Since Spring Cleaning is upon us, I originally thought I would make a checklist to help guide the process. Well, it turns out, that subject has been VERY well covered by other awesome blogs! No need for me to reinvent the wheel. So I figured I would share my favorites, and made my green spring cleaning toolkit instead.

These 5 checklists are all great for different reasons. I’ll explain why I picked each of them. There’s a little something for everyone- they are each organized in a different way. You will definitely find something that suits your style. If you’re on the market for a spring cleaning checklist, each of these has a different great approach.

So check them out and see which one is right for you!

1. Glitter Guide’s Room by Room Checklist

To me, this seems like the classic approach. Tackle one room at a time and check each thing off one at a time. I love that Glitter Guide includes a list of supplies as well. The other thing I love about this list is that it includes closets as its own category- it is so easy to overlook them.

2. Pop Sugar’s 30 Day Checklist

Pop Sugar’s checklist might be my personal favorite. 30 Days, 1 task a day. That seems really manageable to me. Spring cleaning always feels overwhelming. Doing one small(ish) task a day for 30 days to a freshly cleaned house? Totally doable.

3. She Makes a Home Weeklong Checklist

For you overachievers, you can finish your spring cleaning in a week. I know I couldn’t hold myself to this list. I love that it includes outdoor tasks as well. This has so many items to check off that I wouldn’t remember myself. Definitely thorough.

4. Living Well Spending Less’s Top to Bottom Checklist

Living Well Spending Less’s checklist has a unique approach. Top to bottom- attack the highest items first and work down to the floors. It makes so much sense because the higher stuff stirs up dust and junk that settles on the floor. I know I usually work with what is in reach first, but I think I might have to try this method out.

5. Clean Mama’s Basics and Bonuses Checklist

Clean Mama’s list lets you choose how much you want to do. Start with basics? Awesome. Traditional spring cleaning? Makes sense, this is a spring cleaning checklist. Bonuses? For you overachievers out there! For the busiest people, this list lets you prioritize what to clean.

Which checklist do you like the best? Let me know!

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Spring Cleaning time is here! Lars and I already have started getting a jump on things by cleaning out our dressers and closets. I love the organizing part of spring cleaning. The cleaning part… not quite as much. But with this fabulous toolkit all assembled it will make things much easier on you.

We all know how great it is to have a clean house, but it’s not so great when you clean your house with products that are unhealthy for you, your family, and the environment. Full of synthetic chemicals, many commercial cleaners cause a lot more harm than good. Green cleaning products are healthy, effective, and they save you money! There’s not really a downside there.

For this toolkit, you’ll need to make a few green cleaners, using some basic supplies. The key to green cleaning is to use simple ingredients that aren’t harmful, and use reusable supplies that don’t create excess trash.

The ingredients that you should have on hand to make this toolkit are:

• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Olive oil
• Liquid castile soap
• Essential oils (I like lemon for cleaning products)
• Borax
• Witch hazel extract
• Empty Spray bottles

So… let’s get started!

1. Green All Purpose Cleaner

This stuff is a total powerhouse. I use it pretty much everywhere in our apartment. All purpose is not kidding! Countertops, bathroom tiles, tile floors, random surfaces, walls, the fridge… it does it all. This is the basis of your green cleaning supplies and you will want to use it in pretty much every room.

To make it you need:

• Baking soda
• Borax
• Castile soap
• Water
• Essential oils

Head over to read how to make this great All Purpose Cleaner. It even has a free printable label for you!

2. Homemade Dusting Spray

My Homemade Dusting Spray has been by far one of the most popular posts on my site. And with good reason, it’s an amazing product! So simple and easy to use.

Dusting is an important part of spring cleaning. It’s a good time to dust all the places you sometimes neglect (hello- baseboards!) but if you just use a duster, the dust resettles quickly. To get the most bang for your effort, use this dusting spray which will help prevent dust buildup in the future.

To make it, all you need is:

• Vinegar
• Olive oil
• Water
• Essential oils

3. Homemade Febreeze/ Household Odor Remover

Sometimes cleaning the spots that we usually miss can stir up some… odors. Unpleasant odors. The easiest solution is to spray a bunch of febreeze. But febreeze has tons of icky synthetic chemicals. This Homemade Febreeze is just as effective and less expensive.

The ingredients you’ll need are:

• Water
• Witch hazel
• Baking Soda
• Essential Oils (I like cinnamon for this one)

And you might find that you spray it even when there aren’t any odors to mask… because it’s just that lovely.

4. Green Glass Cleaner

I know that I always neglect cleaning my windows. They’re so easy to forget. But it’s spring cleaning time now and time to clean everything, including windows. Also mirrors. I do clean our mirrors fairly regularly, but not nearly as often as I should.

Windex is great at cleaning and everything, but not so great at being healthy and harmless. And this Green Glass Cleaner is just as effective, if not even a little more.

What you’ll need:

• Water
• Vinegar
• Essential oils

5. Baking Soda and Vinegar

Baking soda and vinegar are my go-to green cleaning products. Both great cleaners on their own, but the reaction they make together is also effective at lifting dirt and other ickyness out of household surfaces.

Need to clean some stains? Sprinkle a little baking soda and spray some vinegar on it. Need to wash your tub? Same thing. How about the kitchen sink? Or the toilet? Or your drains?

I think you get my point.

I like to keep my baking soda in a mason jar with a sprinkle top, so I can just sprinkle some wherever necessary. The vinegar is in a spray bottle.

6. Other Supplies

Of course, cleaning products aren’t the whole picture- you still need other things to have truly green spring cleaning!

Things you will want:

• Microfiber cloths: Awesome for cleaning and scrubbing of all kinds
• Reuseable duster: (You can make your own!) Instead of tossing used dusters… just wash it! Saves lots of waste
• Sponges: An awesome go to cleaning tool
• Scrub brush: Packs an extra cleaning punch

Besides the products I included in the toolkit, Lars and I wouldn’t get by without our amazing mop and vacuum! We use homemade hardwood floor cleaner in our mop, so check out that recipe too!

Not a huge fan of making your own cleaning products? That’s okay too. Here are some alternatives that are not as harmful, unnatural, or toxic as many name brands:

• Honest Multi Surface Cleaner
• Honest Glass Cleaner
• Meyer’s Clean Day All Purpose Cleaner

I hope you find this green spring cleaning toolkit helpful! Let me know how it works out for you!

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