Co-op Community | March 2017
Get into the Spring of Things
It’s no secret that North Coast Co-op has a stellar selection of natural and environmentally friendly cleaning products for both home and personal use. But sometimes it’s fun to look outside the usual products and discover clever new uses for everyday items.
Many people rely on Dr. Bronner’s soaps for personal care, but the Castile soap is particularly versatile. You can add a few tablespoons to 2 cups of hot water to efficiently clean your stove and surrounding areas. Add a tablespoon of Castile soap to 1/3 cup of baking soda to make your own scrubbing paste for bathroom fixtures. You can even add the soap to warm water, using about a 1/4 cup for every two gallons, and use the mixture to mop your floors!
Essential oils can also be used for cleaning. Continuing with our lemon theme, lemon oil can be wiped on shower doors every two weeks to help prevent buildup (and make your bathroom smell lovely!). Have a brush or comb that needs some cleaning? Mix 1 ½ cups of water with ½ cup of distilled vinegar and 20 drops of tea tree, lavender, or eucalyptus oil, and soak your brush for 20 minutes before rinsing.
Another common household item with super (cleaning) powers is cooking oil. Combining coconut oil with baking soda gives you a paste that will remove stickers and any residual goo. Vegetable oil mixed with coarse salt is a perfect scrubbing solution for your cast iron pans—just rinse with hot water. Have some wicker furniture that’s looking a little dry? Grab some sunflower oil and rub it in with a soft cloth.
Lemons are perhaps one of the most exciting things you can use for some light cleaning projects. They’re fresh and bright smelling, and available all year. Rub some fresh lemon juice into a stained cutting board to help lift the discoloration. Mix lemon juice with cream of tartar to make a paste, then scrub it into grout to remove tough stains. Lime scale left on faucets can be removed by leaving lemon juice on taps overnight—simply rinse with a wet cloth in the morning!
There is much debate over the origin of spring cleaning, but most of us find ourselves with a natural urge to air out the house, tackle some deep cleaning, and pull out all those winter weeds. With a freshly clean home, some new starts in the garden, and longer days, we often find ourselves with more energy and motivation to break out of the cozy monotony of winter. How do you celebrate spring?
