Throwing open the windows with reckless abandon around this time of
year feels so liberating … until you realize the state of your post
winter apartment resembles a stuffed up hobbit hole – dusty, cluttered
and possibly even a little questionable smelling. Good news! You can
clean up your act with stuff you probably already have lying around.
I’m talking about vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, borax and
essential oils. These natural ingredients and a little lovin’, is
really all you need to turn your love nest into a clean dream.

A couple tips for starting off:
It’s totally possible to get clean using the household ingredients
mentioned above, but it’s not a bad idea to invest in some good
quality cleaning products. Fortunately, choosing green products means
you’ll spend less. An all purpose cleaner is a great place to start
when going green. One of my favourite Toronto based companies,
Natureclean, sells one that is
completely safe to use on everything from your toilet to your stove to
your laundry to your produce (!) A litre of this elixer costs $4.99.
If that’s not economical, I don’t know what is. When buying, it’s so
important to beware of green washing (when a company tries to make its
product appear sustainable, but lies through its teeth.) Getting duped
by green washing sucks. Take a look at the list below before you
splurge.

Some things to look out for when choosing an eco friendly product:

– Go for a product that actually lists all the ingredients on the
product. That way, you know the company has nothing to hide.

– If you see a triangle with an explosion or a creepy skeleton hand,
stay away. Any product with words like danger or warning is totally
not safe for you or the environment, as washing it down the drain is
harmful to fish and wildlife.

– “Organic” is one of the few claims that actually has to be legit to
be listed on the label. Any product can claim to be “natural” or
“eco-friendly” and even “hypoallergenic” without necessarily being
true.

– Beware of anything with fragrance. Unless it’s fragrance from
essential oils, it contains synthetic, toxic perfumes.

When you’re ready to bust into action:

BATHTUB: Vinegar by itself works like an all purpose cleaner, but if
you mix it with a little lemon juice and baking soda to make a paste,
it works wonders on any surface, especially your bathtub. Cover your
tub generously with the paste, let it sit for about 10 minutes, then
scrub off with a cloth or sponge. For tough mildew stains, sprinkle
baking soda on the cut side of a lemon and rub it directly on the
stain.

SHOWER: The biggest grime culprit in your bathroom however, is
probably your shower curtain. If yours resembles the algae that
accumulates on top of a swamp, better go for a new one. Most shower
curtain liners are made using PVC, (polyvinyl chloride) which contain
chemicals like chlorine and volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). Their
toxicity reaches maximum levels when heated up – not a great idea to
have that hanging around a steamy shower in an enclosed space. When
buying a new one, remember that if it smells like a new car, it’s
probably made of junk. You can find alternatives at IKEA and Bed Bath
and Beyond, which use a biodegradable, non vinyl material called PEVA.
And you don’t have to give up your funky designs! To get the grout in
your shower spic and span, mix some baking soda and hydrogen peroxide
to make a paste. Let it stand on the walls for 30 minutes, then scrub.
Also, if your towels are gnarly, ditch them. Cut them up to use as
rags. Keeping old sponges and rags around can turn your kitchen into a
cesspool of germs and bacteria, not to mention smell totally haggard.

FRIDGE: How often do you actually clean out your fridge? If you have
room mates, a fridge can be tricky thing to keep under control.
Likely, they won’t mind that you took the initiative to throw a few
questionable specimens out while cleaning. Baking soda works wonders
for absorbing smells. Just open up a box and put it in the back of
your fridge, it will work for up to 3 months. Don’t forget about your
ice trays, either. Give them a good soak in a baking soda and hot
water. Your cocktails will thank you.

KITCHEN: A nicely organized cupboard usually lasts about 10 minutes.
And if your kitchen is anything like mine, the outside of those
cupboards can sometimes look like there are toddlers in the house.
Scrub the outside and handles with any natural antibacterial soap
mixed with vinegar, hot water and pine or lemon oil to eliminate
bacteria and make them shine. Cutting boards are also a hot spot for
grime in the kitchen. Soak them in hot water and vinegar to get any
residual oniony or garlicky smells out.

CLOSET: Do you really need to hoard all those old Halloween costumes
and hilariously ugly Christmas sweaters? Ok fine, a little
ridiculousness is necessary in any wardrobe. But the stuff you can
part with, donate to Value Village or Goodwill.

CARPETS: For the next best thing to a full carpet shampoo, mix borax
with a few drops of your favourite essential oil and sprinkle it on,
(all over, if you’re feeling ambitious.) Let it sit a few minutes,
then vacuum it up.

BED: Strip your bed and wash all bedding with a biodegradable
detergent. To give your mattress a refresher, vacuum it, then rotate.
Flipping your mattress prevents sagging and ensures its longevity.

WORKSPACE: Try to go as paperless as possible. It will minimize the
chaos of junk drawers, and ease your recycling loads. You don’t have
to give up your favourite books or halt your magazine subscription,
just make a few changes. Start banking and paying bills online, then
you won’t need to keep receipts. Only print if totally necessary. A no
junk mail sticker is also a great idea to eliminate pesky flyers.

Now that your crib is sparkling, healthy and chemical free, take your
good deeds a step further and start some spring resolutions to help
you keep it clean all year:

– Buy mason jars to stash your food in. This keep out moths and
moisture and makes grains last longer.

– If you can’t afford organic all the time, (and who can!?) be sure to
wash your produce. Mix a cup of water, a cup of vinegar, 1 Tbsp baking
soda, and about 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract (available at any
health food store) and spray liberally on your produce, let sit for 5
minutes, then rinse.

– When you’re ready to, ditch your chemical cleaners. But don’t just
dump them down the sink, take it to a drop-off depot. For a list of
where to find them in your city, go to makethedrop.ca . You can type
in your postal code and you’ll get a list of where to go to dispose of
your paints, pesticides, and cleaning products.

– Check your deodorizing methods. Are you using plug ins and scented
candles? If so, they might be pumping out toxic chemicals. You could
invest in a natural air filter, or you could go the cheap route and
fill your place with broad leaf house plants. These guys act as an
interior air filter. Peace lilies, ferns, and spider plants are great
at absorbing airbourne pollutants as part of their “breathing”
process. They breathe in carbon dioxide and transport it to their
roots, where it’s detoxified.

– If you have pets, zeolite rock (a mineral derived from volcanic ash)
has powerful deodorizing abilities. You can get it at most health food
stores. Put a few small dishes of this near litter or other areas your
furry friends hang. It’s totally safe for pets and people to consume.