Tag: spring cleaning

Spring Clean Your Beauty Routine in 3 Steps

It’s that time of year again. As you’re packing away your heavy sweaters and snow boots in anticipation of the warmer days ahead, you should also start saying goodbye to your Winter skin care routine. Spring is all about rejuvenation. With that in mind, here are some tips to spring clean your beauty routine!

Purge, Purge, Purge!

Take a look at what you have. At the start of every season, you should check expiration dates and toss out the old stuff. In general, shadows and powders can be used safely for up to three years, but mascara should be tossed after only three months. While you’re tossing out those old products, go ahead and toss out the stuff you don’t use. Be honest with yourself. Beauty products really add up over time and can really clutter and confuse your beauty routine. Rule of thumb: be realistic and practical about what you actually like, what you actually use, and what’s in good condition …and rid your life of everything else.

Deep Clean and Reorganize

Now’s your chance to deep clean your make up brushes, your toothbrushes, and all the small stuff like tweezers and nail clippers, all of which can get really skunky over time. Not sure exactly how to clean your beauty tools? Here’s some step by step instructions from Makeup.com

How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes

1. Rinse: Rinse the bristles, always with water streaming down — you want to avoid running water directly into the base of the brush, which can weaken the glue and shorten the lifespan of your brush. This is why bristles begin to fall out.

2. Cleanse: Work a small amount of gentle shampoo (baby shampoo works wonderfully here too) or soap into the bristles. Lather, rinse, and repeat until the water runs clear. If you are having a hard time getting stubborn product out of your brush, massage some coconut oil into the bristles. This will loosen the build up and make cleaning easier.

3. Disinfect: Now that your brushes are clean, it’s time to disinfect. Mix a solution of 2 parts water and 1 part vinegar in a shallow bowl. Swoosh the brush around in the bowl for a minute or two (again, trying not to submerge it fully). Rinse with fresh water.

4. Dry: Press a dry towel into the bristles to sop up excess water. Reshape the bristles and lay clean brushes flat on a towel overnight to dry.

5. Repeat: Clean your brushes every other week to keep the germs away

How to: clean your toothbrush

  1. Cleanse: your toothbrush in antibacterial mouthwash.This is great for a quick daily cleaning.
  2. Sanitize: Mix a small amount of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda in a small cup and stir the mixture with your toothbrush before rinsing it. Do this at least once a week.

How to: Clean Your Metal Tools

  1. Wash: For metal tools like tweezers, eyelash curlers, eyebrow trimmers, cuticle nippers, and nail clippers, wash them down using water and antibacterial soap. Pat dry with a clean towel.
  2. Sanitize: Thoroughly wipe down the tool with an alcohol-soaked cotton ball. Allow it to dry for a few moments. If the tool comes in contact with your face, rinse it with water (no need to rinse your nail tools). Pat dry with a clean towel.
  3. Repeat: Ideally, these types of beauty tools should at least be washed with soap and water after each use, if not sanitized as well. Aim to give them the full treatment every two weeks. Store your tools in a clean container to safeguard your hard work.

Pick the right products For the Season

All those Winter products like thick, foaming face washes and heavy creams can be super drying as the weather gets warmer. Your spring beauty routine should favor gentle milk face washes and lighter moisturizing serums. Here are 9 Must Have Clean Beauty Products that I’m seriously crushing on right now. From gentle cleansers to serums to several DIYs. Everything you need to jumpstart your Spring beauty routine!

Jump-start Your Spring Cleaning With a Weekend Purge + Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and Semiannual Cleaning Checklists

How to Plan a Weekend Purge

And after you’ve successfully purged, try incorporating this handy dandy cleaning checklist into your routine!

Daily:

  • Clean kitchen counters.
  • Clean bathroom counters and wipe down the sink and toilet.
  • Spray the shower with a shower mist.
  • Make your bed.
  • Straighten the living room sofa and coffee table.
  • Vacuum floors (should be done every three to four days depending on number of children and pets).

Weekly:

  • Thoroughly clean toilets and showers.
  • Sanitize kitchen and bathroom floors.
  • Change bedding.
  • Dust all surfaces.
  • Put a bleach-water solution on door handles—more often during the sick season.

Monthly:

  • Vacuum bed.
  • Vacuum ceilings for dust and cobwebs.
  • Clean the inside of your microwave.
  • Dust all baseboards and moldings.
  • Dust ceiling fans.

Every three to sixth months:

  • Clean vents.
  • Clean ovens.
  • Reorganize and clean out closets and draws of unworn clothing and donate what you can.
  • Clean windows and windowsills.
  • Remove all sofa cushions. Vacuum pillows, fluff, replace pillows and vacuum entire sofa as well. If your cushion covers are removable, remove and wash the covers before replacing. If not, you may spot treat them for stains.
  • Remove and clean all blinds and curtains. You can launder curtains, and dust and wipe blinds.
  • Go through kitchen cabinets, trash anything old, and wipe off the shelves. This should also be done in the bathrooms.
  • Empty refrigerator and clean the shelves, walls and drawers.
  • De-clutter and get rid of anything you haven’t used in six months to a year.

