Spring is finally in the air! Winter is officially cancelled.
You can actually feel the Earth coming alive again. It’s fresh, warm energy has the power to make you feel awakened, inspired and renewed.
Harnessing Spring’s good vibes is a chance to get really clear on what you want to grow in your life, and what you want to harvest more of in the future. In with the new and out with the old!
Maybe it is a deep clean and de-cluttering of your home, office or personal items. Maybe it’s about starting that garden you’ve always talked about. No matter what it is that is stirring inside, now is the time to take action and step into spring with purpose and passion!
To help inspire, and get the good energy flowing, we've compiled 11 economical and low waste Spring (pro) clean up ideas for around the home with some of our best selling natural, bulk, zero waste and refillable products that can be safely used for a multitude of household tasks, with surprising efficacy and little extra effort or cost!
So crank the Spotify tunes and don't forget to crack open those windows to usher in the fresh spring air while cleansing and zen-ifying your personal space too!
Here are our top WeFill (Pro) Spring Clean Tips using common household ingredients that you probably already have on hand!
1. Dusting
Step one! Repurpose your old mismatched (or recently single) socks and use them as dusting mitts! Cotton fibres are great for trapping those allergenic dust particles. You’ll have more control over where dust goes, and you can just throw them in the next wash and reuse again as needed!
2. Windows
Best to wait for an overcast day (not hard on the West Coast) and start on the shady side of the home, as direct sun light can lead to streaking while cleaning your windows. After dusting the sills thoroughly, raise blinds or shades and liberally spray Mint Cleaning all natural and refillable glass and window cleaner and wipe well with a microfiber cloth (you can always use old newspapers too if you don’t have a cloth on hand).
3. Furniture
Start by pulling furniture away from walls and vacuum behind and under. For couches and carpets, sprinkle Mint Carpet Deodorizer and cover well in the areas in which you want to freshen up and deodorize. Leave for 20 minutes for up to an hour. Vacuum again the carpets and areas you just deodorized. Switch to an upholstery tool on your machine to go over both sides of sofa cushions and underneath them. The crevice tool is also a great way to remove any gunk along the trim and stitching.
4. Patio Furniture
With warmer weather on the horizon, it's time to get your outdoor furniture ready for outdoor lounging. To do this, add a squirt of Mint Cleaning all natural dish soap into a bowl of warm water, then wipe down tables and chairs with an Ecologie Swedish dish cloth or towel. Rise and repeat as necessary.
5. Makeup Brushes
To break down oil-based foundation and concealer, squeeze a few drops of Carina Organics baby shampoo or a little natural dish soap into your palm and gently rub the bristle tips, while working the suds through them. To rinse, hold the brush (bristles down) under warm running water. Gently shake over the sink to remove excess water, and lay the brush down on a Swedish dish cloth or towel and allow to dry. Put in a sunny and warm location to speed up the process.
6. Shower Drains
Freshen drains and help keep them free-flowing, mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup sea salt. Pour the mixture down the drain, followed by 1 cup heated vinegar. The mixture will foam and bubble. Let it stand for 15 minutes. Follow with running hot tap water for at least 15 to 30 seconds.
7. Stainless Steel Appliances and Sinks
Make your stainless steel surface sparkle again! Just use a reusable microfiber cloth or clean dish cloth, and break out your Mint Cleaning glass and window spray, spritz and rub in small sections, going with the grain. Buff to dry with a separate clean cloth. Your appliances will thank you!
8. Pots and Pans
Soften burnt-on residue by adding warm water and liquid dish soap to your cookware and letting it simmer on the stove. Use a compostable Casa Agave Pot Scrubber to remove any remaining stuck-on bits. Rinse well. For extra heavy duty cleaning, use a zero waste No Tox Life Dish Block™ Bar. Their all natural vegan formula cuts through grease and grime easily, leaving your cookware sparkling like never before. Using your stiff pot scrubber, lather and scrub all over the baked on surfaces and add a pinch of sea salt especially if you come across exceptionally stubborn spots. Rinse and dry as usual.
9. Cutting Boards
If you think those food stains are permanent, luckily this time you're wrong. Take the cut side of a fresh lemon and run it over the cutting board to help remove food stains and smells. For extra oomph, sprinkle it with salt or baking soda first, or even better yet, a little Mint Cleaning Carpet Deodorizer works just as awesome for this purpose too! (can we get a high five for this awesome multi-purpose home cleaning winner over here please). Rinse, air-dry and if applicable reapply a food safe oil to wooden cutting boards, to keep them in great condition.
10. Microwave
Clean your microwave by heating lemon juice and rinds in water in a mug or bowl. Take a lemon and cut into halves, squeeze the juice into 1/2 cup of water and drop the rinds into the mixture. Microwave for three minutes and let it stand for five minutes without opening the door. The trapped steam will loosen the grime, so you can wipe the microwave clean with your washable, reusable Swedish dish cloths or towels and a heck of a lot less elbow grease.
11. Remove hard water stains
Keep your faucets clean and sparkly by rubbing a lemon half and some baking soda on stubborn water stains. The citric acid helps remove hard water marks, while the sodium bicarbonate will gently scrub off hardened deposits.
Lastly! Don't forget to share these tips with your friends and family and enjoy them, and usher in this beautiful season that represents hope, energy and new growth. You will be sure to feel great about being kind to your body, home and planet too!
Happy Spring Equinox Everyone!