Green Spring Cleaning Supplies: 10 Must Have Cleaning Tools

Spring is a great time to turn off the heat, open the windows and prepare to clean windows, furniture, fans, cupboards and walls. Spring cleaning involves wiping those dirty, forgotten nooks and crannies. Before you get started, be sure you have these must have tools and these green cleaning supplies on hand before beginning your spring cleaning bash.

Get enough supplies for you, your spouse and children because you shouldn't have to spring clean alone if you all live under the same roof! My 9 year old loves to clean and I relish that because I know it won't be long before she resists doing most chores.

Cleaning tools and supplies for windows and mirrors

Spring cleaning supplies you will need for windows depends on your preference. The most well known cleaning product is Windex. For the environmentally conscience, these must have tools are usually readily available in your home. Here is a fabulous, non-toxic window cleaning alternative:

1/2 cup vinegar
4 cups of water (ratio 1:8 vinegar:water)
1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons liquid soap (will remove old residue)

Add above to a spray bottle. Shake the mix and you have a ready made window cleaning solution that is environmentally friendly!

Along the same green cleaning theme, instead of using paper towels, try newspapers. You will be surprised to find streak-free windows, you'll save money and help the environment by reducing waste.

Get some rags and a bucket of warm water with cleaner to wipe out the window frames and a furniture polish, such as Murphy's Oil, to shine your wooden ledges.

If your ledges are not wooden, an all-purpose cleaner will work. Simple Green is a great, low-cost and environmentally-friendly household cleaning product perfect for this and many other spring cleaning tasks.

Green Spring cleaning supplies for your furniture and carpets

Murphy's oil gives a nice shine to your wood furniture. Alternatively, here is a great green wood polish solution:

olive oil
white vinegar (3:1 ratio oil:vinegar)
drops of lemon juice

Mix and polish wood furniture with a soft, dry cloth.

For upholstery, try this green cleaning solution (test on an unnoticeable area first):

1/2 cup of liquid soap or laundry detergent (or a mixture of both, especially helpful if you have hard water)
1 1/2 cups of warm water (ratio 1:3 soap:water)

Get a bucket of warm water to rinse your brush and cloth. Tip: Use your vacuum brushes to scrub soiled spots. Wipe clean with a wet cloth.

Sprinkle baking soda on carpets and let it sit overnight. Baking soda is a great heavy-duty stain remover.

Spring cleaning tools for your fans

A feather duster can be purchased at the Dollar Tree and is a must have tool for dusting your fans. I recommend using Simple Green diluted in a bucket of warm water (see back of bottle for mixing instructions) and a rag to wipe your fan blades, yielding a beautiful shine.

Spring cleaning supplies for your walls and cupboards

Simple Green, a rag, and a bucket of warm water are all the spring cleaning tools you will need to wipe your walls and cupboards. These cleaning tools do the job right and Simple Green has a pleasant, clean smell that is gratifying.

Basic spring cleaning supplies and tips

Vinegar and baking soda are the best spring cleaning supplies that most people have in their kitchen already.

Vinegar makes stainless steel sparkle - check out the Sierra Club of Canada for these and other fabulous, natural cleaning tips to suit all of your spring cleaning needs. Baking soda is a great heavy-duty stain remover and has a plethora of cleaning uses.

To recap 10 must have spring cleaning tools:

Vinegar
Baking Soda
Liquid soap
Newspaper
Windex and paper towels (if you're not interested in green cleaning supplies)
Olive Oil
Lemon Juice
Murphy's Oil
Simple Green
Feather duster
Bucket, water, cleaning clothes and rags

Sources:

Cleaning tools, Simple Green

Feather duster spring cleaning tools, Dollar Tree

Murphy's Oil spring cleaning supplies, Murphy's Oil

Safe Alternatives to Household Hazardous Products for your family, pets and environment!, Sierra Club of Canada