Purchasing all of the household cleaning items you need at the stores can add up quickly, especially if you buy a specific cleaner for each area of your home. In addition, many may contain toxic chemicals that can be harmful to children and pets. If you’re determined to complete your spring cleaning without breaking the bank, follow Molly Maid’s® great budget-saving ideas that will lower your spring-cleaning cost and eliminate the need for potentially harmful cleaning products.
Many of these products are already staples in your home and can pull double shifts: by night, they are cooking ingredients, and by day they are an effective, eco-friendly way to clean. Common grocery items like hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, vinegar, and lemon can be combined and become effective cleaning agents that cost far less than name-brand cleaning products. Learn how you can make these ingredients work double duty for you!
Essential Household Cleaning Items
Baking Soda
Baking soda is an essential household cleaning item for spring cleaning. Use it as the ultimate stain remover and deodorizer.
- Stain remover: To make a stain remover for your clothing, create a solution with two parts hydrogen peroxide and 1/4 part baking soda. Mix it and pour it into a spray bottle. Apply the mix to the stained area(s), let it sit for 15 minutes, then run it through the wash per usual.
- Deodorizing carpet: Vacuum your carpet, sprinkle baking soda onto it, and let it sit for two hours. Then, vacuum again to remove the baking powder, and your carpets will come out smelling clean and fresh.
- Toilet bowl cleaner: Sprinkle ½ cup of baking soda into the toilet and add one cup of distilled white vinegar. Let sit for 30 minutes. Scrub as usual and flush.
White Vinegar
White vinegar is one of the most versatile and best household items for cleaning you can use in every room in your home.
- All-purpose cleaner: Take a spray bottle and fill it 1/3 of the way with white vinegar and top off the rest of the bottle with tap water. Prefer a different smell? Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to mask any vinegar smell.
- Window cleaner: Mix 1/4 cup of white vinegar with 2 1/2 cups of water and a 1/2 teaspoon of dish soap in a spray bottle. Follow your usual cleaning routine for a streak-free shine.
- Grout cleaner: Spray full-strength vinegar on any grout and let it soak for at least an hour. Scrub it off with a brush to restore the look of your grout.
- Dryer Sheets: Use dryer sheets, even used ones, as dusting rags for window blinds and baseboards. They leave a trace of anti-static fabric softener that repels dust and pet hair, and it will also leave those areas smelling nice.
Lemon
When the world gives you lemons, use them as all-natural household items for cleaning your home.
- Garbage disposal freshener: Cut the lemon in half and throw it down the drain. Turn the disposal on with the lemon in it and run the water until the lemon is completely broken down. Caution: Never stick your hand in the garbage disposal!
- Soap scum: Use undiluted lemon juice to dissolve soap scum and mineral deposits on counters and sinks.
Olive Oil
A favorite pantry staple for cooking, baking, dipping, and more, olive oil has some utility outside the kitchen as well.
Wood Polish
To make your own wood polish, combine 3/4 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup white vinegar, and one tablespoon of lemon juice. Essential oils can be added to add your favorite scent to your DIY wood polish mixture.
Stainless Steel Cleaner
Remove the grease on your stovetop with undiluted vinegar. After rinsing it with water, use a few drops of olive oil and a paper towel or microfiber cloth in a circular motion to restore its shine.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Leverage the disinfecting powers of hydrogen peroxide to remove bacteria on surfaces throughout your home.
- Disinfect kitchen sponges: Kill bacteria like E.coli and Salmonella that may be lingering in your sponges by disinfecting them daily with a solution of 50 percent water and 50 percent hydrogen peroxide.
- Clean the refrigerator: After emptying your refrigerator, spray the inside with undiluted hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria. Follow it by wiping down all surfaces with plain water.
Essential Oils
Would you like to add a non-toxic scent to your homemade cleaners? Simply put a few drops of your favorite essential oil in your cleaner. Opt for lemon oil or tea tree oil to provide a fresh citrus scent and leverage antibacterial elements.
Cornstarch
Did you spill something oil-based on your couch? Don’t panic—get the cornstarch. Cornstarch is great at breaking down and absorbing oil. Sprinkle the oil spot with cornstarch and wait 30 minutes before vacuuming.
Room-by-Room Cleaning Guide Using Household Items
Armed with knowledge of how to use everyday household cleaning items, you’re ready to tackle your whole house spring cleaning project. Molly Maid recommends starting with general tasks in each room, like dusting, vacuuming, and washing windows, before moving on to tasks that apply to specific rooms. Follow the proven yet simple Molly Maid room-by-room cleaning guide to make sure every space in your home is ready for whatever the season has in store for you!
Kitchen
The kitchen, the workhorse of your house, is a place where crusted food on countertops, in the oven, and microwave collects and waits for someone with the right products and determination to get it clean.
Cleaning countertops: White vinegar is a common household item for cleaning countertops. Simply combine vinegar and water in equal parts into a spray bottle and use it on countertops. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes and wipe it down with a microfiber cloth.
