The excitement we felt at the dawn of the new year may have faded; the thrill already a few weeks old. Nevertheless, don’t abandon your enthusiasm—a new year calls for a clean slate! What better way is there to have a fresh start than by doing a thorough spring cleaning? Normally, the big ‘spring clean’, a long-standing and venerable tradition, occurs when the cold weather subsides and the sun starts to linger. Clearing out clutter and dust definitely makes life feel renewed, but why wait until spring?

Many spring cleaning customs originated in Asia and Europe. According to Chinese tradition, thoroughly cleaning your home rids it of the bad luck from the past year and prepares it to receive the good luck sure to follow in the new one. The meaning behind doing a deep cleanse of your home transcends the actual hygiene of your house. It can also be considered as a mental or spiritual purification. In other words, it encourages the expulsion of certain past events and emotions, in order to make room for new experiences.

In this article, I’ll focus on the different ways of detoxing your home. I’ll cover everything from cobweb removal to de-cluttering. Also, I will explain how to find good alternatives to chemical cleaning agents. Last but not least, I’ll address how to make sure your personal spaces are perfectly balanced when it comes to allowing energy to flow freely, also known as Feng Shui.

Let’s start with the basics:

De-cluttering

I firmly believe in getting rid of needless objects in order to make much needed space in your home. This includes not only making physical space, but also letting go of those tainted sentimental items (i.e. finally throw away that raggedy sweater from an ex who brutally broke your heart years ago). Getting rid of unnecessary material objects can also have great emotional benefits.

Whether it’s clothes you haven’t worn in years, or a stack of paperwork you just keep piling up, never giving it a second glance, repeat this mantra: get rid of it, get rid of it all. Confession time: I have tons of clothes. I’m one of those people that still have that green skirt that she bought at a vintage store twelve years ago. Despite the fact that I’ve been wearing black and only black for years now, I hold on to the thought that one day I might like green again. Still, at least once a year, I dive into my closets (note that the plural there does make me feel a tad ashamed) and get rid of bags and bags of clothing, giving it away to friends and to those less fortunate.

The next step is to take a good look at all your little nick-nacks and trinkets: do they really add anything to your life (apart from attracting more dust)? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting that you throw out all emotional keepsakes and travel souvenirs. Holding on to too many material objects can make a person feel smothered, rather than bring back good memories.

Once you feel like you’ve cleaned out more than you ever imagined that you could, it’s time to take a deep breath and perhaps take a coffee break. Then, saddle right back up for part two: moving things around.

Let the good vibes in—Feng Shui style

The principals of Feng Shui can be pretty complex, but here’s a simplified explanation: Feng Shui is a term composed of two Chinese words: feng (wind) and shui (water).

In order to have good Feng Shui, the chi (energy) of your home should be able to flow freely and without inhibition. Think of the chi as a river. Can the river in your home flow freely from your front door to your bedroom, or will this flow be blocked by a gigantic couch or an awkwardly placed cabinet? The practice Feng Shui aims to examine how the placement of objects and furniture within a space effects the energy flow in your living environment. The meaning of this exercise lies in how spatial fluidity influences your personal energy flow.

Here are a few quick tips for beginners:

• Make sure your bed is optimally located. A properly placed bed should offer a feeling of security. An ideally situated bed leads to better sleep and all thehealth benefits that come along with it. Preferably, your bed should be placed diagonally to the door, without your feet pointing towards it. When in bed, you should have a good view of the room and you should have your head against something solid, if possible a wall.

• Your working desk is best positioned diagonally from the door. This is considered to be a ‘power position’. The view from this angle gives a commanding perspective of the room, allowing you to see and think clearly. Try to avoid having your back to the door (too distracting) or against a large window (drains strength). While it may be a space saver, don’t place your desk in front of a solid wall. Most Feng Shui consultants advise against this position, as it negatively affects concentration and creativity.

• Getting rid of clutter is also a central aspect of following the Feng Shui principals. In a clear and organized space, energy can flow freely and feelings of guilt and unrest are greatly diminished.

• Mirrors must be placed thoughtfully. There is no ideal place for a mirror in the bedroom, but if you insist, at least hide it behind a closet door. Mirrors are believed to double activity, stirring up more energy than optimal for an area of rest.

When you’re done moving things around, and the dust has settled, it’s time to move on to the next step: getting rid of all that dust and dirt.

The basics to keeping it clean

Confession time #2: I have a mild case of OCD, which manifests itself mainly in a fear of dirt and in excessive (to some) cleaning tendencies. I consider myself to be the Queen Bee of cleaning in my household. Most of these tips have played a central role in my life for many years now. However, the task of finding the best eco-friendly home cleaning products was an adventure that made my little OCD heart jump with renewed joy. Before you put on your rubber gloves and fill a bucket with sudsy water, take note of these basic tips to keeping a clean and healthy home.

