As we bid adieu to Winter and usher in Spring, it's the perfect time to purge, clean and organize. For some of us, spring cleaning seems daunting and downright tedious, but it doesn't have to be. Every year I look forward to spring-cleaning giddy with excitement waiting for the Spring Cleaning season to arrive. This makes me sound so sad....
This year I took January as a planning, gathering month, which means I have everything in hand.
On the first day of Spring, March 20, I will tackle one area of the home and share insights and tips to make your own project easier.
I decided to start in the kitchen, although it is new, there are still bits that need a good clean, cupboards to de-clutter, and possibly a few new little treats I could make.
Before I start there a couple of things I like to do...
Have 2 lists a "nice to do" and a "need 2 do" I keep to this as I may not have time to do them all I often leave the "nice 2 do" list till after the hard work is done.
Have a bottle of water with me, wear loose clothing and suitable footwear especially if I'm going up a ladder.Collect all the tools and products I will need and keep them to hand, I don't want to waste time. I have a cleaning caddy to organise my cleaning tools "I think of it as my cleaning toolbox."
Put the music on... I love to cleaning to music and for me it has got to be Capital Gold.
OK we are all set to go...
Kitchen bacteria buster
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon organic dish soap
2 teaspoons vinegar
Warm water
20 drops lemon essential oil
Instructions:
Use a funnel to put the baking soda into a spray bottle.
Add the soap and vinegar to the bottle. Shake the mixture well.
When the mixture stops foaming, fill the bottle the rest of the way up with warm water. Shake again.
Add essential oil to give your cleaner a fresh scent. Shake again to mix well.
To use cleaner, simply spray on appliances, counter, or floor then wipe clean with a sponge or cleaning rag.
No matter how you choose to clean, try following these simple rules to keep yourself on track and cut down on that cleaning time…
Start cleaning from the top of the room and work your way down starting on the left side of the room and heading clockwise. "It can save tons of time -- no wasted steps or backtracking. This is the fastest way to get things done and will cut down on dust falling on areas that you have already cleaned.
Clean the dirtiest things first in case the mess ends up spreading around.
Dedicate a specific amount of cleaning time and then set a timer. Work as fast as you can within this time and don’t let yourself get distracted.
Stay in the kitchen!! I tend to get easily side tracked when I am cleaning, and often get distracted if I leave the room and see other things that need to be done. {Please tell me I am not alone in this!}
Quick tidy before you officially start, take a few minutes to clear away items that do not belong in the kitchen and place them in a bin or basket to put away afterwards. Put any items from the counters into the cupboards if they have a spot to go so the counters are as clear as possible. If you are going to be doing the whole kitchen at once, I like to clear everything off of the counters and place them on the dining room table so that they are out of the way. It takes a few more minutes at the beginning, but will actually save time in the end. NOTE: This is just a quick tidy looking at things that are on the floor, obviously out of place, or that you know that you want to get rid of. Save big organizing projects for later!
spray bottle with a mixture of 1/3 vinegar and 2/3 water
coarse salt
baking soda
Have 2 lists a "nice to do" and a "need 2 do" I keep to this as I may not have time to do them all I often leave the "nice 2 do" list till after the hard work is done.
Have a bottle of water with me, wear loose clothing and suitable footwear especially if I'm going up a ladder.Collect all the tools and products I will need and keep them to hand, I don't want to waste time. I have a cleaning caddy to organise my cleaning tools "I think of it as my cleaning toolbox."
Put the music on... I love to cleaning to music and for me it has got to be Capital Gold.
OK we are all set to go...
If you have a basic cleaning kit, you probably have most of your cleaning supplies all ready to go. I try to use green cleaners as much as possible and have cut back drastically on the amount of cleaning products that I buy, I pretty much use my microfiber cloths, they don't just push dust around, they grab it and remove it. They're also reusable -- and therefore green, a polishing cloth, also paper towels and handmade cleaners for about 80% of my kitchen cleaning. Here is my handmade kitchen cleaner list that I use…
Kitchen grime away
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups baking soda
1/2 cup vegetable oil-based soap
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons vinegar
Instructions:
Find an old cleaning supply spray bottle or purchase a new one. Be sure to clean the bottle well if you are using an old one. Add all the ingredients to the spray bottle.
