Natural Spring Cleaning

Once a year everyone should take the time to have a good old fashioned spring clean. You can use natural resources such as baking soda, essential oils and mild cleansers and make a healthier home without toxic chemicals polluting your own environment and the planet. That’s better for everyone!

See below for some great natural cleaning ideas:

Hard Surface Scrub

To make this general all-over cleanser make a paste from 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 teaspoon castile soap – add few drops of peppermint oil and a little water to mix. Use on baths, counter tops, floors and toilets. Keep left over paste in an air tight container for future use.

Mould Away

To remove mould, first use your Hard Surface Scrub and then rinse with a wet cloth.

Then try this great Anti-Mould Spray by mixing of 1 cup warm water to 20 drops of tea tree oil in a spray bottle, then shake well. Spray until wet then leave to dry with the windows open, don’t wipe it off. Always shake the bottle before spraying as this breaks up the oil droplets in the water, allowing it to be dispersed. Or you can add an emulsifier such as Polysorbate or Natural Solubiliser which allows water and oil to mix – which means a lot less shaking!

Windows

To wash windows inside and out there’s no need for a fancy cleaner, just a simple mix of warm water and white vinegar will work wonders. Some people buff their windows with scrunched up newspaper or an old towel to get rid of streaks. Here’s a handy hint – don’t clean your windows when they are in direct sun as they will streak.

Kitchen Appliances

You can try a non-toxic microwave oven cleaner recipe using hard surface scrub paste and spraying with vinegar before wiping off and it will soon be looking like new. Wipe out the fridge with half a bucket of hot water and 1 cup of baking soda to clean and remove odours.

Bench Tops

Give bench tops a good clean using a simple degreasing cleaner made with a spray bottle filled with a cup of hot water and tablespoon of castile soap, and around 10 drops of orange sweet oil. This is a great versatile cleaner for your home which can be used on counter tops or difficult to move spots on floors. Always remember to shake vigorously before each spray to disperse the oil.

Floors

Make a hard-floor cleaning spray with equal amounts of hot water and vinegar, and 10-20 drops of orange sweet oil. Spray and mop away the dirt (you will need to rinse the mop a few times to get rid of grime).

Safety

Essential oils are very concentrated and can be harmful to people and animals. Always store essential oils and cleaning products out of reach of children in a cool, dark place. We recommend a trial of any cleaning recipe on an inconspicuous area first to ensure damage is not made to surfaces.

If any quantity of essential oil is swallowed seek urgent medical attention, call NZ National Poison Centre on 0800 POISON.

Seek the advice of a trained Aromatherapist when using essential oils when pregnant, breastfeeding or suffering from a medical condition i.e, epilepsy, diabetes, high blood pressure; or you are on medication.

Our Range

Also available from Lotus Oils: Borax Powder (for DIY Dish Washing Powder, Cleaning Toilets), Soda Ash (for Oven Cleaner, Washing Soda), Citric Acid (for Toilet Bombs, Kettle Descaler).

Here at Lotus Oils we strive to provide quality service and source premium quality oils and raw materials for all of our products. Browse our full collection here or contact us if you have any questions about Spring Cleaning Products. Don’t forget to Like our Facebook and follow us on Pinterest for more cool ideas and special deals!