Domestique

Good windy morning, everyone. I love this time of year. The days are getting longer, the wind starts to warm up just a little, and all of a sudden all I can think about is spring. And spring cleaning! I don’t have a routine for spring cleaning, per se, but I do like to be a little more thorough at this time of year. I want to open windows and get the stinky, stale air out. And what good is clean air without clean floors? And counters? You can see how this progresses, until I’ve got the countertops scoured down to nubs and the cats shaved to prevent a single hair from trying to form bunnies under my sofa.

This year, though, more than others, spring cleaning is going to be a particularly important ritual for me. With the economy going down the crapper - that’s the technical term, by the way - and so many people experiencing a lot of hardship, this spring is a great time to make a clean sweep of our lives - both literally and figuratively. Spring cleaning is symbolic. It can help you get rid of all the negativity that has built up over the winter by washing it away and sweeping it out the door. Trust me, you’ll feel great. As well, for me anyway, cleaning up the space where I live always helps me to appreciate what I have. I have a lovely home, and I try to enjoy taking care of it - even the gross parts - because there are so many people who would love to be in my shoes.

Besides helping our homes smell better and making us feel better, spring cleaning is cheap entertainment. Although it may not be a trip to Disney World, getting the family together for a day of cleaning can be as entertaining as you want it to. And bonus, you’re too busy to go out shopping! But if you’re not careful, you can spend a lot of money on the “necessities” for a good spring cleaning. The Swiffer sheets, the new “natural” cleaners to replace all the old nasty ones, the world’s most waterproof rubber gloves, $90 worth of Mr. Clean Erasers - whew! I’m spent just thinking about it all.  

I’m here to tell you that you just don’t need all of that stuff. I know, I know, those stupid erasers get that black gunk off the fridge door handle better than anything I’ve ever used too, but you can get by without them. Just ask your grandma, she’d let you know in no uncertain terms. In fact, some of the cleaners from grandma’s arsenal are enjoying a resurgence in popularity thanks to the eco-movement going on right now. I touched on this yesterday, but baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice are powerful cleaners to have on hand. They are environmentally-friendly, and ridiculously frugal for anyone looking to save some money.

In my article Cleaning With Vinegar over at Suite101, I talk about the very good reasons to ditch your chemical all-purpose cleaner and try using a mixture of 1-part vinegar to 1-part water instead. The solution really cuts through grease in the kitchen, and even cleans glass without streaking, making it ideal for a multitude of surfaces.

The baking soda is a powerful abrasive, making it great for textured surfaces such as those grimy fridge door handles. Just mix it with some lemon juice to form a paste, and rub the surface clean. (Rinse it well with water afterward.) Or pour some down a slow drain, then pour vinegar overtop and let it foam your drain clear.

Lemon juice can be used to remove soap scum from tiles or remove water stains from bathroom fixtures. Surprisingly, mixing 1-part olive oil to ½-part lemon juice will yield a great polish for hardwood furniture.

So as you can see, cleaning doesn’t have to be a chore, and it certainly doesn’t have to be expensive. It might make you hungry, but that’s something I can’t help you with

-Heather

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