Shake the bottle well to mix all the ingredients and dissolve the baking soda.
To use, spray on tile, floor, shower, tub, toilet, or sink and wipe clean with a damp sponge or rag.
Kitchen grime away
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups baking soda
1/2 cup vegetable oil-based soap
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons vinegar
Instructions:
Find an old cleaning supply spray bottle or purchase a new one. Be sure to clean the bottle well if you are using an old one. Add all the ingredients to the spray bottle.
Shake the bottle well to mix all the ingredients and dissolve the baking soda.
To use, spray on tile, floor, shower, tub, toilet, or sink and wipe clean with a damp sponge or rag.
Kitchen bacteria buster
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon organic dish soap
2 teaspoons vinegar
Warm water
20 drops lemon essential oil
Instructions:
Use a funnel to put the baking soda into a spray bottle.
Add the soap and vinegar to the bottle. Shake the mixture well.
When the mixture stops foaming, fill the bottle the rest of the way up with warm water. Shake again.
Add essential oil to give your cleaner a fresh scent. Shake again to mix well.
To use cleaner, simply spray on appliances, counter, or floor then wipe clean with a sponge or cleaning rag.
No matter how you choose to clean, try following these simple rules to keep yourself on track and cut down on that cleaning time…
Start cleaning from the top of the room and work your way down starting on the left side of the room and heading clockwise. "It can save tons of time -- no wasted steps or backtracking. This is the fastest way to get things done and will cut down on dust falling on areas that you have already cleaned.
Clean the dirtiest things first in case the mess ends up spreading around.
Dedicate a specific amount of cleaning time and then set a timer. Work as fast as you can within this time and don’t let yourself get distracted.
Stay in the kitchen!! I tend to get easily side tracked when I am cleaning, and often get distracted if I leave the room and see other things that need to be done. {Please tell me I am not alone in this!}
Quick tidy before you officially start, take a few minutes to clear away items that do not belong in the kitchen and place them in a bin or basket to put away afterwards. Put any items from the counters into the cupboards if they have a spot to go so the counters are as clear as possible. If you are going to be doing the whole kitchen at once, I like to clear everything off of the counters and place them on the dining room table so that they are out of the way. It takes a few more minutes at the beginning, but will actually save time in the end. NOTE: This is just a quick tidy looking at things that are on the floor, obviously out of place, or that you know that you want to get rid of. Save big organizing projects for later!
Quick check list
Clean out and organise cupboards and drawers
· Clean out and organise pantry/larder
· Deep-clean cabinet fronts
· Deep-clean refrigerator and freezer (try and use what is left in the freezer if not then wrap in paper and put into cool box and pop outside)
· Deep-clean oven, stove, and microwave Scrub grout (if necessary)
What you need for non-toxic oven cleaning:· Clean out and organise pantry/larder
· Deep-clean cabinet fronts
· Deep-clean refrigerator and freezer (try and use what is left in the freezer if not then wrap in paper and put into cool box and pop outside)
· Deep-clean oven, stove, and microwave Scrub grout (if necessary)
Wash windows
· Oil wooden items
· Sharpen knives
· Oil wooden items
· Sharpen knives
spray bottle with a mixture of 1/3 vinegar and 2/3 water
coarse salt
baking soda
Directions to clean an oven without chemicals:
1. Remove the oven racks (you can clean these separately the same way).
2. Spray the whole oven including the inside of the door with the vinegar/water mixture. Get it pretty wet all over.
3. Sprinkle baking soda everywhere putting more on any caked on food particles.
4. Sprinkle a thick layer of course salt over the baking soda.
5. Spray again with the vinegar/water. You’ll hear a nice bubbling sound from the reaction of the vinegar and baking soda.
