Spring Cleaning Without
Harsh Chemicals

Let's get one thing out of the way.

You cannot literally clean your house without chemicals.

Water is a chemical.

Baking soda is a chemical.

Vinegar is made up of chemicals.

You are made of chemicals.

So when people talk about “chemical-free cleaning,” what they generally mean is cleaning with fewer commercial products, fewer fragrances, and simpler ingredients.

That you can absolutely do.

And spring cleaning is a good time to try it, because somewhere along the way we became convinced that every surface in the house requires its own bottle.

Kitchen spray.

Bathroom spray.

Glass spray.

Stainless-steel spray.

Floor cleaner.

Furniture cleaner.

Shower cleaner.

Possibly a special cleaner for where you store all the other cleaners.

You don't necessarily need all of that.

For many ordinary spring-cleaning jobs, the combination of water, mechanical action, appropriate simple cleaners, and clean cloths can accomplish a surprising amount.

The important part is knowing what belongs where.

Because “natural” doesn't mean “safe on absolutely everything.”

And vinegar, despite its impressive public-relations campaign, is not the answer to every household problem.

Start With the Least Aggressive Cleaning Method

Before reaching for any cleaner, ask a simpler question:

Will water and a cloth handle this?

For ordinary dust, fingerprints, and light soil, sometimes the answer is yes.

That's especially useful when you're cleaning large areas during a spring reset.

Start with the gentlest method appropriate for the surface.

Escalate only when the dirt requires it.

There's no reason to launch a full chemical assault against a bookshelf with some dust on it.

The dust is not armed.

Your Basic Spring-Cleaning Kit

You don't need a cart containing seventeen bottles.

For many household jobs, a simple cleaning kit might include:

• Microfiber or other appropriate cleaning cloths
• Vacuum and attachments
• Mop suitable for your floors
• Bucket
• Scrub brush
• Baking soda
• Mild dishwashing liquid
• White vinegar for surfaces where it is appropriate
• Cleaning products specifically required by particular surfaces or appliances
• Protective gloves when appropriate

Notice that I said where appropriate.

That's important.

A homemade cleaner is only useful if it doesn't damage what you're cleaning.

First: Declutter

Before cleaning anything, clear the way.

Trash goes out.

Dishes go to the kitchen.

Laundry goes where laundry belongs.

Shoes return to their homes.

Deal with papers or put them in a designated sorting spot.

Put items you no longer want in a donation box.

Don't attempt to scrub around clutter.

Cleaning around six bottles on a bathroom counter takes longer than moving the bottles.

And cleaning underneath clutter, only to return it to exactly where it was, is a fairly bleak definition of progress.

For the larger problem, use our Decluttering Guide.

Dust Before You Wash

Spring cleaning often involves a lot of dust.

Ceiling fans.

Shelves.

Baseboards.

Window sills.

Furniture.

Light fixtures.

The tops of things you haven't looked at since approximately last spring.

Remove dry dust before introducing moisture.

Use an appropriate cloth, duster or vacuum attachment.

Work from higher surfaces downward.

Gravity remains stubbornly committed to its position on this.

If you clean the floor first and dust the ceiling fan afterward, you'll have to clean the floor again.

Cleaning the Kitchen With Fewer Products

The kitchen doesn't necessarily require a different cleaner for every square foot.

For many washable surfaces, warm water and a small amount of mild dishwashing liquid may be enough for ordinary grease and grime, if the surface manufacturer permits it.

Clean one area at a time:

• Counters
• Cabinet fronts
• Handles
• Appliance exteriors
• Sink
• Faucet
• Table
• Backsplash

Then clean the floor using a method appropriate for the flooring material.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions for counters, cabinets, and appliances.

Natural stone, specialty finishes, and some other surfaces can be damaged by products that are perfectly harmless elsewhere.

Your kitchen counter does not care that your cleaner came from the pantry.

Cleaning Grease Without Going to War

Kitchen grease often needs more than plain water.

A small amount of grease-cutting dishwashing liquid in water can be useful on compatible washable surfaces.

Give it time to work, where appropriate.

Then wipe and rinse as needed.

Don't automatically double the amount of soap because the grease looks particularly offensive.

Too much soap can create another problem:

Soap residue.

Now you've replaced grease with stickiness.

Technically different.

Not necessarily better.

Baking Soda: Useful, Not Magical

Baking soda can help with certain household cleaning jobs because it provides mild abrasive action and can help with some odors.

But it is still an abrasive.

That means you should not assume it's safe for every finish.

Before scrubbing a surface with baking soda, check the manufacturer's care recommendations and test where appropriate.

Use it because it suits the job.

Not because a social-media video assured you that baking soda, half a lemon, and optimism can restore anything manufactured since 1840.

Vinegar: Also Useful, Also Not Magical

White vinegar is another useful household ingredient with a résumé that has gotten slightly out of control.