Kitchen Spring Cleaning Checklist

In the Spirit of Spring cleaning, I wanted to share this pretty awesome checklist from Kat and Melinda over at Home.Made.Interest. This list and these DIY cleaner recipes will have you well on your way to a spotless kitchen.

For me, Spring cleaning a kitchen can be one of the most daunting and overwhelming tasks on my to-do list. This checklist turns that seemingly impossible task into a set of doable chores. While the ladies over at Home. Made. Interest. use Viva brand paper towels, I much prefer Scott brand Rags in a Box. I haven’t found a paper towel that holds up to as much abuse as these guys do, and for the price, I’m a huge fan.

Anyway, for the printable version of the checklists, follow the link below. Happy Cleaning!

Source: Kitchen Spring Cleaning Checklist – Home. Made. Interest.

4 DIY Natural Household Cleaners

I spend entirely too much money on household cleaning supplies that I know for a fact contain harsh chemicals. I’ve been really trying to switch over to a more natural approach. Problem is, I really believe in the power of bleach and Lysol and I’m just not sure that natural cleaning products will give me that same sense of cleanliness I’m used to. Then I found these recipes! If you’re worried about making the leap to all natural cleaning products, you should start with these. I’m totally sold and my new obsessions are vinegar, baking soda, and castile soap. Check out these simple DIYs and be sure to let me know what some of your favorite household cleaners are!

Liquid Hand Soap
DIY Liquid Hand Soap
What You’ll Need:
  • ½ cup Castile Soap, such as: Dr. Bronners
  • ½ cup water (distilled or boiled if you don’t plan to use the soap within a few weeks)
  • 1 TB vitamin E oil
  • 1 TB nourishing oil, such as: jojoba
  • 15 drops tea tree essential oil
  • 5-10 drops lavender or peppermint essential oil
Directions:
  1. In a mason jar or recycled soap dispenser, add the water first (to prevent bubbles) then the liquid castile soap, followed by the oils. Shake the ingredients together.
  2. Shake the soap dispenser before using, then squirt a small amount on your hands as needed, rinsing with water.

All Natural Kitchen Cleaner

All-Purpose Kitchen Cleaner

What You’ll Need:

1 cup distilled white vinegar
1 cup water
3 drops tea tree oil
3 drops grapefruit essential oil
A 16-ounce glass bottle with spray attachment
2-cup liquid measuring cup

Directions:

  1. Gather your supplies. You’ll need a 16-ounce glass bottle with spray attachment, 1 cup distilled white vinegar, 1 cup water, 3 drops tea tree oil, and 3 drops grapefruit essential oil.
  2. Pour in the vinegar and water. Pour the vinegar, then water into the bottle. Use a small funnel if necessary.
  3. Pour in the essential oil. Slowly pour three drops of tea tree oil and three drops of grapefruit essential oil into the bottle.
  4. Shake the bottle. Shake the bottle vigorously before using to allow all ingredients to distribute evenly throughout.
  5. Spray directly onto the surface or onto a kitchen towel and wipe area clean.
Lavender Dish Soap
Lavender Dish Soap
What You’ll Need:
  • 2 cups water
  • ¼ cup all natural soap flakes or grated soap
  • ¼ cup castile soap
  • 2 teaspoons super washing soda
  • 1 teaspoon non-GMO vegetable glycerin
  • 30-40 drops lavender essential oil
Directions:
  1. Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan.
  2. Add the soap flakes and stir to dissolve.
  3. Add the castile soap, washing soda, glycerin, and essential oil.
  4. Stir well, making sure everything is dissolved.
  5. Carefully pour into a bottle with a spout or pump.
  6. It needs to set for about 24 hours.

Dishwasher Cleaner

Dishwasher Cleaner: Baking Soda Bombs

What You’ll Need:

  • 2 cups baking soda
  • 3 tablespoons hydrogen peroxide
  • 10 to 20 drops essential oil
  • Mixing bowl
  • Large spoon or ice cream scoop
  • Parchment paper
  • Sheet trap
  • 2 cups vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon dish detergent
  • Ceramic or glass bowl

Directions:

  1. Start by giving your dishwasher a quick clean. Use a damp sponge to wipe around the door and along the bottom edges, and check the drain for any food bits, which is a bit gross but a necessary step.
  2. Now mix together the baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and essential oil in a mixing bowl until it resembles damp sand. Use a large spoon or ice cream scoop to mold the dishwasher baking soda bombs, and then gently tap out onto a parchment-lined sheet tray. The baking soda naturally scrubs your dishwasher, while the hydrogen peroxide cleans and whitens, and the essential oil gives your washer a fresh scent. Let the baking-soda bombs dry for several hours or overnight.