Cleaning the microwave: Lemons contain natural antibacterial and brightening agents that effortlessly cut through stuck-on grime. To clean the microwave, place lemons in a bowl and microwave for a few minutes so the steam loosens the grime. Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth before it dries. Repeat for tough messes as needed.
Cleaning the stove: Mix equal parts of lemon juice and dish soap in a spray bottle or bowl and add warm water to the mixture. Allow the mixture to sit for around 10 minutes so the lemon juice can dissolve the grime before you wipe it up with a microfiber cloth.
Cleaning the floor: In a bucket mix a solution of one-part warm water in one part vinegar and use a microfiber cloth to mop the vinegar solution onto the floor. For tough stains, let the vinegar solution sit for a few minutes before scrubbing. Caution: Do not use vinegar on wood or natural stone.
Bathroom
One of the most germ-collecting spaces in the house, the bathroom, calls to be sanitized, not just cleaned. If you are wondering whether common household products are up to the task, they sure are.
Cleaning the toilet: Skip the expensive toilet bowl cleaner. Instead, get out the baking soda and sprinkle it around the toilet bowl, then pour in your undiluted vinegar. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before scrubbing with a toilet brush.
Cleaning the mirrors: For a streak-free glass cleaner, combine equal parts of water and vinegar with a few drops of dish soap in a spray bottle. Spray the vinegar solution on the mirror and wipe it down using a microfiber cloth.
Cleaning the shower: Baking soda is great for scrubbing bathroom sinks and showers. Just sprinkle a little on the surface of your bathtub and let it sit for 10 minutes before using a wet cloth to scrub away dirt and grime.
Bedroom
The bedroom is your sanctuary where you go for peace, rest, and comfort. Considering the large amount of time spent here, keeping it clean using non-toxic products is especially important.
Dusting wood furniture: You typically find a lot of wood in the bedroom—the nightstands, dressers, and sometimes the headboard. For cleaning wood furniture, create a dusting spray by combining equal parts olive oil and water in a spray bottle. Use a microfiber cloth to follow your usual dusting.
Vacuuming: If you have carpet in your bedroom, it may be time to freshen it up. Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes, it helps absorb odors and gives your carpet a fresh smell once vacuumed.
Cleaning towels and linens: If your towels and linens have stains, leverage the natural whiting powers of lemons and vinegar. Start by applying lemon juice directly to the stain and let it sit for 30 minutes. Launder as usual. To further help remove odors and soften fabrics, add one cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle. Pro tip: If you want to make your white towels and linens brighter, add half a cup of baking soda to your regular detergent.
Living Room
By using a few simple products found in your cupboards, you can spruce up that living room furniture and flooring in no time.
Dusting furniture: With microfiber cloths, use equal parts vinegar and olive oil to polish coffee tables and wood furniture.
Cleaning carpets, rugs, and upholstery: Use baking soda to deodorize your carpet, rugs, and upholstery in your living room. Simply sprinkle the baking soda evenly around the carpet, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then vacuum it up.
Solutions & Benefits of DIY Spring Cleaning with Household Items
The Molly Maid way is to be effective and efficient when approaching every cleaning task. It’s why we love recommending our proven cleaning hacks, including how to use common household items to help you tackle your spring cleaning, all without exposing your family and the environment to toxins often found in store-bought cleaners. What’s more, making your own cleaning solutions is budget-friendly. To move swiftly through your spring cleaning, Molly Maid, we have some additional tips to share.
Tips for Efficient Spring Cleaning
Make your annual cleaning chore a breeze. Following a checklist helps you stay organized and focused.
When spring cleaning, prioritize high-traffic zones like the kitchen, bathrooms, and entryways before proceeding to the rest of your home. A room-by-room cleaning guide gives you a structured approach and breaks your big spring-cleaning task into manageable steps. Track your progress and feel accomplished as you complete each item on the list.
Remember, you don’t have to do all of the cleaning on your own. Enlist every family member in your spring cleaning. It can be rewarding and educational for all, especially when you use positive reinforcement and motivate kids to participate more actively.
When Life Gets Overwhelming, Let Molly Maid Handle Your Spring Cleaning
Does all of this sound good in theory? Or maybe you’ve gotten through a few rooms and want to leave the rest to the pros? Spring cleaning doesn’t have to take up your time. With Molly Maid’s professional cleaning services, you can enjoy a sparkling home without the hassle. Our team of experienced professionals is ready to take on the toughest cleaning tasks so you can focus on the things you enjoy most.
Find Molly Maid Cleaning Services Near You
At Molly Maid, we stand by our commitment to exceptional service with our Neighborly Done Right Promise®. Whether you need regular maid services, occasional cleaning, or one-time special event cleaning assistance, Molly Maid offers free estimates on personalized cleaning services in your area. Simply reach out to your local team to schedule your service and enjoy a cleaner, fresher home this spring.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and may not be applicable to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your home and property. Molly Maid is not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of this blog content or your actions. For the most accurate guidance, contact the Molly Maid location nearest you for a comprehensive, on-site assessment.
