The Wonders of Spring Cleaning for You

Spring, a season that often evokes thoughts of new beginnings for many, brings with it a wonderful opportunity to rejuvenate your home through a comprehensive top-to-bottom spring cleaning as the weather warms up. Not only does this feel refreshing, but it also turns out to have significant benefits for your health.

Why is spring cleaning so beneficial for you? The advantages of spring cleaning encompass:

• Establishing a more serene and organized living environment.
• Eliminating items that clutter your closets and cause you stress.
• Reducing inhalation of dust and irritants.
• Minimizing the presence of potentially harmful bacteria on your home’s surfaces.

Read on to discover the best ways to give your home a thorough spring cleaning while using the safest products available.

Spring Cleaning Benefits

Why is it referred to as a “spring clean”? It’s because the spring season typically energizes most people, making them eager to discard the old and welcome the new. Surprisingly, this practice also offers numerous health advantages.

Here are some of the remarkable health benefits of spring cleaning:

• Significantly reduces exposure to allergens and irritants such as dust, mildew, and mold.
• Aids in preventing respiratory problems like asthma and breathing difficulties due to poor air quality.
• Lessens the chances of being exposed to harmful bacteria that can make you ill, especially on the dirtiest surfaces in your home like cutting boards, countertops, doorknobs, and more.
• Helps prevent the spread of germs among family members, including those causing viruses and infections.
• Decreases the risk of falling and slipping by removing clutter from pathways, hallways, and staircases. Regular cleaning and organization can even lower the risk of a fire in your home.
• Creates a more calming and convenient home that can alleviate stress. For instance, a tidy and peaceful bedroom can enhance your sleep quality, leading to numerous health benefits such as improved focus and mood.
• Encourages you to adhere to healthy habits like cooking and exercising at home by making it easier to find what you need and having sufficient space to exercise.
• Can save you money by enabling you to find and utilize what you already have. (You can also consider selling unwanted items.)

Spring Cleaning Checklist

What constitutes a spring clean? A comprehensive cleaning typically involves organizing your possessions, getting rid of unnecessary items, and scrubbing the dirtiest and most frequently used areas of your home.

Here is a checklist to ensure you maximize the health benefits of spring cleaning:

1. First, organize and discard

Thoroughly inspect your home and eliminate things you seldom use. These items often take up valuable space, making cleaning and finding what you need more challenging.

This step not only makes your home feel more peaceful overall but also prevents you from losing things and experiencing frustration due to disorganization.

Furthermore, clearing out junk and old items reduces the likelihood of using expired and potentially problematic products on your body, such as expired makeup, skincare, and hair products. Of course, getting rid of old food from your refrigerator and cabinets is always a wise decision.

Pay close attention to crowded spaces like closets, “junk drawers,” makeup bags, cabinets, and children’s playrooms. Once you’ve thrown out what you don’t truly need, be sure to clean the drawers and vacuum the closets to eliminate lingering dust and irritants.

2. Tackle the dirtiest spaces

• Kitchen sink — Scrub the bottom of your sink thoroughly with a high-quality sponge and soap, and then run cold water through the drain for several minutes. Follow up with a few drops of lemon essential oil to eliminate odors, and rinse again after a few minutes.
• Countertops — Use a natural cleaner, like this Homemade Melaleuca Lemon Household Cleaner, along with warm water to clean the surfaces. If you’re concerned about damaging stone and leaving streaks, you can opt for specialized cleaners designed for stone and granite. Don’t forget to clean cutting boards regularly, using soap and fresh lemon to remove smells. Also, apply a disinfectant to drawer handles in your kitchen and bathroom, as they are frequently touched and can accumulate bacteria. Try this Homemade Bathroom Cleaner with Tea Tree Oil & Sweet Orange.
• Microwave — Start by using a sponge and soap to remove stubborn food and stains. Good Housekeeping magazine suggests filling a large microwave-safe bowl with one cup of water and a chopped-up lemon, lime, or orange, or several tablespoons of vinegar, placing it in the microwave, and running it on high for a few minutes.
• Refrigerator — Wash the exterior, especially the door handles frequently, and also clean the shelves with soap and water, as well as the removable bins, which can accumulate bacteria.
• Your phone — Some research indicates that our cell phones are among the germiest spots in our homes. Wipe them down frequently with a microfiber cloth.

