All Natural Oven Cleaner

We have an old range to say the least. Unfortunately for me, it works really well! The list of furniture we need for the house is about a mile long, so replacing an appliance that still works is far off into the future. Why use an all natural oven cleaner, you ask? The self-cleaning feature on our oven doesn't work...if it did this post probably wouldn't exist. I didn't want to use a fume filled cleaner since we have Toby (our little Shih Tzu) around the house all the time.

I found a natural recipe from learningherbs.com. This absolutely took elbow grease, but the oven is SOOO much cleaner! I could also breathe throughout the entire cleaning process. Always a bonus!

Natural Cleaning Recipes -This recipe uses baking soda, borax, salt water, essential oils and vinegar. The recipe calls for very little water, and I happen to agree with the author of the post. I used almost a full cup of water to get a paste consistency. I also used a rag, scrub brush and of course elbow grease.

BEFORE -Nasty doesn't even describe it. I did not do a thorough job of cleaning it out when we moved in and then had a spill!

AFTER -While it's not perfect, it's leaps and bounds above the oven you see above!

I would use this recipe again and would use the vinegar/oil mixture throughout the house for light cleaning.

Stephanie

Move-In Cleaning

I dread and am thrilled about the idea of cleaning the previous owners' funk out of the house. Dread --because it's a large task. Thrilled --because it means I'm in my home sweet home! {Side Note: Just in case the previous owner ever happens across this blog post, I'll say it now she's one of the cleanest homemakers I have ever seen. That house probably doesn't have a speck of dust. Even the cans in the cabinets were all facing front and beyond orderly. I'm not really worried about infectious diseases or finding something totally gross.} We're going to give the house a once over make sure everything is super clean before we descend upon it with paint, new furniture and all our belongings (both old stuff and fabulously new wedding presents).

Here's how I'm aiming to tackle all this in just a few short days. I used Real Simple's many cleaning check lists to guide me and started laying everything out in a spreadsheet of course. Here's what I've come up with...


Cleaning Check List:
1. Clean all fixtures in each room.

Master Bath

Shower

Toilet

Sink

Cabinets

Half Bath

Toilet

Sink

Cabinets

Kitchen

Fridge

Run Dishwasher

Oven

Stove

Vent Hood

Cabinets

Basement (Laundry)

Toilet (Yes, there is a random free-standing blue toilet in our basement. Yay us.)

Sink

Cabinets

Workbench

Cellar Room Shelves

2. Clean all the vertical surfaces in every room in the house.

Walls

Windows

Doors

Door Knobs

Outlet Covers

Switch Plate Covers

Baseboards

3. Clean the floors.

Hardwood (We have hardwood floors almost everywhere. Excitedaboutit.)

Linoleum -Kitchen (I'm already seeing those pesky projects creeping up.)

Carpet -Attic

Concrete -Basement

4. Install shelf liner.

Master Bath

Half Bath

Kitchen

Basement

Master Bedroom (Closet)

Guest Rooms (Closets)

Supplies Check List:

Bleach

Scrubbing Bubbles

Glass Cleaner

Dishwasher Detergent

Dish Soap

All Purpose Spray Cleaner

Tub & Tile Spray

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Magic Eraser

Hardwood Floor Cleaner

Cleaning Rags

Paper Towels

Vacuum

Mop

Broom & Dust Pan

Bucket

Sponges

Shelf Liner  

Okay, friends. Now tell me what I'm missing! What are you favorite cleaning supplies and do you have any tips for cleaning a new (to you) house?


Stephanie