That time of year is quickly approaching, some people dread it, and some people live for it, but we all call it the same thing, spring cleaning. This year, after organizing all of your closets and de-cluttering the rest of your home, but before you head to the store to purchase all of your cleaning supplies, consider trying eco-friendly cleaning solutions that you can make right there in your organized home.

Eco-Friendly cleaning products provide an excellent alternative to buying mass-produced, harmful products in the store. While store bought household cleaners do a great job ridding the home of dirt, germs and other microscopic and harmful organisms, people typically do not consider the harmful effects to our health and the environmental costs that these cleaners cause.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) names phosphorus, nitrogen, ammonia and additional chemicals grouped as “Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)” as the worst environmental hazards in household cleaners. Many of the chemicals are found in everyday cleaners including countertop, bathroom and glass cleaners.

Each time we clean, we rinse rags and these harmful chemicals enter our waterways and are not removed from the water at the waste treatment facilities, thus entering our rivers, streams, lakes and other waterways. The air is also contaminated by our cleaning products. Not only are the chemicals dangerous for us to breathe in, for obvious reasons, but when the chemicals are let outside they contribute to smog and pollution.

Why do we put our health, wealth and the environment through this when we don’t have to? The benefits of eco and non-toxic cleaning are endless, including the ones listed below.

• Eco-friendly cleaners do not irritate the senses, skin or respiratory system. Not having them in your house at all eliminates the potential of children or pets getting into them.
• Natural products found in eco-friendly cleaners break down and do not harm ecosystems, water or soil.
• While buying eco-friendly cleaners from the store can be pricey, making your own at home will save you lots of money. Though it can be a bit pricey initially, having to buy all the supplies at once, you will find your wallet thanking you in the long run. Ounce for ounce, homemade cleaning formulas cost about one-tenth of the price of their commercial counterpart.

To get started reaping these benefits of eco-friendly cleaners, here is a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) starter kit with a list of household ingredients and associated cleaner items, as well as recipes below.

Household Ingredients

• Salt
• Lemon
• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Borax
• Essential oils: tea tree oil, lavender oil, eucalyptus oil, and lemongrass oil
• Castile soap (ex. Dr. Bronner’s)
• Distilled Water

General Household Cleaner

16 ounces of hydrogen peroxide

16 ounces of distilled water

10 drops of tea tree oil

10 drops of lavender oil

10 drops lemongrass oil

Directions: mix all ingredients together. Note: hydrogen peroxide loses effectiveness when exposed to light so it is best to keep this mixture in the original brown hydrogen peroxide bottles. There are 32 ounce bottles you can buy and keep reusing and re-filling.

Window Cleaner

2 teaspoons (tsp.) white vinegar
1 quart (qt.) warm water
Directions: mix all ingredients together. Note: rub dry with newspaper to avoid streaking.

Disinfectant

¼ cup borax
½ gallon hot water

Directions: mix all ingredients together.

Oven Cleaner

¼ cup baking soda
2 tbsp. salt
Hot water, as needed
Directions: make a paste. Let paste sit for 5 minutes. Note: Keep off wires/heating elements.
Garbage Disposal Freshener

Grind ice and lemon in the disposal.

Toilet Bowls

¼ c. baking soda

1 cup vinegar

Directions: pour baking soda into bowl and drizzle with vinegar. Let sit for ½ hour. Scrub and flush. Add borax for stains.

Basin, Tub, and Tile

½ cup baking soda
2-3 tbsp. castile liquid soap

Directions: mix all ingredients together.

With these eco-friendly recipes your spring cleaning will go smoothly, without harming your health or the environment and you will be happily cheering “bring on spring!”