan It Out
Here is my list of things I need to get done for “spring cleaning” and it’s more like every season cleaning because I like to deep clean at the start of each season. These are things I do not do regularly, like every week or every month. I can make a list and tips on those types of chores too if you’d like! Let me know in the comments if you like cleaning posts. I can also do a video if you prefer.
DAY 1
declutter
- kids toys // we go through all toys once a season and donate a few otherwise we’d be overwhelmed with stuff, we try our best to be minimalists. Simple is better.
- closets // same with our closets, I go through them once or twice a year and donate things I haven’t worn in awhile
- storage room // we have a large space that we store extra stuff in which is nice to have but it can get packed full quickly if we’re not careful. we go through this room once a season and donate all things that we don’t need
- you can also do a quick steam clean on all closets and door handles while decluttering
- products needed: trash bags, steam cleaner
DAY 2
windows + walls
- clean all windows + blinds + machine wash all curtains
- I have a Tineco Stick Vaccumthat I love for getting loose dirt and dust, then I use my window cleaner, then I use my steamer for the window ledge and any extra dirty spots. Steam cleaning is AMAZING and totally nontoxic because it only uses water + heat.
- products needed: vacuum, window cleaner, steamer, paper towels, microfiber cloths
DAY 3
baseboards + walls + dusting
- start from top to bottom, so dust everything in your home starting with the ceiling, with your dusting spray and a microfiber cloth or vacuum attachment
- vacuum all baseboards, then spray and wipe down all walls + baseboards.
- steam any extra dirty spots first then wipe with a microfiber towel
- products needed: all-purpose cleaner, paper towel, microfiber towels, steamer, vacuum
DAY 4
grout + floors
- Floor day is my favorite day because I get to use all of my cool cleaning tools (I have perfected my lineup and these are the verybest).
- I use our mop vac on all floors including the bathrooms
- toss all bathroom and kitchen rugs in the washer then hang them to dry
- vacuum under beds and areas that don’t get regularly cleaned
- freshen the carpet by sprinkling carpet powder (recipe below) all over, let sit for an hour, then vacuum up
- if the carpets are still looking dirty I will deep clean them with our carpet shampooer – (natural carpet shampoo)
- if you just have some small stains and dont have time to do the entire room I also love this spot cleaner
- products needed:vacuum, carpet powder, laundry soap, carpet spot cleaner, mop vac, carpet shampooer
DAY 5
clean cabinets + appliances
- use your all-purpose cleaner to wash all cabinets inside and out
- use the same cleaner to wipe down all appliances like the fridge (inside and out), the dishwasher, the microwave, and the oven. For the oven, I also use a DIY soft scrub. Use a handheld steamer to clean extra greasy or dirty areas, then wipe with a microfiber cloth (link:
- products needed: all-purpose cleaner, scrub brush, paper towel, microfiber towels, DIY soft scrub, handheld steamer
SHOP
Need some cleaning supplies? Here are some of our favorites:
branch basics cleaning concentrate | Simply Earth multipurpose cleaning tablets
Essential oil brands we use and love
Essential oils are great to add to cleaning DIY recipes because they add antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties + they smell amazing!
- EDEN’S GARDEN: the best-smelling blends/synergies
- HOHM: great blends, aesthetic bottles, well-made diffusers
- JADE BLOOM: lots of essential oil education
- MOUNTAIN ROSE HERBS: a rustic organic brand with lots of other good products like teas etc
- PLANT THERAPY: great prices and blends/kits for families
- REVIVE: amazing prices, dupes for the popular brands
- ROCKY MOUNTAIN OILS: DIY/usage videos on their socials
- SIMPLY EARTH: the one for DIY lovers & sub box lovers
Other Cleaning Products I Use & Love
Other Tips
- get an air purifier to help keep the air in your home cleaner, we love this one for small spaces and this one for large areas.
- get a babysitter or grandparent to take your kids for the morning so you can get your cleaning done
- less is more, try to get a natural concentrate that you can use for literally anything in your home (we like Revive, and Branch Basics)
- ditch all the bleach and Windex, your lungs will thank you
Natural Cleaning Recipes
Multi-Purpose Cleaner
Ingredients:
- 1 cup distilled white vinegar or a tbsp of natural cleaning concentrate
- 1 cup water
- 10-20 drops of essential oil (e.g., lavender, lemon, tea tree)
Instructions: Mix all the ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake well before using. This solution can be used to clean countertops, appliances, and various surfaces.
Window Cleaner
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
- 2 cups warm water
- 5-10 drops of lemon essential oil
Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well. Use this solution with a lint-free cloth or newspaper for streak-free window cleaning.
Dusting Spray
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup distilled water
- 10-15 drops of essential oil (e.g., lemon or lavender)
Instructions: Mix the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake before each use. Spray onto a microfiber cloth and use it to dust surfaces, including wooden furniture.
Floor Cleaner
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
- 1 gallon of warm water
- 10-15 drops of essential oil (e.g., lemon or eucalyptus)
Instructions: Mix the ingredients in a bucket. Use this solution to mop and clean hard floors, such as tile or hardwood.
Heavy Degreaser
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup dish soap
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 10-15 drops of lemon essential oil
Instructions: Mix the ingredients to form a paste. Apply the paste to greasy or grimy surfaces in the kitchen, let it sit for a few minutes, and then scrub away with a sponge or scrub brush.
Carpet Powder
Ingredients:
- 1 cup baking soda
- 10-15 drops of essential oil (e.g., lavender, lemon)
Instructions: Mix the baking soda and essential oil in a container. Sprinkle the mixture liberally over your carpet, let it sit for 15-20 minutes, then vacuum it up to refresh and deodorize your carpet.
Soft Scrub for Tiles and Showers
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup liquid castile soap
- 1 tablespoon water
- 10-15 drops of tea tree oil or eucalyptus oil
Instructions: Mix all the ingredients to form a paste. Apply the paste to tiles, grout, or the shower area, scrub with a sponge or brush, and rinse clean.
I hope you found some helpful tips! When do you start spring cleaning? I like to start when I can open the windows and air the house out. It’s one of my favorite times of the year!
x, T
