Spring Cleaning...How To Use Lemons, Vinegar, and Baking Soda To Get Your Home Spotless

There is never a bad time to clean your home, but since spring is almost here, I thought I would dedicate a blog to spring cleaning. Personally, spring cleaning is not my favorite thing to do, but I do love finding creative, environmentally friendly, and cost-efficient ways to clean.

Did you know you probably have the essential products for getting your home spotless sitting right in your pantry? Lemons, vinegar, and baking soda are perfect for every day, and spring cleaning. The citric acid in lemons helps cut through dirt and grease.

Vinegar is also acidic and works to dissolve dirt, and clean sticky surfaces. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, which is basically salt. It is the opposite of acidic, with a higher Ph balance.

There are many uses for lemons, vinegar, and baking soda. When it comes to cleaning, they get the job done.

Cleaning With Lemons

1. Freshening Garbage Disposal - Toss lemon peels down drain, and run with running water until peels go down.

2. Clean Microwave - Place lemon slices in microwave safe cup or bowl and microwave for about 5 minutes, allows to steam, then wipe off inside of microwave

3. Clean Cutting Boards - Squeeze juice onto board and allow to sit for a few minutes, and then scrub.

4. Grout Stains - Squeeze lemon juice into a spray bottle, and spray on grout and use in conjunction with baking soda, and scrub.

5. Cleaning Stove Top - Squeeze juice into a spray bottle, and spray on grout. Use in conjunction with baking soda, by adding a bit of baking soda to damp sponge and scrubbing.

Cleaning With Vinegar

1. Cleaning Windows/Mirrors - Mix vinegar and water, equal parts, and add to spray bottle to clean.

2. Clean Bath Tub - Scrub bath tub with vinegar soaked sponge. Rinse away grime.

3. Cleaning Coffee Pot - Brew a pot with white vinegar, to decalcify. Then brew again with just water to clear out vinegar.

4. Clean Show Doors - Spray shower door with vinegar, and leave to get rid of soap scum.

5. Clean Stainless Steel Sink - Add vinegar to damp sponge and scrub sink. Add a little baking to your sponge, for added brightness.

Cleaning With Baking Soda

1. Clean Tiles - Clean tiles with baking soda and damp sponge. For even better results combine with vinegar.

2. Brighten Laundry - Add a cup of baking soda to your load of laundry to brighten clothes.

3. Clean Pot and Pans - Scrub greasy pots and pans in hot water, with sponge, and thick layer of baking soda.

4. Scrub Canyon Off Walls - Scrub walls with damp sponge and baking soda to remove crayon.

5. Scrub Stove Top, Range Hood, and Backsplash - Scrub down you kitchen with baking soda, and damp sponge, and wipe clean.

As you can see, you can use lemons, vinegar, and baking soda for spring and everyday cleaning. The best thing about these products is that they are cheap, non-toxic, and normally found in your fridge and pantry.

Combine vinegar and baking soda together for even more deep cleaning in your showers, tubs, and tiles. I recommend getting a large spray bottle to keep the vinegar in, specifically for cleaning. Please label the bottle, otherwise your daughter might end up with vinegar scented hair before heading off to school. Not my finest moment.

After you have completed all of your cleaning, splash some vinegar in your flower vase for longer lasting flowers. Bake some cookies with your baking soda. And if all else fails after all long day of cleaning, make some lemonade, and relax.

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Dread...What Responsibilities, Tasks, And Chores Do You Avoid Or Try To Get Out Of?

The topic of dread comes to mind because once again I am up for jury duty. Yes, I am aware that it is my civic duty, but as it seems that I am called upon about every 18 months, by both city and federal, I am over it. I have served on three juries in the last five years. Sounds like a bit much, right?

The dreaded is really "to each his own" because there are chores I find joy in that others hates. Take for example cooking. I love to cook, and I would only dread it if I am feeling unwell.

I also love to garden, but it can be a lot of maintenance, and miserable if you don't get out in the morning before the day gets too warm. 

Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at, life is full of the "musts". You must pay your taxes. You must follow laws and rules, whether you agree or not. I always tell to my kids, "agreement is not necessary but compliance is".

You must show up if summoned for jury duty. You do not however, have to clean your house, or do laundry, or wash dishes. But who wants to live like that?

People dread doing many things. Based on complaints from friends, family, and coworkers over the years, here is my list of the most dreaded:

1. Mondays

2. Public Speaking

3. Going to DMV

4. Holidays with the family

5. Dusting/vacuum

6. Traffic

7. Meetings

8. Paying bills

9. Going to the doctor/dentist

10. Doing dishes

Honestly, there are bigger things in life to dread other than chores, but why go there. We know what they are, and I wanted to keep this blog light. What things do you dread? Is going to work on that list?

There are some positives to all these tasks and chores, and they are cleanliness and structure. Unless of course you don't like those things.

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