So admit it: We’ve all been rather shut-in during this last year of disruption to our normal lives. Well, Spring is here, and it reminds us of revival and reawakening. It’s time to do some Spring cleaning. Why not dust off the cobwebs and bring back that shine to your home? But rather than noxious compounds, think about using natural cleansers that don’t release toxic chemicals into your home. Try using products you are likely to have in your kitchen instead of those harsh cleaning cleansers.

Here are the 6 Essential Gentle Cleaning Ingredients you probably already have in your home:

1. Fresh Lemon Juice is a natural bleach and disinfectant, an excellent stain remover and a deodorizer. To clean and deodorize your garbage disposal, place ice cubes with a cut-up lemon into your disposal with cold running water for at least one minute.
2. Club soda is a natural stain remover and works well on fabrics and carpets without bleaching.
3. Baking soda is a mild, natural abrasive that can be used to clean most surface types without worrying about scratching. It is also a great deodorizer for your refrigerator or freezer.
4. White vinegar is like an all-purpose cleaner, disinfectant and deodorizer. Simply mix equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle and you are ready to clean most areas of your home, such as on glass windows as it dissolves soap scum and hard water deposits too.
5. Hydrogen peroxide has great stain fighting powers. Keep a solution of hydrogen peroxide and grease fighting dish detergent (such as Dawn) in a spray bottle to lift pet stains from carpets, and perspiration stains from clothing.
6. Dawn dish detergent (the original blue version) made its mark in 1989 when it was used to safely remove thick crude oil from marine birds affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska. Talk about removing tough grease!

So how can you use some of these ingredients to gently and effectively clean your home, including your exterior iron doors and gates?

Cleaning glass or Windows

Dawn and vinegar work wonders together in this extra smudge-cutting and cleaning mixture. Mix – in a spray bottle – 1/4 cup of white vinegar with 2 ½ cups of water, plus 1/2 teaspoon of Dawn dish detergent. Rinse your windows and mirrors with clean water, afterward, to clear off the remaining cleaning solution.

Cleaning the Powder Coat & Faux Finish on your Iron Doors

Mix 1 tablespoon of Dawn dish soap in a 5-gallon bucket of warm water. Wet a sponge in the bucket and wipe down the iron. Use a nylon scrubber (be careful not to rub too hard, it may create unwanted scratches on certain finishes) to remove stubborn dirt, or stuck on spills such as bird droppings. Remove soap with a clean damp lint-free towel. Dry the iron immediately with lint-free towels. Make sure that you dry all crevices and creases. If your iron has dirt stuck in the crevices, use a toothbrush or a small bottle brush with warm water. Add a drop of detergent & scrub until clean. Rinse brush if it becomes too dirty and repeat. Do not hose down your iron to clean it, as this will create unneeded wear and potential future issues.

If you’d like to know what you should add to your spring-cleaning checklist, check out our blog, “Top Tips to Prepare Your AZ Home for Spring”. If your spring spruce up includes updating the exterior of your home, consider an Iron Entry Door, an Iron Security Door, or an Iron Gate from First Impression Ironworks. A steel entry door is virtually a maintenance-free option. Call us today at 602-345-7481 to schedule your free in-home design consultation and quote!