Fall Cleaning

I always have a hankering to do a thorough house cleaning in the fall. I think it’s a combination of the “ahhh…” when the dog days of summer wind down, and the ancestral rhythm of harvesting and preparing the homestead for the winter.

There are so many great ideas for chemical free cleaning out there. There are great books available with tips and recipes – I’ve linked to some at the bottom of this article. You have to experiment a little to see what works best for you. Here are a few tips to get you started if you’re not already headed in that direction.

1. Use a broom. I’m serious-save energy by remembering to use your broom on the floors you don’t need to vacuum.

2. Dust with reusable clothes (Keep a small basket to keep your single holey socks instead of throwing them out-they make the perfect dust mitt!) and a natural spray. I use Seaside Naturals All Natural Hardwood Floor Cleaner

3. In general-use reusable cleaning tools, not throwaways. The most offensive throw away I’ve noticed is the use once and throw it out toilet brush. Really, have we become so removed from common sense we have to toss out our tools after one use? Think of the waste created by one time use products – but then, that’s another article. I’ve added luffa dish scrubbies to my cleaning arsenal, no more wire scrubbers (although soap free Brillo makes a great material to plug varmint holes in the garage or places you can’t repair immediately).

4. To clean your cleaning rags and sponges you can wash them in the dishwasher if it has a heat booster that heats up to 160 degrees f. This is the temperature needed to kill most bacteria, including salmonella and E. Coli. If you wash them in the washing machine, add natural disinfectants such as vinegar or tea tree oil. The washing machines heat won’t go up to 160. For a damp sponge, you can microwave it 2 minutes on high heat to kill 90% of bacteria.

5. Avoid chemical cleaners! There are many wonderful effective alternatives.

6. I live in the woods, so I live compatibly with a variety of little creatures about the homestead most of the time. I warn the spiders in the fall though – I’m going to clean and you’re staying outside. After sweeping out any cobwebs or spiders I’ve overlooked in the corners, I spray the area with an organic bug spray – I use Bugs Be Gone – so they don’t return too soon. I’ve had success with this method if I spray periodically. I also spray a little on my window sills between the window and screen. It helps keep the bugs from sneaking in.

7. I also use the Hardwood Floor Cleaner noted above for my wooden floors and any woodwork I feel a need to clean.

8. For windows & mirrors use newspaper instead of a cloth. Here's a simple recipe based on one in Renee Loux's book. Combine in a spray bottle, or in a glass jar: ¼ cup distilled white vinegar, ½ teaspoon liquid dish soap- all natural of course, 1 & ¾ cups water. You can add a few drops of an essential oil for you like. Since I use orange dish soap I have an orange scent built in (and it helps keep the bugs down too).

Spray, or wet your cloth or newspaper and wipe until clean.

9. If you’re thinking of throwing out your old clothes –stop! Good clothes should be taken to a local thrift shop or given away. Most communities have bins to collect used clothing. You might be interested to know that this clothing doesn’t necessarily go to local groups. Save the pieces that can’t be reused and add them to your cleaning rag basket.

10. Ditto for old toys. As much as we might want to reuse everything, it can be a project to organize and figure out where to take used items. Make it easy on yourself and do the research once. Find your best local resources, then post a list and clip it to the back of your home calendar so it’s available every few months when you need it.

While you’re cleaning consider how you can re-organize to make things more efficient. This is the part I like. Discovering the bird seed container fits just right under the new bench from this fall’s yard sale. Now it looks nice AND it’s by the door used to get to the feeders. Consider how supplies for different tasks can be near where those tasks are performed.

Some good  books

Nontoxic, Natural & Earthwise
- Debra Lynn Dadd

Tiny Game Hunting: Environmentally Healthy Ways to Trap and Kill the Pests in Your House and Garden New Edition
–Hilary Dole Klein & Adrian M. Wenner

Green Clean: The Environmentally Sound Guide to Cleaning Your Home
- Linda Mason Hunter

Easy Green Living: The Ultimate Guide to Simple, Eco-Friendly Choices for You and Your Home
- Renee Loux