It is that time of year when the cold season fades, and we are ready to embrace the sunny, warmer days ahead. Historically “spring cleaning” ran from March through April. This was to take advantage of the warmer climate and changing season. During the winter, the coldness and shorter daylight hours made it difficult to do anything around the home. For me, as soon as it gets dark, motivation plummets to do ANYTHING around our living spaces. I understand why our foremothers would wait till they had more daylight hours to whip their households back into shape. During the springtime the daylight hours become longer, brighter and warmer. As a result, we have more energy to do more around the home.
Taking part in an annual spring cleaning is a reminder to evaluate the current state of our home. Are there areas we have let go or neglected? Are there areas in our homes causing us stress? Did we have a lot of visitors come in and out of our homes this past year? Our homes are susceptible to not only germs and pests, but negative energy that we have brought in. We can start by doing simple tasks around the home that can help snowball a cleaner and positive space. Use ingredients and products that function as both germ cleaner and energy clearer. With more daylight hours available, we can work on creating healthy living spaces that bring us peace, love and joy.
The spring time is not the only time of year to banish the negative from our homes. To minimize the clutter, dirt and bad vibes daily clean up or seasonal clean up is beneficial. There are many benefits to consciously and consistently cleaning your home. Cleaning the physical space of dust, dirt and grime helps minimize allergies, pests and germs. This can positively impact your health if you are prone to sickness and allergies. A clean space also reduces stress, encourages a healthy lifestyle and increases productivity. Dirt, grime, and misplaced items create a chaotic environment full of distractions and stress. The act of cleaning also energetically clears the space of negative energy. So clean, dust and throw out that bad juju away! The spring cleaning season is a great time to banish the old dirt and stale negative energies out of our homes. Even if you don’t have time to do a down and dirty deep clean, you can take advantage of the weather. Try some quick clean up and organization to help lift your mood and spirits!
Below Are My Favorite Cleaners, Tools and Their Uses:
Distilled Water
Water is the ultimate natural cleanser. It cleans and purifies objects and spaces. Distilled water is a collection of water vapor that was boiled, then condensed back to liquid. All impurities are left behind in the original water, which makes it a great cleansing agent. Great for cleaning surfaces, sensitive to streaks. Great for electronics and screens. A quick wipe with a microfiber cloth will help keep your surfaces streak free!
Vinegar
Vinegar cleans, degreases, shines surfaces, absorbs smells, and banishes negativity. Use vinegar to shine stainless steel, mirrors, windows and other surfaces. Great base for homemade cleaners. Add one part vinegar to 3 parts water and a tablespoon of soap into a spray bottle for a multipurpose cleaner!
****Avoid marble, granite, wood, and other stones as the acids can eat away at these natural surfaces. ****
Baking Soda
Absorbs oil, dirt, smells and negativity. Sprinkle on your carpets and let sit for a while and vacuum. Mix with a little water to make a paste and use it to clean stains or grime on many surfaces.
Rubbing alcohol 70%
If you really need to kill germs, bacteria, and viruses, reach for a bottle of 70% rubbing alcohol. Disinfects, degreases and removes grime. Less harsh than bleach and dries quickly on surfaces. I also use rubbing alcohol to remove hair dye stains, clean mirrors and wipe down electronics.
Plant Based Soap
Plain soap is an effective germ and bacteria killer. It is simple and easily accessible. Sal’s Suds or Mrs. Meyers are some of my favorites! I prefer plant based as they don’t have harsh chemicals, are biodegradable and are cruelty free!
Melamine Sponge (AKA Magic eraser)
Melamine sponge is great for removing scuffs, hair dye stains, and tough stains that need more abrasive cleaning! It is amazing to see what melamine sponge can clean and remove. I would suggest buying the generic melamine sponge and not the brand names to save a little money! There is a reason they call it the magic eraser!
Broom
Brooms are very versatile tools. You can sweep the floor, carpet, and outside areas. Knockout dust and cobwebs and reach high places. Go ahead… sweep away dirt, dust and negativity!
Optional: Essential Oils
Essential oils are optional but they are great additions. Many essential oils have antibacterial properties that can boost your cleaning power. Some essential oils that have antibacterial properties are peppermint, tea tree, lavender, lemongrass. They also help make your home smell fresh and amazing. Some essential oils also help ward off and banish negativity. Lavender, lemon, cypress or sage are great essential oils to ward off negativity. I would suggest adding them to some of your cleaners to help double down and get rid of negativity.
*** Not all essential oils are safe for pets. Read more here ***
Quick Easy Ways to Freshen, Clean and Banish Negativity From Your Space
- Wipe down counters, stove and dining table daily. These areas are used frequently and need to be cleaned. Use a homemade multi-purpose cleaner with vinegar to get rid of negative energy off your surfaces.
- Sweep dust and dirt outside to banish negativity from your household.
- Sprinkle baking soda on your carpets to freshen and absorb negativity. Let sit for at least 15 mins, then vacuum. Add a few drops of essential oils to baking soda to boost.
- Wipe down mirrors and other glass surfaces with vinegar, alcohol or distilled water to instantly make rooms look cleaner.
- Once a day put items away in their original locations. This will help minimize clutter and prevent it from snowballing.
- Try making a DIY freshener with ingredients that banish negativity to help make your space smell amazing and ward off bad juju!
These are a few suggestions to try, but there are a wealth of recommendations and recipes online or on Pinterest! The very act of cleaning can banish negativity from your household! To help maintain a positive environment, use any combination mentioned to quickly clean your home.
Let’s sweep the dirt, dust, and bad vibes.