Transform your Spring Clean: Innovative ways to go green

Once the weather starts to warm up, our thoughts often turn to cleaning, tidying and organising our spaces. Keeping your home clean and tidy can be an important element in maintaining good physical and mental health.

From a mindfulness perspective, a neat and organised home can reduce stress levels, as spending time in cluttered, dirty, or disorganised surroundings may trigger general gloom and frustration.

The good news is that you don’t have to use harsh chemicals to keep your space clean. Green cleaning is a great alternative that’s practical, effective, and easy to adopt.

Plus, you probably already have the items you need to get started in your cupboard. So why not try green cleaning and enjoy a fresh, clean home without harming the environment or your health?

LoofCo, one of our favourite plastic-free cleaning ranges have shared their top tips for a greener spring clean.

LoofCo’s top tips for a greener spring clean

Lemon Aid: Unlock the secret of citrus to make your home sparkle

• Lemons are great for green cleaning. Rinsing a smelly container with lemon juice can help remove stains and smells.
• Use lemon juice and salt to clean your chopping board. Scrub with a LoofCo Mini Scrub Brush or Washing-Up Scraper for added effectiveness.
• Lemons are great for cleaning the oven. Cut up some lemons and place them in a baking dish full of water. Steam in the oven for 20 minutes to lift the grime for an easy, deep clean. LoofCo’s Loofah Cleaning Pad and sustainable cotton Kitchen Cloths help get the job done.
• Lemons are a perfect natural cleaning agent when mixed with baking soda. This solution can be used to deep clean all metal surfaces, including taps, showers, sinks, cutlery, and hob surfaces.

The Acid Test: Revolutionise your cleaning habits with the versatility of vinegar

• Are you struggling to keep your mirrors clean? Instead of using harsh cleaning products, why not try a gentle and natural solution? Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water to make a cleaning solution that will leave your mirrors sparkling. To wipe off the solution, you can use newspaper or a dry cloth. It’s an easy and effective way to achieve a perfect reflection.
• If you’re facing issues with your dishwasher but prefer not to use a harsh chemical descaling tablet, there’s a safer and more natural alternative. Simply fill a dishwasher-safe bowl with white vinegar and run a normal cleaning cycle. This will help remove bacteria, odours and limescale, leaving your dishwasher refreshed and clean.
• To keep your glass shower door sparkling, use a solution made of white vinegar and water. Decant this into a spray bottle, spray it onto your shower door and scrub with LoofCo Bathroom Cleaning Pad. Rinse with warm water afterwards. It’s an easy and gentle solution that will leave your shower door looking clean and shiny.

Helpful houseplants: Your natural air purifiers

• Houseplants can also help with a greener clean as they help to remove indoor air pollutants! Chrysanthemums, English ivy, spider plants, and Boston ferns naturally freshen the air. Studies have also found that having plants in the home can improve concentration and productivity, as well as reducing stress levels and boosting your mood.
• Did you know that some fruits and vegetables can be used to provide nutrient-rich water that can help boost the health of your plants too?
  • Soaking soybeans in water overnight creates a simple nitrogen-rich fertiliser for plants that promotes growth.
  • Strengthen your plant’s roots and reduce root rot by using homemade liquid fertiliser from banana peel. Cut your banana peel into small chunks and soak them in water for two to three days. Strain and use to water your plants. You can even add the liquid to a spray bottle and spray it onto the leaves and branches of your plants to help deter greenflies.
  • Soaking potato peels in water for a week can create a great source of water for both indoor and outdoor plants for general health. Using this nutrient-rich water once or twice a month will help your plants grow healthy and strong.

While you can make your own products with lemons and vinegar, if you’re short on time or would rather use a ready-made product, it is simple to switch to plant-based eco-friendly cleaning products that offer a very real alternative to the more conventional cleaning solutions.

If you clean your home and clothes with toxic chemicals, you breathe them in, absorb them through your skin and flush them into the environment. Conversely, green cleaning products can offer the same odour-neutralising and cleaning benefits but with added peace of mind that you’re not harming your health or the planet.

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