The Best Nontoxic Cleaning Recipes | 5 Day Plan to Clean Your Whole Home

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Hey guys! Today I’m sharing a few tips on how I spring clean. I used to be a clean freak, like clean windows and floors once a week kind of clean freak, before kids. Now I just stick to the basics and keep things tidy as much as possible. Over the last couple of years, we have been very intentional about what we bring into our home and what we use to clean with. Two staples in our cleaning routine are nontoxic cleaners and steamers. As I use and approve of more nontoxic options I will share them here below under “shop”.  I HIGHLY recommend you look up all of the products that you use for cleaning (some of them you probably use daily, like kitchen countertop cleaner) on the Think Dirty app to see what your working with.

The Best Nontoxic Cleaning Recipes | 5 Day Plan to Clean Your Whole Home

Tips for Success

1. Make a list of everything you want to get done. Things like decluttering, cleaning rooms, dusting, grout, baseboards, windows, etc. I’ll share my list below.
2. Plan out what you’ll need for each task (glass cleaner, sponges, paper towel, trash bags, steamer, etc.)
3. Do one thing/room a day so you don’t get overwhelmed. This one is hard for me because I like to get everything done in a day like I used to before kids, but not it’s just not possible to do that so I go in sections.
4. Do your cleaning in the morning if you can. If you work in the morning then plan to do it on your day off. The earlier the better and the more motivated you’ll be.
5. Just start. Once you have everything planned out just start, it’s like working out or anything you procrastinate with, the hardest part is just getting there/starting. Turn up the music, start your diffuser, and get going.

Plan It Out

Here is my list of things I need to get done for “spring cleaning” and it’s more like every season cleaning because I like to deep clean at the start of each season. These are things I do not do regularly, like every week or every month. I can make a list and tips on those types of chores too if you’d like! Let me know in the comments if you like cleaning posts. I can also do a video if you prefer.

DAY 1

declutter

• • kids toys // we go through all toys once a season and donate a few otherwise we’d be overwhelmed with stuff, we try our best to be minimalists. Simple is better.
  • closets // same with our closets, I go through them once or twice a year and donate things I haven’t worn in awhile
  • storage room // we have a large space that we store extra stuff in which is nice to have but it can get packed full quickly if we’re not careful. we go through this room once a season and donate all things that we don’t need
  • you can also do a quick steam clean on all closets and door handles while decluttering
  • products needed: trash bags, steam cleaner

DAY 2

windows + walls

• • clean all windows + blinds + machine wash all curtains
  • I have a Dyson stick vacuum that I love for getting loose dirt and dust, then I use my window cleaner, then I use my steamer for the window ledge and any extra dirty spots. Steam cleaning is AMAZING and totally nontoxic because it only uses water + heat.
  • products needed: vacuum, window cleaner, steamer, paper towels, microfiber cloths

DAY 3

baseboards + walls + dusting

• • start from top to bottom, so dust everything in your home starting with the ceiling, with your dusting spray and a microfiber cloth or vacuum attachment
  • vacuum all baseboards, then spray and wipe down all walls + baseboards.
  • steam any extra dirty spots first then wipe with a microfiber towel
  • products needed: all-purpose cleaner, paper towel, microfiber towels, steamer, vacuum

DAY 4

grout + floors

• • This is my favorite day. My new Black & Decker steam mop is life-changing, cleaning the grout used to be such a task, now I just use this and it vacuums and steams all in one step. I literally use this on all hard surfaces, it even works on rugs & carpets.
  • I steam mop all hard floors + bathrooms + entry rug
  • toss all bathroom and kitchen rugs in the washer then hang to dry
  • vacuum under beds and areas that don’t get regularly cleaned
  • freshen carpet by sprinkling carpet powder (recipe below) all over, let sit for an hour, then vacuum up
  • spot clean any carpet stains, especially important if you have pets and/or kids
  • products needed: steam mop, vacuum, carpet powder, laundry soap, carpet spot cleaner

DAY 5

clean cabinets + appliances

• • use your all-purpose cleaner to wash all cabinets inside and out
  • use the same cleaner to wipe down all appliances like the fridge (inside and out), inside the dishwasher, microwave, and oven. For the oven, I also use a DIY soft scrub. Use a handheld steamer to clean extra greasy or dirty areas, then wipe with a microfiber cloth (link:
  • products needed: all-purpose cleaner, scrub brush, paper towel, microfiber towels, DIY soft scrub, handheld steamer

SHOP

Need some cleaning supplies? Here are some of our favorites:

thieves household cleaning concentrate   |  branch basics cleaning concentrate

fave essential oils

Rocky Mountain | Simply Earth | Revive | Plant Therapy

here’s my favorite toilet brush

ever spring wipes

repurpose paper towel

robot vacuum | ecovacs deebot

Other Tips

• get an air purifier to help keep the air in your home cleaner
• get a babysitter or grandparent to take your kids for the morning so you can get your cleaning done
• less is more, try to get a natural concentrate that you can use for literally anything in your home
• ditch all the bleach and Windex, your lungs will thank you

Thieves Recipes

All-Purpose Cleaner (16 oz glass spray bottle)

1 cap of Thieves Cleaner +fill to the top with water

window Cleaner (16 oz glass spray bottle)

1 cap of Thieves cleaner, 1 tsp white vinegar, (optional add 5 drops of essential oil like citrus fresh) +fill to top with water

dusting spray + floor cleaner (16 oz glass spray bottle)

1 cap of Thieves cleaner, a splash of olive oil, and 5 drops of essential oil like orange, pine, or citrus fresh.

Heavy Degreaser (for the stove, grout, shower, etc) (in a 16 oz glass spray bottle)

2 caps of Thieves cleaner, 10 drops of lemon essential oil

Carpet Powder

1 cup baking soda, 10 drops of your favorite essential oil

DIY Soft Scrub

2 cup baking soda, 3-4 tbsp water, 10 drops EO like lemon or citrus fresh, 3 tbsp Thieves cleaner, mix together in a glass jar

Laundry Soap

I buy a bottle of Thieves laundry soap (about $30) and dilute it into 3 32 oz pump bottles. it lasts us about 6 months and works really well for our fam of 4 + our pup.

I hope you found some helpful tips! When do you start spring cleaning? I like to start when I can open the windows and air the house out. It’s one of my favorite times of the year!

x, T

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