Earth Day Tips to Keep Your Pups and Home Healthy

Hey Friends! Emoji here. Saturdays are usually our cleaning day, and in honor of Earth Day, Lady decided to share how you can keep your homes clean and keep your family healthy using all-natural cleaning tips and items you may already have in your home!

(All-Natural) Cleaning Time!

Want to know what’s messier than a pug? A pug without teeth! (Hint: ME!) From dust bunnies in the corners to accidents around the house to my dried food art on the walls, I can be pretty messy. Lucky for you, I’ve trained Lady to be a master eco-friendly cleaner*! Here are some of her go-to items:

Baking Soda

Like white vinegar, baking soda is a great deodorizer, but unlike white vinegar, it’s great for fabrics, rugs, and furniture! Mixing baking soda with water creates a paste that is great for removing tough stains and dried food (think: Mr. Clean Magic Erasers minus all of the chemicals).

– For White Walls: I start by spraying warm water onto the walls and let it sit. Spray again and remove the initial film and dried on food. For the harder to remove food and marks, place the baking soda paste and let sit. Wipe away and repeat if needed. Note: don’t do on colored walls because it can make your walls a little dull!

For Fridge: add a freshly opened box of baking soda to remove lingering odors. If your fridge is a bit stinky, add 1-3 drops of your favorite essential oil for a great smelling fridge!

For Dog Beds: our pup’s favorite nap time spot can be difficult to clean–why isn’t there a washing machine made for dog beds?! Baking soda is a great option to clean your pup’s bed! Sprinkle baking soda and let sit for about 15 minutes and vaccum up! Same can be done for rugs and furniture!

Lemons

Like many of the items on this list, lemons have many abilities around the house! My favorite use is deodorizing the garbage disposal.

For your humidifier: if you’re like us,  you use your humidifier every day. Unfortunately, that means bacteria and other gunk can build up. We mix 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to the water and let it run. This helps eliminate bacteria and offers a great smell!

White Vinegar/Water Mixture

This mixture is great for deep cleaning, and the white vinegar is perfect for disinfecting and deodorizing your house.

For your microwave: this mixture is a great way to remove any dried on messes and bacteria living in your microwave! In a bowl, mix 1/2-1 cup of white vinegar and 1/2-1 cup of water. Depending on how dirty your microwave is, heat the mixture for 5-10 minutes, and then let sit for 2 minutes. The vinegar smell is quite strong, so I throw in slices of lemon.

For your floors: There are different options for your floors. One ‘recipe’ calls for 1/4 cup of castile soap, 1/4 cup of white vinegar, and 1 gallon of water; another recipe calls for 1/2 cup of white vinegar, 1 tablespoon castile soap, 1/4 rubbing alcohol, 2 cups of warm water–moral of the story, do whatever works best for you! Mix the solution in a spray bottle or bucket, and get cleaning! I keep this mixture in a spray bottle for quick, everyday clean ups and try to mop our floors once a week.

We love love love love castile soap. It is pet-friendly, and I use it in the shower.

For pet accidents: Accidents happen, and we have a solution to clean it up! After blotting as much as you can, spray area with extra parts white vinegar and water. Let sit for 10 minutes and blot. Once dry, sprinkle baking soda on the area and let sit for about an hour before vacuuming up. (Be sure to test before to make sure the color doesn’t run or become dull.)

Peppermint Essential Oil

This essential oil is a great way to keep ants out and won’t harm your pets! Mix 10 drops in water in a small spray bottle and spray along windows, doors, and any cracks that your unwelcome guests enter through.

Spa Time!

Essential oils not only make your home smell great, but it’s great for your pets too! Whether you want your pup to smell nice, want an all-natural bug repellent or you’re looking to calm them down, there’s an essential oil to help! But remember! Not all essential oils are the same. Please make sure to read the label before you purchase because some essential oils can be more chemical/made in a lab and less natural. For lavender, we love supporting a local business that sells at the farmer’s market!

Lavender

This essential oil is a great way to calm humans and pups! Use it in a defuser to deodorize your home and get everyone ready for bed. If you notice your pup is stressed out–like during a thunderstorm–add a couple drops into your hand and massage your pup.

Lavender or Cedar are great alternatives for flea repellent. Use 5-10 drops onto a bandana and wrap around your pup’s neck. If you’re in a heavily wooded area, talk to your vet before eliminating flea and tick prevention. 

Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil is a powerful tool! It has many benefits thanks to its antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. It’s something that can used as a treatment and mixed into your pup’s diet. We use coconut oil as a paw, nose, and ear lotion. BONUS your pup will smell great!

 

What about you?

Did we miss your favorite tip? Share what products you use and how you keep your home safe on our Facebook post!

*Bonus Reading

Here are a couple links to help you find resources and information to turn you into an eco-friendly cleaning master! For some great DIY inspiration, check out PopSugar’s collection. Lady uses Natural Living Ideas as a resource, because it has tips for everything you can possibly think of!

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