Hylea
Spring cleaning is a tradition for good reason - after months of closed windows and indoor living, your home needs a fresh start. But before you reach for the heavy-duty chemical cleaners, consider this: the deep clean itself can introduce more chemicals than it removes. This guide helps you do a thorough spring clean with safer products.
Before You Start: The Spring Cleaning Audit
Spring cleaning is the perfect opportunity to take stock of what's under your sink. Check expiry dates, look for products with warnings like 'Danger' or 'Poison', and identify anything you'd like to replace with a safer alternative this year.
- Gather all cleaning products from around the house into one place
- Dispose of anything expired or that you no longer use (check local hazardous waste guidelines)
- Identify your most-used products - these are the highest-impact swaps
- Note any products with 'fragrance' in the ingredients - these are easy first swaps
Kitchen Deep Clean
- Oven: Skip the caustic spray cleaners. Make a paste of baking soda and water, spread inside the oven, leave overnight, then wipe clean. For tough spots, spray white vinegar on the baking soda residue
- Refrigerator: Wipe down with a solution of baking soda and warm water. It deodorises and cleans without leaving chemical residues near your food
- Worktops: Castile soap and water for daily cleaning, hydrogen peroxide (3%) for disinfection
- Dishwasher: Run an empty cycle with a cup of white vinegar on the top rack, then sprinkle baking soda on the bottom and run a short hot cycle
- Bin area: Clean with vinegar solution, then deodorise with baking soda. Avoid scented bin liners
Bathroom Deep Clean
- Tiles and grout: Baking soda paste applied with an old toothbrush. For mildew, spray with hydrogen peroxide and let sit for 10 minutes
- Toilet: Baking soda and vinegar for routine cleaning. For tough limescale, let vinegar soak overnight
- Showerhead: Soak in white vinegar overnight to remove mineral buildup (no chemicals needed)
- Mirrors and glass: Equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Use newspaper or a microfibre cloth for streak-free results
- Drain: Pour baking soda followed by vinegar, wait 30 minutes, then flush with boiling water
Bedroom and Living Areas
- Mattress: Strip bedding, sprinkle baking soda generously, leave for several hours, then vacuum. This absorbs moisture and odours without chemical sprays
- Curtains and blinds: Wash curtains in fragrance-free detergent. Wipe blinds with a damp microfibre cloth
- Carpets and rugs: Vacuum thoroughly (HEPA filter recommended to trap fine particles). Spot clean with club soda. Sprinkle baking soda before vacuuming for deodorising
- Dusting: Use damp microfibre cloths (they trap dust rather than spreading it). Avoid spray polishes with synthetic fragrances
- Air quality: Open windows for cross-ventilation whenever weather permits. Houseplants can help, but ventilation is far more effective
Windows and Outdoor Areas
- Windows: Vinegar and water solution with a squeegee gives professional results without ammonia fumes
- Patio furniture: Castile soap and water. For mildew, use hydrogen peroxide spray
- Garden tools: Soak in vinegar to remove rust, then oil with food-grade mineral oil
- Outdoor bins: Rinse with garden hose, scrub with baking soda, rinse again
Your Safer Spring Cleaning Kit
You can handle virtually every spring cleaning task with these five staples plus good microfibre cloths:
- White vinegar (descaling, glass, deodorising, mild disinfection)
- Baking soda (scrubbing, deodorising, drain cleaning)
- Castile soap (all-purpose cleaning)
- Hydrogen peroxide 3% (disinfection, mould, stain removal)
- Microfibre cloths (dusting, polishing, streak-free glass cleaning)
If you prefer ready-made products, look for ones carrying the EPA Safer Choice or EWG Verified label. For more detail on safer cleaning across every room, see our full non-toxic cleaning guide. Browse all cleaning products in our cleaning products category.