Other dirty areas to focus on include:

• Pet toys and bowls
• Toilet bowls
• Toothbrush holders
• Sponges and sponge holders
• Coffee makers

3. Pay attention to often forgotten places/appliances

This includes your microwave, under your mattress, and around ceiling fans. Here are some tips for cleaning up areas you might typically overlook:

• Vacuum, shake out, hose off, and air-dry doormats.
• Clean your windows both inside and outside with glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth. Don’t forget to dust around blinds and shades, and then vacuum the floor to collect dust.
• Check if your appliances, such as your oven, have self-cleaning functions to remove stubborn bacteria, and then run any available functions.
• Polish stainless steel surfaces using a mixture of one teaspoon of dish detergent and one quart of hot tap water on a microfiber cloth.
• Wash your shower curtains in the washing machine or use an all-purpose cleaner if they’re vinyl.
• Move furniture away from the walls and vacuum behind and beneath it. Check if couch covers can be washed, and make sure to wash blankets frequently.
• Remove dust from your drapes, curtains, and throw pillows by running them in the dryer for 15 minutes on the “air-only” setting.
• Refresh shower and sink drains using a mixture of 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup table salt. Pour the mixture down the drain, followed by one cup of heated vinegar, let it bubble for approximately 15 minutes, and then rinse.
• Wash your children’s toys in either the dishwasher or washing machine. Plastic children’s toys can usually undergo a quick cycle in the dishwasher. Soft toys like stuffed animals can be placed inside a pillowcase and put through a gentle cycle in the washing machine before being air dried.
• Wash comforters and large, bulky blankets two to three times a year in the washing machine. Put pillows in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes.
• Periodically remove the lint from your dryer’s filter and run a cycle of your washing machine with bleach added.

Natural vs. Chemical Cleaners

To keep your home in perfect condition this spring, you’ll need specific cleaning products. However, there’s no need to go overboard and purchase all sorts of expensive cleaners that might not be essential (such as stain removers, floor shiners, etc.).

A few high-quality natural cleaning products should do the job, and many of them can even be made at home.

What’s the key distinction between natural and chemical cleaners?

It all boils down to the ingredients used. Believe it or not, recent studies have revealed that many household cleaners contain toxins. This can pose a serious problem as these products can persist on surfaces like fabrics and countertops and may later be ingested or come into contact with your skin.

Some chemical cleaners have been found to contain potentially harmful components, such as:

• Formaldehyde
• Quats, or quaternary ammonium compounds
• Chloroform
• Sodium borate, also known as borax, and boric acid
• Bleach
• Ammonia
• Antibacterial agents
• And many others

To avoid contaminating your home with potentially harmful chemicals, opt for products from companies that disclose all ingredients and those that predominantly use organic ingredients. Consider creating your own eco-friendly cleaners, also known as green cleaners, using substances like baking soda, vinegar, and lemons.

Natural cleaning products tend to have fewer overall ingredients and often incorporate natural disinfectants, such as essential oils. For instance, the Homemade Lemon Household Cleaner recipe mentioned earlier requires only a few ingredients: distilled white vinegar, melaleuca oil, and lemon juice or lemon essential oil, which naturally assist in killing bacteria.

You can also try this natural disinfectant spray.

According to research conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), some of the best natural cleaning products include:

• Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soap, Baby Unscented (there are numerous uses for castile soap in your home, such as for laundry, dishes, etc.)
• Green Shield Organic Glass Cleaner, Fresh
• Attitude All-Purpose Eco Cleaner
• Earth Friendly Products Toilet Cleaner, Natural
• AspenClean Super Scrub Powder
• Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda Detergent Booster and Household Cleaner
• Ecover ZERO Laundry Liquid Concentrate
• Seventh Generation Automatic Dishwasher Powder, Free & Clear

Explore the entire EWG database for more information on safer cleaning products. If you prefer to make your own cleaning products, try these recipes that utilize safe and versatile ingredients:

• Natural Home Deodorizers
• Homemade Dish Soap
• Homemade Laundry Detergent
• Lemon Essential Oil Recipes
• Apple Cider Vinegar Recipes
• Diatomaceous Earth Recipes

Risks and Side Effects

Chances are that you currently have cleaning products in your home that could potentially trigger adverse reactions.

Be cautious of those containing fragrances, artificial scents, detergents, bleaches, and task-specific cleaners designed for various areas from bathroom tiles to ovens. Prolonged use of these can be dangerous, potentially causing skin rashes, respiratory problems, irritated eyes, asthma, burns, and even hormone-related issues.

Like all ingredients, it’s crucial to be aware of what you’re using, even if it’s considered safe. Keep an eye out for any reactions a cleaning product might cause to anyone in your home, including pets, and switch to a different product if you notice a negative reaction.

Conclusion

• Is a spring cleaning necessary? Many experts recommend giving your home a deep clean at least one to two times a year, with one of those times ideally being at the start of spring to leave your home feeling fresh and tidy.
• Because a thorough scrub can eliminate bacteria, irritants, dust, old products, and pet hair from your home, the benefits of spring cleaning include reducing allergies and respiratory problems like asthma, lowering the risk of spreading illnesses or viruses, making your home more charming and relaxing, reducing indoor air pollution, and minimizing the risk of falls and slips.