Spring Cleaning Makeover – The Garage, Laundry Room…

Happy Thursday Everyone! Welcome to April, a new month, Easter and Spring and what I TRULY HOPE is a month of promise and the belief that many of us can be back outside, doing what we love and getting this time behind us. Thank you for being back. We are closing in on this series. I thought tonight would be the final post in this Spring Cleaning Series, but I was asked to tack on one more segment, specifically on Spring Cleaning the car! What a great idea. Our cars are high traffic areas and heavily used and need to be sanitized and cleaned as well. That will be the post for Sunday. I look forward to putting that together. Tonight we will focus on tips and recipes for cleaning the garage and laundry room!

CHECKLISTS:

GARAGE –

Declutter tools, sporting equipment and toys

Open up garage door to air out the space

Wipe down walls

Sweep and clean floor

Clean garage door

Clean garage door frame

Replace batteries in garage door openers

Clean windows

LAUNDRY ROOM –

Clean washing machine

Clean dryer vent

Clean lint trap

Organize laundry supplies

Wipe walls

Wipe baseboards

Mop floors

TIPS: Sometimes it is easy to forget to clean the garage or let it go as it is any out of the way part of the house. However, by cleaning it 3 times a year, you can catch problems such as leaks, mold, insulation, pests and other issues quickly and removing dust and other things can be a preventative measure against allergies.

Remove musty smells in laundry rooms or garage corners with either an onion or a lemon. To remove an offensive odor, cut a lemon or onion in half and place it near the smell. Let is sit overnight and the item should absorb the odor. Remove the next morning.

Look for mold. Mold is usually black or gray, but can also be brown or white or green. A great DIY mold and mildew remover can be made with a few ingredients. Take 1 cup of distilled water, 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide, 10 drops of tea tree essential oil, 10 drops of peppermint essential oil. Combine all ingredients in a 16 ounce dark colored spray bottle and spray on the mold or mildew. Let the solution sit for 1-2 hours and then rinse or wipe off with a clean cloth. Solution can be stored up to 1 month in a dark bottle as hydrogen peroxide is light sensitive.

Treat motor oil stains with soap. Squirt castile soap and lemon essential oil on the stain and scrub with a stiff-bristle brush. Let it sit for 30 minutes and use hot water to rinse the soap and oil away.

Clean safety glasses in the dishwasher. Toss your safety glasses in the top shelf of the dishwasher and place a cup of white vinegar in there as well and run wash cycle to remove dirt and gunk!

Clean up a variety of sticky messes with a homemade all natural goo remover. Try this to remove latex paint and grease from your hands and surfaces such as concrete, tools, and plastic. Take 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of coconut oil and 10 drops of lemon essential oil. Mix the baking soda and coconut oil in a small bowl until well combined. Add the essential oil and stir well. To use, apply a dab to remove stickers and labels and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse in warm water, and scrub the label with your finger or a cloth. To clean your skin, pull a small glob in your hand and rub it into your stained skin. Use a toothbrush for extra scrubbing power. If needed, then rinse and dry.

RECIPES:

Garden Tool Cleaning Kit: Cleans one set of garden tools. Take a 5 gallon bucket of warm water and 1 tablespoon of castile soap and 5 drops of rosemary essential oil. Combine the water and soap and oil in the large bucket. Soak tools for a few minutes in the bucket. Scrub with a scrub brush and dry thoroughly. This is a one time use product only.

DIY Cleaning Solution for your Deck – Composite and Wood: Cleaning a deck before and after a season helps remove mold and other buildups that occur. Take 1 gallon of warm water and 1-2 cups of distilled white vinegar. Mix the water and vinegar in a large bucket. Thoroughly wet the deck with a hose and water first. Use a sturdy mop or broom to scrub the vinegar water solution in sections to clean. Rinse thoroughly. This is a one time use product only. (NOTE: For railings and spindles, use the same solution and clean them with a sponge and rinse off.)

Cleaning Deck and Patio Furniture: If you eat outside a lot, it is a good idea to wash your patio furniture from time to time. Just mix, apply and rinse! No need to dry with towel, just air dry. Take 16 ounces of warm water, 2 tablespoons of castile soap, 2 drops of orange essential oil. Take all of the ingredients and add to a spray bottle and shake well to combine. To use, wet the furniture with a hose and spray with the soapy solution. Rinse and air dry. Store indefinitely.

Lavender and Lemon Fabric Softener. This yields 2 cups. Take 2 cups of white vinegar, 15 drops of lavender essential oil and 15 drops of lemon essential oil. Combine all ingredients in a bottle with a lid and shake well. Fill your rinse agent cup in your washing machine with this fabric softener as normal. Store indefinitely in covered bottle.

Fabric Refreshener Spray: Yields 1/2 cup. Take 1/2 cup of distilled water and 15 drops of lemongrass essential oil. Combine water and lemongrass essential oil in a spray bottle. Shake well. Spray lightly on garment to freshen. Store indefinitely in a spray bottle.

Top-Load Washing Machine Cleaner. Yield 1 application of Top-Load Washing Machine Cleaner. Take 1 cup of baking soda, 3 cups of white vinegar, 20 drops of tea tree essential oil and 20 drops of lemon essential oil. Set your washing machine to the hottest temperature possible and allow to fill. Once it is full, add all of the ingredients to the water. Agitate for a few minutes, then stop the machine and allow the mixture to sit for 30 minutes to an hour. If necessary, take a small scrub brush and cloth and clean around the inside of the washing machine and lid. Once time is up, close the lid and let the machine to finish the cycle as normal. Then run a hot water rinse cycle. Wipe away any leftover grime. Leave the lid open to dry out the machine completely.

Keep pushing forward everyone! Please continue to stay safe and healthy and productive! See you all again on Sunday for great tips and recipes for cleaning your car and some end of the series miscellaneous ideas! I will also have a sneak peak into my next series “Welcome to a Healthier You – Body and Mind Makeover.”