The first one and a big one is: no shoes in the house. There really is no reason whatsoever why you would want to drag dirt from the streets into your private spaces. Does walking around barefoot really feel that good, knowing that the shoes that graced your floors also walked through (dog) feces, dirt, chemical street cleaning agents, cigarette butts, a hefty amount of phlegm (have you ever noticed how many people spit on the street?) and who knows what else?
Another tip related to shoes is: placing your indoor welcome mat vertically instead of horizontally; this way more dirt and residue from your shoes stay on the mat.

The second tip is: keeping the air clean. Indoor air can be five times as polluted as outdoor air, so open the windows whenever the weather—and your heating budget—permit. It also helps to create a designated smoking area if you have smokers in your flat, or to not smoke at all in your home.

If you suffer from allergies or have asthma, make sure to wash your curtains at least twice a year; they collect a huge amount of dust by just hanging there. The same goes for your pillows and blankets; throw them in the wash at least twice a year as well.

Another fantastic tip is to vacuum your mattress at least once per week. This greatly removes not only dust mites, but also skin and dust particles that dust mites feast upon. Dusting off all furniture at least weekly can also greatly relieve allergies.

Last but not least: Avoid excess moisture, as it encourages the growth of mold and mildew. Check areas for moisture or leaks and regularly clean surfaces where mold usually grows – around showers and tubs and beneath sinks. After a hot shower or a bath, air out your bathroom for at least 15 minutes.

On to the real cleaning, the green way

Many of the cleaning products we use to clean our furniture, bathrooms, windows etc. are full of toxic chemicals, some of which do not even appear on the labels. The safest way to avoid them, is by buying products that are labeled environmentally friendly, or by just making them yourself.

According to Annie Bond, author of ‘Better Basics For The Home’ and ‘Clean and green’, you can clean anything with water and five basic ingredients: baking soda, washing soda, distilled white vinegar, vegetable based liquid Soap such as Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap, and Tea Tree oil. Add some fresh herbs, citrus or citrus peels, olive or vegetable oil and water, and you’re good to go to get your home squeaky clean.

A Few DIY Tips

What you’ll need: measuring cups and spoons, spray bottles, sponges, & a scrub brush.

All-purpose Recipe

• All-purpose cleaner – from stripe-free windows to cleaning out the litter box
  Ingredients: ½ cup distilled white vinegar, ½ cup water, 12-24 drops essential oil.
  Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle, and adjust to your own needs.

Kitchen cleaner Recipe

• Kitchen cleaners – from stoves to sinks
  Ingredients: Vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, essential oil, water, & dish soap
• Kitchen all-purpose cleaner: Mix 1 tsp. of baking soda, ½ tsp. of dish soap and 2 tblsp. of vinegar in a spray bottle. Give it a stir. Let it sit for a minute, then fill the bottle with water. Add a few drops of essential oil for a nice scent, if desired.
• Sink or stovetop cleaner: Mix 1/3 cup of baking soda in a bowl. Mix with enough warm water till you get a nice paste. Put paste on a sponge or brush and scrub away. Rinse afterwards with water.

Bathroom cleaner Recipe

• Bathroom cleaners – from grout-free toilets to a shiny tub
  Ingredients: baking soda, vegetable oil based liquid soap such as Dr. Bronner’s soaps, distilled white vinegar, essential oils for fragrance, kosher salt, & water.
• Tub cleaner: Combine 1/3 cup of baking soda with ½ cup of vegetable oil-based liquid soap in a spray bottle. Add ½ cup water and 2 Tbsp. of vinegar. Shake well before using. Apply with a cloth or sponge and rinse well afterwards.
• Toilet bowl cleaner: Mix ¼ cup of baking soda and 1 cup vinegar in the toilet bowl. Let it sit for 15 minutes, scrub and flush.

More about the ingredients

Baking soda is made from soda ash and is slightly alkaline. It neutralizes acid-based odors in water, and absorbs odors from the air. It can be used as a gentle cleaning product for kitchen counter tops, sinks, bathtubs, and ovens.

White vinegar and lemon juice are both acidic. Acids dissolve gummy buildup, eat away tarnish, and remove dirt from wood surfaces. In addition, white vinegar kills certain bacteria and removes mold.

Essential oils not only add a nice scent, but also have a lot of cleaning power: eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, tea tree, and thyme are the essential oils considered to be antiseptic and antibacterial.

Vegetable oil-based liquid soaps or castile soaps contain only vegetable based ingredients, and are often produced organically. They do not contain harmful synthetic fragrances and have minimal environmental impact.

The cleaning recipes mentioned above are only just a handful of the many ways you can mix natural ingredients for very specific cleaning purposes. If you have some time to spare and are internet savvy, you can easily find tons of other recipes on the web.
And if you have tips and tricks of your own, please do share in the comment section.

Happy cleaning!

Photo Credit:  Philipp Berndt