Spring Cleaning

Ok, I might be a little late, but I am actually getting some cleaning done finally. Here are some tips for frugal natural ways of cleaning for everyone!

Here are just a few frugal house cleaning tips to help you get started.

ALL PURPOSE CLEANERS

* Mix 2 teaspoons of borax and 5 cups of hot water. Add 1/2 cup of dishwashing soap and 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil. Mix well. Great for general clean-up.

* Clean with vinegar on its own or diluted with water. Add essential oils to the mix to mask the strong odor of vinegar.

* Sprinkle baking soda on hard to clean surfaces and dishes. Mist with water and let sit a couple of minutes. Clean as usual.

* To clean your plastic cutting board, sprinkle salt on the board. Cut a lemon in half and squeeze half of the lemon onto the board. Scrub and clean. Use warm water to rinse off the lemon/salt mixture.

* If your cutting board is made of wood, you can clean it this way. Once every month or so (depending on use) sand lightly. Rub a small amount of olive oil into the board. Never immerse into water.

* If you need to unclog a drain, or just want to help keep them clear, place 1 cup of baking soda down the drain. Pour 1 cup of vinegar down the drain. Let sit for 15 minutes. Pour hot water or boiling water down the drain.

* To make your faucets shine, put a couple of drops of olive oil on a dry rag. Spray faucet with club soda and wipe dry with the rag. It will spot less too!

FLOOR CLEANERS

* Mix 2 cups of vinegar with 4 cups of hot water. Add 3-5 drops of your favorite essential oil and 2 drops of tea tree oil. Tea tree oil acts as a disinfectant.

* Add 2 tablespoons of dishwashing soap to a bucket of hot water. Rinse with a vinegar/water mix.

* Add 1/4 cup of borax to hot water. Add 1 tablespoon of dishwashing soap and 1 cup of vinegar. Fill the rest of the bucket with warm water. Add your favorite essential oil to the mix.

WINDOW CLEANERS

* Spray club soda on the window and wipe dry.

* Mix 1 cup of vinegar with 1 cup of water. Spray the mixture on the window and wipe dry.

* Mix 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with half a pail of warm water. Clean the windows and wipe dry with a lint free cloth

AIR FRESHENERS

* When weather permits, open your windows.

* Add 3-5 drops of your favorite essential oil to a cup of baking soda. Mix the oil into the soda and place in a decorative box. Another idea is to dip a cotton ball in pure vanilla extract and place in a small dish. This tip works best in small spaces, such as drawers, closets, and bathrooms.

* For Kitchen odors: Place a small dish of vinegar near the kitchen odor. The vinegar will get rid of it for you.

* Place your favorite citrus peels in a pot. Cover with water and simmer. It will freshen your kitchen and the rest of the house all at once.