Diluted vinegar can work for some cleaning jobs.

It is not appropriate for every surface.

Acid can damage or dull certain materials, particularly some natural stone surfaces.

It may also be inappropriate for certain finishes, appliances, and flooring.

Before using vinegar, check the care instructions for whatever you're cleaning.

This is particularly important with:

• Natural stone
• Specialty flooring
• Certain appliance components
• Finished or sealed surfaces

If the manufacturer says no vinegar, believe them.

The countertop knows more about being a countertop than Pinterest does.

Don't Mix Vinegar and Baking Soda and Expect a Super Cleaner

This one looks impressive.

Vinegar meets baking soda.

Fizzing!

Bubbling!

Science!

It certainly looks like something powerful is happening.

The reaction can provide useful physical agitation in some limited applications, but mixing an acid and a base also largely neutralizes them.

So don't assume the dramatic foam means you've invented an extraordinarily powerful household cleaner.

Sometimes fizz is just fizz.

Your house does not award points for special effects.

Never Mix Cleaning Products Casually

This is the genuinely important part.

Do not start combining household cleaning products because individual ingredients seem harmless.

Some combinations can produce dangerous fumes or reactions.

In particular, never mix bleach with ammonia or acidic products such as vinegar.

Follow product labels exactly.

If you use a commercial cleaning product for a particular job, don't add other cleaners unless the manufacturer specifically instructs you to.

Open windows or provide ventilation when product instructions call for it.

“Homemade” does not automatically mean harmless.

And cleaning the bathroom should never require an evacuation plan.

Cleaning the Bathroom With Fewer Products

Bathrooms tend to tempt us into using everything in the cleaning cabinet.

Start simpler.

Remove toiletries and clutter.

First, vacuum or remove loose hair and dust.

Then clean compatible surfaces using the gentlest appropriate method.

Pay attention to:

• Sink
• Faucet
• Counter
• Mirror
• Tub
• Shower
• Toilet
• Floor

Soap scum and mineral deposits may require a cleaner specifically suited to both the buildup and the surface.

That's okay.

The goal isn't to win an award for using the fewest cleaning products.

The goal is to avoid unnecessary ones.

For more help, visit our Bathroom Cleaning & Organizing Guide.

Cleaning Mirrors and Glass

You may not need a heavily fragranced glass cleaner for every fingerprint.

For lightly soiled glass, a damp microfiber cloth, followed by a dry cloth, may be enough.

For dirtier glass, use a glass-cleaning method or product appropriate for the surface.

Avoid soaking frames and surrounding materials.

And clean in good light.

Nothing reveals the shortcomings of your window-cleaning technique quite like sunlight arriving five minutes after you've finished.

Cleaning Floors

Floors are where generic cleaning advice becomes dangerous.

There is no universal “natural floor cleaner.”

Wood, laminate, vinyl, tile, and natural stone require different care.

Before using vinegar, soap, steam, or any homemade solution, check the flooring manufacturer's instructions.

Vacuum or sweep first.

Then use the recommended amount of an appropriate cleaner, and avoid excessive moisture where the flooring doesn't allow it.

If your floor requires a specific product, use it.

Protecting a several-thousand-dollar floor is more environmentally sensible than damaging it because you insisted on cleaning it with something from the salad-dressing aisle.

Cleaning Carpets

Vacuuming is your first and best low-product carpet-cleaning tool.

Vacuum slowly and thoroughly, concentrating on high-traffic areas.

Treat individual stains according to the carpet manufacturer's instructions rather than soaking the entire carpet in a homemade mixture.

If you're using a carpet-cleaning machine, use products approved for the machine and appropriate for your carpet.

Don't assume vinegar, dish soap, or laundry detergent belongs in the tank.

For the complete process, see How to Clean Carpet at Home.

Cleaning Stainless Steel

Start simple.

For many stainless-steel appliance exteriors, a soft cloth and the cleaning method recommended by the appliance manufacturer are enough for everyday fingerprints and grime.

Wipe in the direction of the grain when applicable.

Avoid abrasive materials that may scratch the finish.

If your appliance manufacturer recommends a particular cleaner, use it.

Stainless steel can show fingerprints from across the room, so perfection is probably an unrealistic long-term goal anyway.

Cleaning the Refrigerator

This is one of the easiest places to simplify.

First, remove expired or spoiled food.

Take out removable components if the manufacturer's instructions allow.

Clean interior surfaces and components according to the appliance directions.

Dry them before replacing food as appropriate.

Often the biggest improvement doesn't come from the cleaner.

It comes from throwing away the jar containing one teaspoon of something nobody has used since Thanksgiving.

Freshening the House Without Spraying Fragrance Everywhere

A clean house doesn't necessarily smell like anything.

That's worth remembering.

