With every spring comes a wonderful sense of renewal, a new beginning from the drab of winter. And with each spring I like to do some very much needed cleaning. A few years ago, I watched a documentary called Chemerical, which goes into detail about the toxins used in commercial cleaning products. What I discovered from this was how unsafe many of these chemicals can be for the environment as well as being bad for your health, your skin, your children, and your pets if they should be exposed to them. So, if making all-natural, eco and budget friendly cleaning products sounds like the best way to refresh, clean, disinfect, and deodorize your home this spring, then keep reading to find out how to make your own. Plus, stay tuned to the end to discover cleaning tips and tricks to get out those stubborn, tricky stains.

These next three items are going to be your new best friends. The first item is vinegar. Distilled white vinegar kills microorganisms, works as an effective disinfectant and deodorizer, plus it’s safe and non-toxic for you and the environment. It also works as a natural bug repellant. And don’t worry about that vinegar smell since it becomes odorless once it is dry. A huge gallon of this only costs a few dollars and lasts for about six months to a year. The second item is Melaleuca oil otherwise known as tea tree oil. This essential oil is very effective as an anti-bacterial, anti-infectious, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-microbial. And the third item that’s an excellent natural cleaner is baking soda. It is anti-bacterial and works well as a deodorizer and mild abrasive.

Now that you know of these natural products, here are two recipes for natural cleaners to use around your house.

ALL PURPOSE CLEANER

In a bowl add:

• ¼ – ½ cup of distilled white vinegar
• 15-20 drops of tea tree oil
• Enough water to fill a spray bottle

Pour cleaner into a spray bottle. For long term storage you will ideally want to use a glass or aluminum bottle due to the acid content of the vinegar. This cleaner works well to clean surfaces, clean messes, or for dusting surfaces. However, do not use this cleaner on granite or marble since the vinegar will erode the stone’s finish.

If you have a small child with plenty of toys, or a dog or two with toys that easily become dirty, a great thing to use after a simple rinse is a disinfectant to kill all bacteria and germs lingering on the surface.

NATURAL DISINFECTING SPRAY

• In a small spray bottle, add 20 drops of tea tree oil to water. Feel free to add any other essential oil drops like lemon or lavender to leave a nice smell behind.

Here are a few tips and tricks for hard to clean appliances using these magical, natural ingredients.