Cleaning – Green Thumb Daily

Most people “clean” their house the way Big corporations trained them to:Buy a different plastic bottle for every surface… full of mystery fragrance… and ingredients you can’t pronounce. Here’s the punchline: your house isn’t dirty because you don’t have enough products.It’s dirty because you don’t have a system. And the good news? You can clean damn near your whole home with a handful of cheap pantry staples—vinegar, baking soda, castile soap, hydrogen peroxide, salt, lemon, and a couple oils—without turning your indoor air into a chemical fog. This is the article that makes readers feel smart, capable, and a little angry they’ve been played. Quick safety note (because we’re not idiots) Never mix vinegar with bleach. Never mix hydrogen peroxide with vinegar in the same bottle. (Use one, rinse, then the other if needed.) Label everything. Keep away from kids/pets. Patch-test on delicate surfaces. Your “7 Staples” Natural Cleaning Kit If you have these, you can make everything below: White distilled vinegar Baking soda Castile soap (unscented) Hydrogen peroxide (3%) Salt Lemons Optional: essential oils (tea tree, lemon, lavender), rubbing alcohol Add: spray bottles, a jar, microfiber cloths, old toothbrush, scrub brush. 17 Simple Natural Cleaning Recipes (Pantry-Staple Edition) 1) All-Purpose Counter Spray (Kitchen + Bath) Use for: counters, cabinets, sealed surfacesMix: 1 cup water 1 cup white vinegar 10–15 drops essential oil (optional) How to use: Spray, wait 30–60 seconds, wipe. Avoid: natural stone (granite/marble) — vinegar can etch it. 2) Grease-Cutting Kitchen Degreaser Use for: stove tops, greasy cabinets, backsplashMix: 2 cups warm water 1 tbsp castile soap 1 tbsp baking soda How to use: Shake gently. Spray. Let sit 2 minutes. Wipe. Rinse cloth and wipe again. 3) Natural Glass & Mirror Cleaner (No Streaks) Mix: 2 cups water 2 tbsp vinegar 1 tbsp rubbing alcohol (optional but helps) How to use: Spray lightly. Wipe with microfiber or newspaper. 4) Sink Scrub (Makes Stainless Shine) Mix into a paste: ½ cup baking soda enough castile soap to make a thick paste How to use: Scrub. Rinse hot. Buff dry. 5) Drain “Refresh” (Not a Miracle Unclogger) This is for odor + gunk maintenance, not major clogs. Do: ½ cup baking soda down the drain 1 cup hot vinegar Cover 10 minutes Flush with hot water 6) Cutting Board Deodorizer + Sanitizer Do: Sprinkle salt heavily Rub with half a lemon Let sit 5 minutes Rinse and dry 7) Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner Do: Sprinkle ½ cup baking soda into bowl Add ½ cup vinegar Let fizz 10 minutes Scrub and flush For heavy stains: use a pumice stone carefully. 8) Bathroom Soap Scum Buster Mix: 1 cup warm vinegar 1 tbsp dish soap or castile soap How to use: Spray on shower walls/doors. Wait 10 minutes. Scrub. Rinse. 9) Grout Brightener (Targeted) Make a paste: 3 tbsp baking soda 1 tbsp hydrogen peroxide 1 tsp castile soap How to use: Brush into grout. Let sit 10 minutes. Scrub. Rinse. 10) Mold/Mildew Spot Treatment Use: hydrogen peroxide only (3%) How to use: Spray on affected area. Wait 10 minutes. Scrub. Wipe dry. Important: Ventilate. Fix moisture source or it comes back. 11) Floor Cleaner (Tile/Vinyl/Laminate) Mix in a bucket: 1 gallon warm water ½ cup vinegar 1 tsp castile soap How to use: Mop. Don’t soak laminate—wring well. Avoid: wood floors unless they’re sealed and you use very little vinegar. 12) Wood “Dust + Shine” Spray Mix: 1 cup water 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp vinegar How to use: Shake. Light mist on cloth (not directly on furniture). Wipe. 13) Stainless Steel Polish (No Weird Residue) Do: Put a drop of olive oil on a cloth Wipe with the grain Buff with a dry cloth 14) Oven Cleaner (Elbow Grease Version) Make a paste: ½ cup baking soda a few tbsp water How to use: Spread on oven grime. Leave overnight. Scrape/wipe. Spray vinegar to help lift residue. Wipe again. 15) Microwave Steam Clean (2 Minutes) Do: Bowl of water + lemon slices (or 2 tbsp vinegar) Microwave 2–3 minutes Let sit 2 minutes Wipe clean 16) Laundry Booster (Odor + Brightness) Do: Add ½ cup baking soda to wash For whites: ½ cup hydrogen peroxide (instead of bleach) Avoid: mixing peroxide with vinegar in the same load. 17) “Room Reset” Fabric Refresher Not perfume. Just fresh. Mix: 2 cups water 2 tbsp vodka or rubbing alcohol (optional) 10 drops essential oil (optional) How to use: Light mist on curtains, couches, bedding. Don’t soak. The Lazy Person’s Cleaning System (So You Actually Use This) You don’t need motivation. You need a routine. Daily (10 minutes) Quick kitchen wipe (Recipe #1 or #2) Sink scrub (Recipe #4) Bathroom counter wipe (Recipe #1) Weekly (30–60 minutes) Toilet (#7) Shower (#8) Floors (#11) Mirrors (#3) Monthly (1–2 hours) Grout (#9) Oven (#14) Deep dust + wood (#12) Print This “Do-Not-Mix” Safety Mini-List Vinegar + bleach = toxic gas Hydrogen peroxide + vinegar (same bottle) = irritant Baking soda + vinegar = good fizz… but don’t store it (it neutralizes)