After writing my last post, I realized that this whole spring cleaning my life thing was going to be quite an undertaking. But last weekend I got started and I am so happy with my progress. As I said, a beautiful, clean living space is inspiring and it eliminates stress. So I went to work cleaning and organizing my apartment. I started my getting rid of all the piles of mail I had thrown everywhere. I bought some cute binders and file folders from Target and saved my important papers (medical bills, tax info, etc.). Hello counter space. Next up: my bathroom.
True Life: I’m a product junkie. So there are usually bottles EVERYWHERE and make-up dust sprinkled here and there. Don’t judge me by what you’re about to see. 
I know… good lawd have mercy.
The first thing I did was get rid of some of the products I don’t use. I’ve been transitioning to my natural hair for about a year and honestly those products that worked wonders for my relaxed hair needed to be removed a long time ago. Bye-bye.
Next came cleaning: along with my natural hair, I’ve decided I want to use more natural products. Green clean, if you will. If for no other reason, my cute puppy licks everything (sometimes for hours on end). I would rather him ingest things that won’t seriously harm his tummy like the chemicals found in some of your everyday cleaners. After a bit of research, I discovered that vinegar is a great natural cleanser. I’m not a fan of the smell of vinegar, but learned that adding essential oils can solve that problem.
Essential Oils 101
- Lavender – My mother is obsessed with lavender and now I get it. Lavender is known for its aromatic properties and ability to calm and relax the body and mind. It can also be used to relieve skin irritation and soothes cuts and burns.
- Lemon – Lemon can be used to clean and disinfect surfaces and packs a double punch as an incredibly uplifting and energizing scent for body and mind.
- Tea Tree – Anything that needs disinfecting or cleaning can benefit from tea tree oil. I also love it because it’s great for my hair. It not only moisturizes the hair and scalp, but promotes hair growth. I love a good two-for-one.
There are lots of other great essential oils that you may prefer (I would suggest looking into: orange and peppermint.) However, for my kitchen and bathroom, I choose lemon and tea tree oil. And for my general all-purpose cleaner, I went with lavender.
Organizing: Even after the purge, I realized I had a lot of stuff on my counter. I decided that if displayed differently all of my products wouldn’t look as cluttered. I got an affordable acrylic case
to hold some of my makeup and made a jewelry/ odds and end stand out of a few cheap melamine plates and candlesticks from the Dollar Tree (DIY tutorial coming soon). So here are my results:
Vast improvement, right? I’m taking this easy to make solution from room to room and loving the results (and the purge). I’m tackling the kitchen and my closets next. Wish me luck! Below you can find the oils and some of the other products I mentioned to start your own spring cleaning.
Do you have any natural cleaning tips/tricks? I’d love to hear them. If you end up making any of the cleaning solutions let me know.
These cleaning supplies sound very useful. Thanks for sharing!
The difference is severe! I am planning on having a spring decluttering day this Saturday. I want to have my house free of clutter because I feel horrible! Thanks for sharing!