That moment when the first spring flowers poke their heads above their soily parapet, signals winter’s end. Not that there’s anything wrong with Winter; it brings with it the desire for blankets, warm stews and a general mood of hibernation, but there’s something invigorating and renewing about the arrival of spring.
The origins of spring cleaning are not one hundred percent certain, although it’s a tradition that can be traced back to ancient times. It’s likely that in the type of climate we live in, we have traditionally chosen to do our major clean and dusting projects at a time of the year when it’s beginning to get warm enough to have the windows and doors open. These days, however, the products we use to buff and shine often contain nasty chemicals that can be dangerous to both children and pets, not to mention the hazardous fumes they can emit. Such chemicals and detergents can also be particularly harmful to the environment, so it’s as well to consider using something more natural and less harmful in this year’s spring cleaning projects.
KITCHEN
Cleaning ceramic tiles: Add 4 tbsp of vinegar to 4 litres of water to make an ideal tile cleaner. A toothbrush dipped in neat vinegar will work well on grouting.
Removing stubborn surface stains: Make a paste using 3 tbsp baking powder and 1tbsp water. Apply to the stubborn stain, allow it to penetrate for a minute or two and wipe or scrub clean.
Clogged Drains: Pour 40g baking powder down the clogged drain and rinse thoroughly with hot water. Repeat weekly to prevent further clogging.
FLOORS
All purpose floor cleaner: Add 4 tbsp of white vinegar to a bucket of water. Add 10 drops of lemon oil and 4 drops of oregano essential oil. This will make ceramic floor tiles or laminate floors sparkle. The lemon oil will make your room smell fresh, while the oregano oil has powerful antiseptic properties to tackle germs.
Top Tip: A pencil eraser removes heel marks from a floor
WINDOWS
Mix 1 part vinegar to 5 parts water and decant into a spray bottle. This acts as a perfect cleaner as the acidity in the vinegar will tackles any dirt that’s caked onto your window panes.
FURNITURE
Finished wood polish: As well as making quite a tasty salad dressing, this works well as a furniture polish. Combine 2 parts olive oil to 1 part lemon juice. Rub onto wood using a lint-free cloth. The lemon juice will cut through grease and grime, while the olive oil will condition and polish the wood. This mixture will need to be used on the same day as it doesn’t store, and do not use it on laminates.
Happy Cleaning!
