No More Chemicals!

With it being about two weeks into May, I always try to give my house a good deep “spring cleaning” around this time of year. I personally can’t tolerate the smell of some chemicals that are used to clean and not to mention, super dry hands. This year, I’ve done some research on how I can put natural ingredients, such as coconut oil, to use in my cleaning routine. Coconut oil has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties that make this versatile oil great for household cleaning. From my experience, you can use coconut oil by itself, or with ingredients such as baking soda or lemon. Let’s take a look at some of my favorite green cleaning tips:

Wood Polish – My wood furniture is precious to me, so when cleaning my dresser, I like to make sure that I’m not going to end up damaging the wood with certain chemicals. Instead of your typical store bought lemon scented wood polish, make your own! Add a small amount of lemon juice to 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and use on wood furniture (test a small portion first). This will help keep your wood furniture shiny and intact.

Bathtub and Shower – Mold and rust are two elements that are always so hard to clean in my bathroom, but I can’t stand the smell of bleach and the burning I get in my nose after inhaling fumes while cleaning. I like to sprinkle baking soda over the problem areas of the tub and then take a washcloth that is dipped in coconut oil and start to scrub away. I have found that you can use white vinegar with this as well.

Stainless Steel – All my appliances are stainless steel in my kitchen, which can get take a hefty dose of dirt if not cleaned properly. Check out Jen’s tips on how she uses coconut oil to polish her stainless steel appliances with coconut oil to get them looking brand new!

Flooring – My high heel shoes always seems to leave scuff marks on my bathroom floors and I’m sure you have the same issue if you have little ones running around your house. To get rid of those stubborn scuff marks, try using a dab of coconut oil, while rubbing it into the scuff marks with a sponge of washcloth. Just remember to clean this up thoroughly up after so no one slips.

Leather Cleaner – Since my sofa and love seat are both leather, I’m trying to avoid cracking that may occur with time. In efforts to prevent this and clean at the same time, I’m in love with rubbing a small amount of coconut oil onto the leather furniture. After leaving this on for a few minutes, I wipe all areas down with a clean rag.

Now that I’ve used these tips in my “green spring cleaning,” I feel so much better about my house and overall health. It is amazing how one simple ingredient can be used in multiple ways, leaving coconut oil my number one recommended household staple. And remember, coconut oil can also be used on those dry hands as a moisturizer!

Do you have any green cleaning tips?

-Kayla