DIY Eco-Friendly Cleaning Solutions for Apartment Dwellers

Embracing green cleaning practices and products promotes a healthier home environment and supports our planet. Using natural, non-toxic, eco-friendly household items has many benefits for you, your children, and your pets. Environmentally friendly cleaning is cost-effective and sustainable in the long run, making it easy to maintain a clean home without compromising the environment.

Join us as we explore simple, effective ways to keep your home sparkling clean while making mindful, eco-friendly choices.

Benefits of Natural Cleaners for a Healthier Home and Planet

Natural cleaning products have many benefits. They contribute to healthier indoor air quality by containing fewer VOCs and harmful chemicals, reducing pollution and respiratory issues. These eco-friendly products minimize toxic exposure, are biodegradable—made from renewable resources—and are safer for water systems, reducing contamination risk. Most environmentally friendly products use natural, plant-based ingredients and essential oils, which promotes sustainable farming and reduces reliance on fossil fuels.

Essential Natural Cleaning Ingredients Found in Your Home

In almost every household, you can find everyday items that double up as effective natural cleaning ingredients. These items include:

1. White Vinegar. Effective for disinfecting, removing stains and mildew, dissolving mineral deposits, rust, dirt, grease, and grime
2. Baking Soda. Great for scrubbing, deodorizing, whitening, brightening, dissolving dirt and grease
3. Lemon Juice. Natural bleaching agent, stain and grease remover, deodorizer, cleaner, polisher, descaler, and insect deterrent
4. Olive Oil. Useful for polishing wood surfaces, removing stains, loosening sticky materials, lubricating, and nourishing cast iron skillets
5. Essential Oils. Provides a fresh, natural fragrance with hypoallergenic and antimicrobial properties while acting as an insect-repellant
6. Hydrogen Peroxide. Works as a disinfectant, stain remover, deodorizer, and natural whitener
7. Castile Soap. Versatile and vegan, plant-based soap removes dirt, grime, and grease from surfaces or your skin with anti-bacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and moisturizing effects
8. Salt. Abrasive for scrubbing, absorbent for soaking up stains, prevents mold, disinfects, deodorizes, and cleans hard water stains
9. Cornstarch. Cleans grime from windows, absorbs grease, deodorizes, removes fresh stains, and polishes furniture
10. Rubbing Alcohol. Disinfects surfaces, removes ink and permanent marker stains, removes stickers, deodorizes shoes, and repels fruit flies

Simple and Quick Green Cleaning Tips

Using green cleaning practices offers numerous benefits for your home and the environment. Try these eco-friendly methods to improve health, save money, and promote sustainability, like freshening the air naturallyinstead of using chemical air fresheners. Use essential oils, simmer a pot of herbs, cinnamon sticks, citrus peels, and spices on the stove, or open windows to ventilate your home.

Replace paper towels with reusable microfiber cloths. They attract dust and dirt without needing additional cleaning products. Finally, unclog your drains naturally with vinegar and baking soda by pouring boiling water down the drain, followed by a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Let it fizz for a few minutes, then rinse with more boiling water.

Scented Eco-Friendly All-Purpose Cleaner Recipe

What you’ll need:

• One Part White Vinegar
• One Part Water
• *Lemon, Orange, or Lime Peel
• Rosemary or Lavender Sprigs, or Other Herbs of Your Choice
• 5 to 10 Drops of Essential Oil of Your Choice
• 12-Ounce Reusable Spray Bottle
• Funnel

To make:

Combine all ingredients in a reusable spray bottle, replace the lid, and shake well. Let the mixture infuse for at least one week before using. This cleaner can freshen up and clean surfaces, easily tackle hard water stains, and remove wall smudges.

*Do not use acidic cleaners on granite countertops, and check the manufacturer’s guidelines about using vinegar on stainless steel.

DIY Upholstery-Freshening Spray Recipe

What you’ll need:

• 1/4 Cup of Baking Soda
• 10 to 15 Drops of Essential Oil of Choice
• 1 1/2 Cups of Water
• 12-Ounce Reusable Spray Bottle
• Funnel

To make:

Use the funnel to add the baking soda and water to the reusable spray bottle. Add essential oils of choice and shake gently to combine. Test the spray on a small piece of upholstery, like the bottom of a couch cushion, to ensure it doesn’t leave a mark and smells to your liking. The baking soda absorbs and eliminates odors while the essential oils freshen up.

Easy Microwave Cleaner Recipe

What you’ll need:

• One Cup of Water
• 1/2 Cup of White Vinegar
• 1/2 Cup of Lemon Juice
• Five Drops of Essential Oil (optional)
• Microwave-Safe Bowl
• Damp Cloth

To make:

Combine water, white vinegar, and lemon juice in a microwave-safe bowl and stir. If you’re opting to add essential oils, add it now. Place the bowl in the microwave and run for two to five minutes. Allow the dish to cool and the mixture to steam for one to two minutes. Remove the bowl from the microwave and wipe down with a damp cloth.

Living Green at HILLS Properties

Switching to natural cleaning products isn’t just good for the environment—it’s a game-changer for your home, too. Say goodbye to harsh chemicals and hello to healthier air quality and happier families! Experience luxury living sustainably with HILLS Properties. Our apartment communities in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky offer the perfect blend of comfort and eco-friendliness. Discover your nearest community today, or contact our team for more information.