If a room smells unpleasant, try to find the source rather than immediately covering it with fragrance.

Check:

• Trash
• Pet areas
• Laundry
• Damp towels
• Refrigerator
• Garbage disposal
• Carpet
• Upholstery
• Shoes
• Drains
• Hidden food

Remove the odor source.

Clean the affected area appropriately.

Ventilate the house when weather and conditions permit.

“Clean” is not a scent.

Sometimes it just smells like absolutely nothing is wrong.

Open the Windows—When It Makes Sense

Fresh air can make a house feel dramatically better during spring cleaning.

If outdoor air quality, pollen, weather, and household circumstances allow, open windows while you work.

You may also need ventilation when using certain cleaning products, so follow the label directions.

Of course, if opening the windows fills the house with pollen and makes everyone miserable, skip this step.

Nature is not always an invited cleaning assistant.

Wash the Cleaning Cloths

Reusable cleaning cloths are useful only while they're actually cleaning.

Switch to fresh cloths as they become dirty.

Wash reusable cloths according to their care instructions after use.

Clean mop heads and reusable pads too.

At some point, wiping another surface with the same dirty cloth becomes less “green cleaning” and more “moving the bathroom around.”

Know the difference.

Use Less Product

One of the easiest ways to reduce cleaning-product use is simply to stop overusing it.

Read the label.

Measure when appropriate.

Use the recommended amount.

More cleaner does not necessarily make a surface cleaner.

It can leave residue and waste product.

This applies to:

• Laundry detergent
• Dishwashing products
• Floor cleaner
• Carpet cleaner
• Multipurpose cleaners

The bottle is giving you instructions.

This is one of the rare moments in life when following directions can actually save money.

Don't Throw Away Products Just to Become “Greener”

If you already own a suitable cleaning product and can use it safely, throwing it away simply to replace it with a supposedly greener version doesn't accomplish much.

Use appropriate products you already have.

Replace them thoughtfully as they're finished.

And don't build an entirely new collection of “natural” cleaning products.

Decluttering the cleaning cabinet only to refill it with prettier bottles is not progress.

It's rebranding.

When a Commercial Cleaner Makes More Sense

Some jobs call for a specialized product.

You may need one for:

• Significant mold or mildew problems
• Certain disinfecting situations
• Specialized flooring
• Oven cleaning
• Carpet or upholstery cleaning
• Serious mineral buildup
• Specific appliance maintenance
• Particular stains
• Manufacturer-required care

Use the right product when the job calls for it.

Reducing unnecessary chemical exposure does not mean refusing to use an appropriate cleaner when you actually need one.

The goal is sensible cleaning.

Not ideological purity under the kitchen sink.

Your Simple Spring-Cleaning Checklist

Want to clean with fewer products this spring?

Start here:

•  Declutter before cleaning
•  Vacuum and dust before wet-cleaning
•  Start with the gentlest appropriate method
•  Use water and a cloth when that's enough
•  Use mild soap on compatible surfaces
•  Check before using vinegar
•  Check before using baking soda
•  Never casually mix cleaning products
•  Follow surface and appliance care instructions
•  Use specialized products when genuinely necessary
•  Use only the recommended amount
•  Ventilate when appropriate
•  Wash reusable cleaning cloths
•  Address odor sources instead of masking them
•  Use up appropriate products before buying replacements

The Five Products You Probably Don't Need

Before buying another cleaner, ask:

Do I already own something appropriate for this job?

You probably don't need:

A separate spray for every room.

Three nearly identical multipurpose cleaners.

A special product because its bottle says “spring.”

A cleaner for a problem you don't actually have.

A homemade concoction that requires seven ingredients and twenty minutes of prep.

Cleaning is already a chore.

We don't need to add manufacturing.

The Real Goal Isn't “Chemical-Free”

A completely chemical-free home does not exist.

Nor does it need to.

The more useful goal is:

Use fewer products.

Choose appropriate products.

Use only what you need.

Avoid unnecessary fragrances and ingredients if that's important to your household.

Don't mix cleaners.

Protect the surfaces you're cleaning.

And remember that vacuuming, dusting, wiping, rinsing, and plain old elbow grease do quite a lot of the work.

You don't need a bubbling homemade potion for every household problem.

Sometimes you need a damp cloth.

Sometimes you need dish soap.

Sometimes you need a specialized cleaner.

And sometimes you need to admit that the mysterious substance inside the oven has moved beyond the jurisdiction of vinegar.

That's sensible cleaning.

And sensible cleaning works just fine.

Keep Going

For more environmentally conscious household cleaning ideas, visit our Green Cleaning Guide.

For your complete everyday cleaning system, visit our Cleaning Guide.

For clearing clutter before you start spring cleaning, visit our Decluttering Guide.

For carpets and rugs, see How to Clean Carpet at Home.