Spring is almost here and that means it’s time to deep clean the house. If you’re like many homeowners in Omaha, you don’t like using harsh chemicals to clean you home. Not only are they not safe around children and pets, but their odors can be noxious to anyone who is sensitive to odors and they can be expensive. Use common household items like vinegar and baking soda instead of expensive and harsh chemicals to do the job.

Eco Friendly Spring Cleaning Tips

Vinegar – Vinegar is a powerhouse when it comes to cleaning your house. It’s great for making pickles and salad dressings and works great on windows and coffee makers too. You can use either white distilled vinegar or apple cider vinegar to clean the house, apple cider vinegar smells a little better, but they both have about the same alkalinity and clean just as well.

1. Coffee Pot – Run a 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water through the coffee pot. Fill the carafe with vinegar and pour into the reserviour just like you were making coffee and turn the appliance on. Don’t throw out the hot vinegar. Instead use it to clean other items.
2. Windows – Using the warm vinegar from the coffee pot you can clean the windows. Fill a spray bottle with the vinegar and spray on windows like window cleaner. Rub off with a soft cloth.
3. Shower Curtain – Use the same 1:1 mixture to clean the shower curtain. You can spray it on the curtain and rinse off with water or run throught  the washing machine. The vinegar will clean the washing machine at the same time so win-win!
4. Iron – Fill your iron’s reservoir with vinegar and turn it on to steam. Let is sit upright in the on position for ten minutes and then follow with water.
5. Degrease the Kitchen – Use a 1:1 mixture of vinegar to water and use it to clean countertops, stove, oven, cabinets etc…

Baking Soda – Baking soda is another non-toxic product you probably have on hand. It does a fantastic job refreshing your home and cleaning it too. Ditch expensive cleaners for a $.99 box of baking soda to clean the following items.

1. Carpets – Freshen carpets by sprinkling baking soda on carpet. Wait 15 minutes and vacuum like normal. Your carpets and rugs will smell fresh and clean.
2. Grill – Mix a paste of baking soda and water and use to scrub a grill that’s been sitting outside all winter long.
3. Remove Stains from Plastic – Plastic food containers have a way of getting stained and most dish soaps won’t remove them. Use baking soda to get the job done. Simply sprinkle baking soda on wet sponge and wipe clean.
4. Stinky Gym Shoes – You’ve probably got a rear foyer filled with stinky athletic shoes so go to town by sprinkling about a tablespoon of baking soda into each shoe. Wait 15 minutes (or longer if you prefer) and empty into the trash. Shoe odors will be nuetralized and smell fresh.
5. Clogged Drain – Use baking soda and vinegar to clean a clogged drain. Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain followed by half a cup of vinegar. Cover with a wet cloth and wait five minutes before flushing with hot water.