6. Leave it to sit overnight.
7. With the course side of sponge scrub the oven. You’ll see how easily everything comes up. This was amazing to me.
8. Spray again with vinegar/water to help remove everything.
9. Wipe with old towels or paper towels.Cleaning the microwave
1. Remove the oven racks (you can clean these separately the same way).
2. Spray the whole oven including the inside of the door with the vinegar/water mixture. Get it pretty wet all over.
3. Sprinkle baking soda everywhere putting more on any caked on food particles.
4. Sprinkle a thick layer of course salt over the baking soda.
5. Spray again with the vinegar/water. You’ll hear a nice bubbling sound from the reaction of the vinegar and baking soda.
6. Leave it to sit overnight.
7. With the course side of sponge scrub the oven. You’ll see how easily everything comes up. This was amazing to me.
8. Spray again with vinegar/water to help remove everything.
9. Wipe with old towels or paper towels.Cleaning the microwave
All you need for this task is a microwave bowl, slices of lemon white vinegar and water
place your ingredients into the bowl and microwave on high for 5 mins leave the bowl in there for a bit longer after you remove the bowl just wipe around with paper towel. Your microwave will be sparkly & smell clean and fresh.
Distilled white vinegar
Baking soda
Lemon essential oils (option)
Clean dishwasher and other appliances
For the dishwasher you needDistilled white vinegar
Baking soda
Lemon essential oils (option)
Use a clean cloth to wipe down the seal and inside of your dishwasher.
Replace the bottom rack into your dishwasher. Pour 1 cup of vinegar into the bottom of your dishwasher.
Add 1 cup of baking soda into the bottom of your dishwasher. Optional: Add 3 drops of lemon essential oils to deodorize.
Run your dishwasher on the Light Wash cycle.
Cleaning your dishwasher once a month will not only make your dishes cleaner, but will deter mold and mildew from forming too. This method no only disinfects and cleans the inside of your dishwasher, but also helps clean the plumbing that is connected to your dishwasher as well.
Cleaning the washing machine
You will needWhite Vinegar
Cleansing essential oil of choice (optional) Orange/ lemon/lime is my choice.
Rags
Small scrub brush or toothbrush.
Mix the vinegar 50/50 with water and add a few drops of your oil. If you like exact measurements, 1 cup vinegar, 1 cup water and 20 drops of oil is about what I do.
Pull out your soap dispenser and scrub it down good in your kitchen sink.
Next use the scrub brush to clean the area where the soap dispenser goes. I have been real good about cleaning that part of my front loading washer but was really surprised at the amount of mold I found there.
All those black spots are mold. Depending on the soap you use, you may need to really scrub at the soap scum. I use the pods that go straight in the machine which don't make that horrible scummy mess.
Clean the rubber seal.
That rubber seal is the main culprit when you have a stinky washing machine. clean the entire thing, being sure to pull it away from the drum and clean down in there.
While you are doing this, make sure to wipe down the door too.
While you are doing this, make sure to wipe down the door too.
Doing this a couple of times a month will keep the mold and smell away.
That’s when I remembered the lint trap.
That’s right. Did you know your washing machine has a lint trap? It does, and it’s pretty easy to clean.
Not all washing machines have a lint trap, However most of them do.
My washing machine has a lower panel that comes off by removing three bolts at the bottom, this reveals the lint trap, water pump and a few other things. A Google search has revealed that many machines have this.
Other machines have an even smaller panel that opens to reveal just the lint trap. Chances are, if your machine has this little panel, you already know about it. .Clean that sucker off and scrub it good with vinegar. Be sure to clean inside where the trap goes as well. If you find a sock or two in there just throw them away, trust me, the stink is in them to stay!
That’s when I remembered the lint trap.
That’s right. Did you know your washing machine has a lint trap? It does, and it’s pretty easy to clean.
Not all washing machines have a lint trap, However most of them do.
My washing machine has a lower panel that comes off by removing three bolts at the bottom, this reveals the lint trap, water pump and a few other things. A Google search has revealed that many machines have this.
Other machines have an even smaller panel that opens to reveal just the lint trap. Chances are, if your machine has this little panel, you already know about it. .Clean that sucker off and scrub it good with vinegar. Be sure to clean inside where the trap goes as well. If you find a sock or two in there just throw them away, trust me, the stink is in them to stay!
·
No comments:
Post a Comment