Spring and eco-friendly cleaning

Spring has finally arrived, long awaited. The weather is unpredictable and moody, but you can already feel the promise of warm, sunny days in the air.

I am slowly getting ready for spring cleaning; in the beautiful but sharp light I can see the prints of little hands on the windows, mirrors, furniture, and I notice traces of squashed food on the kitchen and living room floors. In winter, when our senses lose a bit of their sharpness, I could do the cleaning based on a simplified plan. But the April sun shows no mercy

It is worth remembering to use safe cleaning products, especially when we are parents of little ones.

For many years I have been fighting — successfully, I might add — against atopic dermatitis and contact allergies. One of the most effective protective mechanisms that allowed me to avoid constant medication turned out to be replacing typical store-bought cleaning agents with so-called eco-friendly cleaning products. Eco-friendly because they are based on just a few simple ingredients that are relatively gentle on the skin and mucous membranes — mainly baking soda, citric acid or lemon juice, borax, white vinegar, table salt, and essential oils. They are also far less harmful to the environment than the pesticides commonly used in commercial cleaning products.

Eco-friendly cleaners are becoming increasingly popular, partly due to the growing prevalence of allergies. Despite their simplicity and minimal amounts of dyes and fragrances, they are extremely effective. Did you know that baking soda can have many uses in our homes? As a dry powder it absorbs odours; when mixed with borax and table salt it becomes a scrubbing powder; if we add a little water, we get a powerful cleaning paste that won’t scratch surfaces, even acrylic shower trays; and if we add more water (e.g., 1 litre of water and 4 tablespoons of soda), we get a universal cleaning solution. Homemade cleaning products are cheap to make and very efficient.

Baking soda, citric acid, and vinegar are found in most homes even in small amounts. Please take a look at how a few simple ingredients can solve common issues in the kitchen and bathroom:

1. Tile grout – keep it clean by spraying it with white vinegar and scrubbing with an old toothbrush.

2. Dirty tiles – simply sprinkle with baking soda and wipe with a sponge.

3. Bathtub and sink – can be cleaned with plain vinegar or a paste of baking soda and water; just wipe. You can place a cloth soaked in vinegar and hot water on the faucet for 10 minutes to remove limescale.

4. Clogged pipes – unclog them by pouring half a cup of baking soda into the drain and then adding a cup of vinegar. Cover with a cloth. After at least 20 minutes (or even a few hours), pour boiling water down the drain. You can replace soda and vinegar with borax. This not only unclogs the pipes but also removes unpleasant odours.

5. Toilet – the outer part can be wiped with vinegar; the inside can be covered with borax for a few hours to remove limescale and whiten the bowl. For a stronger effect, remove some water from the bowl and apply a paste of borax and water.

As you can see from these simple examples, you can easily do without harmful chemical cleaners that pollute water systems and affect our children. We managed to introduce eco-friendly cleaning agents throughout our home with very little effort. We use them in the kitchen (e.g., BioD dishwashing liquid, our own homemade dishwasher tablets), in the bathroom (e.g., a cleaning paste based on baking soda and lavender oil). If we don’t have an idea for something homemade or need a product with specific properties, we choose ready-made biodegradable options. Some of them I especially like for their scent, cleaning effect, or efficiency — one of them is definitely the BioD glass and mirror spray. It has a characteristic vinegar smell that quickly evaporates, and the cleaned glass shines incredibly.

Thanks to borax, washing soda, and soap flakes, we created our own washing powder for coloured fabrics, and after adding sodium percarbonate also a washing powder for whites. We made these products ourselves, through trial and error — and we are truly proud of them. Slow Clean washing powders are made by us, and the best recommendation is the satisfaction of our customers.

To prepare your own washing powder for coloured fabrics, simply mix equal weights of three ingredients: borax, washing soda, and grey (or Marseille) soap flakes. Remember not to wash reusable nappies in such powder, because the soap can coat microfleece and reduce the absorbency of microfibre inserts.

I try to avoid fabric softeners. I noticed that some of them worsen allergy symptoms. To get soft and nicely scented laundry, I add a few drops of lavender essential oil and a few tablespoons of white vinegar to the final rinse. The scent of vinegar disappears quickly, but it helps remove soap residues from fabrics. Lavender oil not only keeps the washing machine clean but also soothes the skin, improves mood, treats upper respiratory infections and migraines, relaxes, and helps with sleep.
Thanks to eco-friendly cleaning products, I no longer need to buy a large amount of commercial cleaners. I rely on baking soda, citric acid, vinegar, and two favourite essential oils in the kitchen and bathroom. For laundry I also need washing soda, borax, and grey soap. Occasionally I add BioD stain remover. For ready-made cleaners I keep glass spray, dishwashing liquid, and the BioD orange floor cleaner. I save not only space in cupboards and money but — perhaps most importantly — time lost on exhausting shopping trips with children.

If you prefer to test the effectiveness and health benefits of ready-made eco cleaners, I recommend the products of the English brand BioD. They contain only biodegradable and environmentally friendly ingredients such as vegetable oils, essential oils, vinegar, citric acid, and vegetable glycerine. For years I have been a fan of their dishwashing liquid and lavender fabric softener.

Finally, I’d like to share a recipe for a simple and effective cleaning paste. Mix 6 parts baking soda with 2 parts water and a few drops of essential oil (usually lavender or orange). Store the paste in a closed container. It’s an easy, healthy, and economical cleaner.

And maybe you know something even more eco-friendly and economical? I’d love to hear your ideas for healthy and budget-friendly spring cleaning.