Is there anything better than a good spring clean?  

That first time you fling open the windows to bring in the spring sunshine, feel the fresh air swimming in after winter and, literally sweeping away the cobwebs is so refreshing! 

We've heard about the benefits of eco-friendly cleaning products, and there are so many that we're fans of. But, cleaning products can be expensive - whether you're buying eco-friendly products or not. 

There are so many ways you can clean your home using products you have in the cupboards, and we've put together some of our favourite DIY homemade cleaning products and eco-friendly simple swaps alongside top spring cleaning tips!

WARNING: Never, ever mix ammonia products with any product that contains bleach. When blended, it released chloramine gas with is deadly. If you accidentally mix bleach and ammonia, get out of the contaminated area and into fresh air immediately. 

Got it? Great! Let's get cleaning. 

Bin it 

Bins are stinky things - it's not their fault. It's ours. If you want to send your bin on a spa day, give them a good scrub.  

Scrub off hardened dirt with a stiff-bristled brush and rinse with your garden hose. 

Soak strips of old sheets or t-shirts with:

Ten drops of citronella

Three drops of peppermint oil

1 litre of wax 

Hang the strips inside the bin. 

Try and clean your bin in this way once a month.

Manage the Clutter

Speaking of binning it - isn't it time for a clear out? If you're battling with the amount of stuff in your home, we love using the box method to help keep us organised as we clear out.

BOX 1 - To be thrown away

BOX 2 - Give away or sell (if you want to give items to a charity shop, please wait until after lockdown, and don't leave it outside the shop to get ruined in the rain - councils charge some charity shops to clear away your unwanted rubbish)

BOX 3 - To be put away - to be sorted later (do this by room if it's better).

BOX 4 - To be stored - seasonal clothes, items you only use occasionally like camping gear.

BOX 5 - Not sure - the things in this box are on probation. If you haven't used them in a year, away they go.

BOX 6 - Need repairs - especially for clothes. Making your clothes last is one of the best ways to fight fast fashion.

There's Too Much Stuff!

We start with pure enthusiasm in a weekend of spring cleaning, but it can become overwhelming. If you find it's getting a little much or the task ahead is just too big, why not try these tactics?

Time It: Give yourself a specified time block for a room or task - be it 5, 10 or 15 minutes.

Start Small: Start with just one drawer or shelf and see where it takes you.

Count: Put things away in clusters of 5 and 10.

Kitchen Recycling

We all know that it's important to recycle, but you can also recycle your kitchen waste for functional home pieces.

• Jars - perfect for airtight containers for spices and grains.

• Plastic shopping bags - great for lining bins!

• Egg Cartons - perfect for seed planting.

• Corks - Make your own corkboard by slicing corks lengthways and sticking with strong glue to a piece of card.

• Cardboard Boxes - keep for when you need to send a birthday gift in lockdown.

• Tea-Leaves, Onion Skins and Tumeric - perfect for natural dyes for crafting.

Homemade Cleaners 

These are two of our favourite homemade cleaning recipes from KeeperoftheHome.org 

Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner

You will need:

½ cup of white vinegar

Two tbsp of baking soda

Ten drops of either tea tree, lavender or lemon essential oil (they each have disinfectant properties).

Mix the vinegar, essential oils and a little water before adding the baking soda. Add to a clean spray bottle. Give it a little shake, then spray and wipe. Allow it to dry on your surface.

Homemade Disinfectant Wipes

Disinfectant wipes are useful and a plague to the environment at the same time. Create your own disinfectant wipes using items you have at home for a natural alternative that reuses things that might otherwise go to a landfill.

You will need:

1 cup of water

¼ cup with vinegar

Eight drops of tea tree oil

Eight drops of eucalyptus essential oil

Eight drops of lemon essential oil

Empty 'wipe' container (baby wipes, for example)

18 - 20 squares of cloth (old t-shirts or old tea towels)

Fold and place the cloths into the empty wipe container. Combine the water, vinegar and oils in a mixing bowl and stir. Pour this mixture over the cloths in the container so they can soak. Leave for when you need them! You can keep rewashing and reusing the cloths. 

Cleaning the Fridge

Cleaning the fridge sits alongside cleaning the oven as one of those tasks that feels mammoth. But do yourself a favour and wipe the seals of your fridge with white vinegar - this will prevent mould from forming. 

To keep your fridge smelling sweet, put a few drops of vanilla essence on a damp cloth and wipe around the inside of the fridge.

Fold and place the cloths into the empty wipe container. Combine the water, vinegar and oils in a mixing bowl and stir. Pour this mixture over the cloths in the container so they can soak. Leave for when you need them! You can keep rewashing and reusing the cloths. 

Smelling Sweet 

Create a fresh, calming scent for your bedroom or your flat that is made entirely of natural ingredients.

What you'll need:

1 cup of lavender flowers

½ cup of dried spearmint

½ cup dried marjoram

½ cup dried oregano flowers

2 tbsp lavender essential oils

Mix the ingredients well in a bowl, place the mixture in a plastic bag for two weeks to maximise the fragrance. Shake the bag daily and, after the two weeks, transfer it to an open bowl to release that gorgeous scent into your home.

Review your Electrical Output

While you're in Operation Spring Clean, take the time to review how you use your electrical items to become more energy-efficient and create a more significant green space.

• Only use appliances when you really need them - do you need to use a leaf blower, or will a broom do the job?

• Maintain your appliances, make sure you clean them regularly - a well-maintained device will last longer and run more efficiently. 

• Defrost your freezer every three months - you'd be amazed at how much extra power your freezer needs when it's not had a good thaw in a while.

• Don't leave the fridge door open for longer than you need - for every minute the fridge door is open; it can take up to three minutes to cool down again.

• If you're not in the room - switch the light off!

• Likewise, if you aren't using an appliance - a microwave, television, radio - then turn it off at the wall; going on standby is not enough.

Why We Care

At Curlicue, we’re all about simple swaps in our everyday life that makes a difference to the environment. We all have a responsibility to do a little better, and by making small changes like; using homemade cleaning materials over heavy chemicals in plastic bottles, turning off appliances and buying eco-friendly wrapping paper are easy-to-do and affordable.

Do you have simple swaps that you’ve made that you love? Let us know! We’d love to feature them in our weekly blogs.