Growing up in Southeast Brazil, I never had to think about Spring cleaning. Our weather is great, most of the year it is around 75F. We usually have one very hot month, and one colder month (maybe down to 50F) so no heater is needed. We always keep our windows open year round, so we do not collect any more, or any less, dust or dirt in a specific season.
When I first moved to the USA, I kept opening my windows so the air could “flow,” but that first winter taught me a lesson: I’m not allowed air flow during the winter in the Midwest, unless I want to pay thousands of dollars for my heating bill. That’s when I learned about Spring cleaning.
If you, like me, live in a place where the winter can be long and cold, you may also experience the effects of keeping the house closed during this season. The hot air from the heaters can be difficult for those with chronic allergies; it makes our immunity system weaker.
When the weather allows, the first thing we want to do is open up the windows, which leads to deep cleaning the house, as known as Spring cleaning.
When cleaning the house, the products we choose can make or break our allergy levels. Products filled with chemicals usually make things much worse (hint: we should NOT use them). After months without fresh air, our respiratory system is sensitive. Filling it with strong chemicals does not make it a good way to start Spring as seasonal allergies are at it’s high during these months.
If you struggle and are looking for a solution, here are three products that are safe and allows you to clean up your whole house toxin free!
- Vinegar
Vinegar is a great cleaner because it’s made from acetic acid, as well as a great disinfectant. Acetic acid is an organic compound that gives the vinegar it’s smell and taste. It’s so powerful that it can dissolve dirt and even kill certain bacterias.
You can use vinegar to clean pretty much everything, from glasses to counters, tubs, toilets, floors, fixtures and laundry.
My favorite recipe using vinegar is 1 cup of white vinegar + 1 cup of distilled water in a spray bottle to wipe down counters and clean glass, super easy and very effective!
2. Baking soda
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate or bicarbonate of soda, is a salt composed of sodium cation and bicarbonate anion. It’s alkaline, and can be used for cooking, cleaning and even in medical uses.
Here, we will only talk about baking soda as a cleaning agent. Because of it’s alkaline properties, it can cause dirt to dissolve easily. It also deodorizes, bringing odor molecules into a neutral state.
It can be used to clean ovens, sinks, dishwasher, tubs, remove stains, and odors all over the house.
3. Old-school Natural Soap
When wiping down is not enough, you need deep cleaning. Nothing works best (and NATURALLY!) than old-school cold process cleaning soap.
It cuts down grime and grease without drying out your hands. Natural cleaning soap is a multi-purpose product, and can be used pretty much all over the house, from dishes to taking stains out of laundry, washing off counters, bathtub, etc.
Our cleaning soap (Coconut Dish Soap) is made with coconut oil; which has a special ingredient called lauric acid in its fat. The lauric acid has antibacterial properties, which help during the deep cleaning process.
There you have it! Three natural ingredients that will help you deep clean your house, without triggering allergies like commercial & toxic cleaning products!
If you want to try our natural dish & cleaning soap, you can get it here. You can also find the complete cleaning bundle here, with a sustainable dish scrub and soap saver. Use code BLOGAPRIL21 during checkout to save 10% in any of these two products.
