With the arrival of warmer weather and more daylight hours, many homeowners turn their attention to the annual ritual of spring cleaning. This year, skip the pricey, store-bought, chemical-laden household cleaners and look no further than your own pantry for safer, just-as-effective ingredients to get your home fresh and clean.

Whether you’re looking for more natural options or want to cut down on the number of plastic bottles kicking around in your cleaning closet, try mixing up one of these simple recipes with ingredients you probably already have on hand.

White Vinegar

Vinegar’s antibacterial and deodorizing properties make it an ideal ingredient for an all-purpose cleaner.

• Mix one-part vinegar with one-part water in a clean spray bottle, shake, and use it to clean windows, microwaves, non-porous countertops, and more.
• Run white vinegar through an empty cycle of the dishwasher and coffee maker to freshen, brighten, and deodorize.
• Get rid of coffee and tea stains in mugs by making a wash of equal parts vinegar and salt.
• Loosen carpet stains with a paste of 2 tablespoons white vinegar and one-quarter cup salt or baking soda.

Citrus

Citrus is a great-smelling, natural disinfectant.

• Use undiluted lemon juice or mix it with water to make a natural cleaning product that dissolves soap scum and mineral deposits.
• Grind up lemon and orange peels in the garbage disposal to rid it of lingering food or mildew odors.
• Skip the chemical-laden furniture polish and clean hardwood furniture naturally by soaking a soft cloth in a mixture of two-parts olive oil to one-part lemon juice. Rub it into the wood to dissolve dirt and built-up polish, then buff dry with a clean microfiber cloth.
• Shine and polish metal with a paste made from half a lemon and 2 teaspoons of baking soda.

Baking Soda

Banish stains and odors with baking soda.

• Get rid of burned, stuck-on food in pots and pans by boiling equal parts vinegar, baking soda, and water. Scrub and rinse clean.
• Mix equal parts water and baking soda to use as a mild abrasive for cleaning the inside of the oven and on stainless steel and chrome appliances. Wipe off with a damp cloth.
• Place an open box of baking soda in the refrigerator or deep freezer to absorb rancid smells, and in the bottom of smelly trash cans.
• Sprinkle some baking soda on carpets and upholstered furniture, let it sit for an hour or so, and vacuum it up to banish pet odors and other smells.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide’s antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties make it a great household cleaner.

• Clean the toilet bowl and shower grout in the bathroom with hydrogen peroxide. It works wonders on tile and brightens floors considerably.
• Presoak the laundry in some hydrogen peroxide to get rid of armpit stains and other hard-to-remove stains. Brighten dingy whites by adding one cup to a load of laundry.
• Spray larger plastic toys with undiluted hydrogen peroxide, or fill a large container with a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water and soak multiple smaller toys at once.
• Clean the interior of your empty refrigerator with warm, soapy water, then wipe away excess moisture with a clean cloth. Spray the interior with hydrogen peroxide to kill any lingering bacteria, let it sit for several minutes, then wipe clean.

In addition to cleaning, spring is the perfect time to schedule your annual air conditioning inspection and tune-up. Having this essential service performed is the best way to ensure your system is operating at max efficiency, uncover problems before they turn into costly, emergency repairs, enjoy cleaner indoor air, and extend equipment life. Contact C&D Cooling & Heating today and check this springtime to-do off your list.