5 Ways to Clean Green this Spring

Here at Rug Doctor, St. Patrick’s Day marks the beginning of our favorite time of the year – SPRING CLEANING!!! Over the next few blogs, Rug Doctor experts will share spring cleaning tips and tricks to help you make this your best spring cleaning ever. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, and all things green, we’re excited to kick off the blog series with our favorite “green” spring cleaning tips.

1. Reuse old t-shirts for cleaning rags.

Begin your spring cleaning regimen in the closet. Pull out all your old t-shirts and separate them into three piles: keep, donate, and trash. Now instead of trashing those shirts, cut them into small dish rag size pieces. Using these pieces to clean surfaces throughout the home instead of paper towels is both eco-friendly and wallet-friendy! Just toss your new t-shirt cleaning rags in the trash when you’re done; or, to be extra-green, throw them in the wash and use them over and over again. Save your other cleaning towels and cloths for dishes or other light cleaning activities, and use your t-shirt cleaning rags for the heavy duty stuff.

2. Use bio-based cleaning products.

Bio-based cleaning products are made with renewable resources, such as plant oil or enzymes, instead of fossil-based ingredients. Bio-based cleaning products are usually bio-degradable and they’re also effective cleaning agents. Our Rug Doctor experts developed the USDA certified bio-based PURE POWER line of carpet cleaning products to deliver the powerful cleaning results expected from all Rug Doctor carpet cleaning products. Pure Power carpet cleaning solutions are free from chlorine, alcohol, ammonia, VOCs, phosphates, carcinogens, bleaches, dyes, and heavy metals. Pure Power Oxy Carpet Cleaner is scientifically formulated with oxygen-activated cleaning boosters to remove deep ground-in dirt and stains for a thorough deep clean. Pure Power Pet Carpet Cleaner is formulated to contain enzymes that remove deep, stubborn pet stains and odors for a professional-grade clean. One application delivers continuous cleaning for up to 24 hours and deters pets from remarking. Rug Doctor Pure Power carpet cleaning solutions are certified platinum by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) for a clean that will not void your carpet warranty. Pure Power pet- and family-friendly formulas can be used in ALL deep carpet cleaning machines.

3. Remove air fresheners from the home.

Most commercial air fresheners are made with harsh chemicals. In most cases, maintaining a clean home is all you need to do to prevent odors. Deep cleaning your carpet at least once a year is the best way to prevent lingering odors from food, pets, or other dirty carpet messes. Rug Doctor carpet cleaning machines can provide a professional deep clean without the cost of hiring a carpet cleaning service. Visit our rental locator to find a rental location near you.

If you’re using air fresheners because you enjoy the smell they emit (rather than trying to mask lingering odors in the home), try making your own. Take a look at these homemade air freshener ideas on Pinterest!

4. Old toothbrushes make great scrubbing tools.

The American Dental Association recommends you replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Instead of throwing those toothbrushes in the trash, why not save them for spring cleaning? Toothbrushes make great cleaning tools for small spaces (like the grout between tiles or that little area between the faucet and the wall). Toothbrushes are also great for spot cleaning your upholstery to remove stains. Generously spray the stain with Rug Doctor Pure Power Spot and Stain Remover and scrub in a circular motion, moving from the inner portion of the stain to the outer edge. Repeat until the stain is gone. For more ways to clean with a toothbrush, read this article from Readers Digest. And don’t forget: before using a toothbrush for cleaning, be sure to disinfect it by boiling it in hot water for 3 minutes. 

5. Stock up on vinegar and baking soda.

Spring cleaning is the perfect time to clean all your appliances. Baking soda and vinegar can be just as effective as the harsh cleaning chemicals you would normally use for these tasks. Clean your stove and oven by spraying with vinegar, let it set for 15 minutes, wipe away, and then rinse with hot water. For tough grease stains, mix baking soda with warm water into a paste. Scrub with a damp t-shirt rag and rinse with warm water. To clean your dishwasher, run a heavy clean cycle with 1 cup of white vinegar. When finished, sprinkle one cup of baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher and leave overnight. In the morning, run an empty cycle. Then gently scrub any remaining areas with – you guessed it – a toothbrush!

To get your fridge sparkling like new, first remove everything including all debris and loose particles. Clean the fridge using a t-shirt rag doused in vinegar mixed with hot water. Now sprinkle the fridge with baking soda and scrub down with a clean t-shirt rag. After scrubbing, use another t-shirt rag to rinse the refrigerator with vinegar.

Now that’s some green spring cleaning! Stay tuned to our blog for more spring cleaning tips and tricks from the Rug Doctor cleaning experts. Have a happy and safe St. Patrick’s Day, and don’t forget your green!