The sun is finally out again and the flowers are beginning to bloom. With that comes the insatiable urge to clean. If you’ve caught the spring cleaning bug, continue reading on for clean up tips for your home while also keeping the planet green:
Source: Mommypotamus
Upcycle Old T-Shirts
Collecting t-shirts is easy. Getting rid of them is the hard part! Some shirts can hold sentimental value or fond memories, and others are just really cool…even if they don’t fit anymore. Instead of donating them, try upcycling them!
There’s a ton of different ways you can revamp your old t-shirt. One of our favorites is transforming an old t-shirt into a nice tote bag, like the picture above from blogger Mommypotamus. That way, you can avoid using plastic bags every time you go to the grocery store and they’re machine washable – plus you’re creating less waste!
Disinfect Your Reusable Water Bottle with Baking Soda Instead of Chemicals
It may seem that if water is the only liquid you put into your water bottle, it doesn’t need to be cleaned all that often. However, germs can quickly accumulate on the mouthpiece and inside if you only rinse your bottle out.
If you really want to clean up your HYDAWAY bottle, we suggest soaking it in a solution of ¼ cup of baking soda and about 20oz of water overnight. This helps break down any of the germs that are on the inside and can prevent any lingering silicone taste from getting into your water.
For your everyday cleaning, HYDAWAY bottles are dishwasher safe! Just expand the bottle and place on the top rack of your dishwasher and run regularly. Make sure to keep both the lid and bottle away from the heating element, as the heat may damage the plastic.
Don’t Buy Cleaners with Harmful Chemicals
Many store-bought cleaners can be extremely harmful to your family and the environment. Instead, make your own clean-up products with a reusable spray bottle. You can make a highly effective cleaner out of simple everyday household ingredients such as baking soda, lemon juice, olive oil, or white vinegar.
You can even add a couple of drops of essential oils to every bottle to make sure your house comes out smelling fantastic. Check out this handy infographic for different combinations.
Source: Today’s Creative Life
Deep Clean Your Appliances
Your dishwasher, microwave, stove and fridge are all keeping your family fed and clean, but how often are you cleaning them? Your stove and microwave may be caked with residual food particles and your fridge may have lingering germs from old food. Cleaning your microwave is made simple by the magic power of steam cleaning. Your oven can be deep cleaned with just a few common ingredients and some time, and all with natural, non-chemical products! Keeping these appliances clean is important to keeping your family healthy.
Source: The Krazy Coupon Lady
Don’t Forget Your Car
According to a study done by Harvard Health Watch, the average American spends 101 minutes per day driving. Spending that much time in your car means spending that much time with all that dirt and dust!
Clean up your dashboard with a clean coffee filter. The lint-free fibers of the filter help trap all the little dust particles. Clean off the air vents as well with foam paint brushes or compressed air to prevent more dust from getting into the cabin of your car. You’ll notice a difference if you do.
Happy Cleaning!
We hope these cleaning tips will help you and your family get your Spring season started on the right side of a freshly made bed.
If you’re headed outdoors for your next adventure, check out our camping tips! Happy spring cleaning from all of us at HYDAWAY.