We aren't following a regimented roll out of the spring clean up posts in military like order, and waking to a stormy day today, we decided to make today's task to "Cupboard Day" !

It's a great day to pop your fav tunes on, and mooch away on this task. So here are our top tips:

1. Pull out the contents

2. Grab your vacuum, a cleaning cloth, and your spray cleaner.

3. Vacuum the entire drawer or cupboard. Pull the drawers out completely and vacuum underneath them, in the cavity, basically everywhere. Get right into the skirtings and edges and suck up all that lint and dust.

4. With a damp cloth, spray and wipe all the surfaces and handles, doors inside and out, to clean, sanitise, and freshen it up. Make sure it's completely dry before returning any items.

5. Now the real job begins! Start sorting through. If it's broken and can't be fixed, toss it. If you can repurpose it into something else, set aside for a project day, but don't clutter. If you haven't worn it in the last season, get rid of it. Gift it to a hospice shop, or a friend or family. If it needs mending, put it aside for mending day. If it can't be fixed or rehomed, turn it into a rag if clothing. Basically, don't put it back if it can't or won't be used. This is the time to bring out your inner Kondo!

This is one of our least favourite jobs, but probably the most rewarding.

You might think it's odd to single this task out when you are not doing the whole room, but it breaks down the room by room tasks, and it's just a great job to wile away a day on. Besides, once the doors are closed, you only have the room itself to do, and that becomes much quicker!

Our product of choice for this task is our Multi Spray Cleaner, Buzz Off Aroma. It cleans, it's fresh, and will help keep bugs out of your space!

Our cleaning spray is an alcohol based cleaner, following World Health Organisation recommendations. You may have been swayed from using alcohol based cleaners, mainly because of toxins used to denature the alcohol. Our alcohol comes from a Fonterra subsidiary and does not contain these nasty types of denaturants. It is 99%, and very safe for both you and waterways.

You can use a vinegar based spray also, although we aren't a fan of vinegar based cleaning as it can damage surfaces, and is not as disinfecting as alcohol. Also, many people don't like the smell which is hard to mask. And in high concentrations can be just as damaging to the environment as anything else, as it is an acid. But it is still a better alternative to some of the cleaners on the market!

Take a look at your current spray cleaners and ensure they don't have these toxic ingredients:

• Formaldehydes, also could be called Formalin, Formic aldehyde, Methanediol, Methanal, Methyl aldehyde, Methylene glycol, Methylene oxide amongst other names. Formaldehydes are carcinogenic.

• 2-Butoxyethanol is a common ingredient in multi-purpose cleaners and window sprays. You may recognize it by its sweet, slightly floral scent. It is a glycol ether solvent that helps break down dirt and oil. Extended exposure to 2-butoxyethanol can cause high-grade liver and kidney damage, narcosis, and pulmonary edema.

• Ammonia works as a polisher and glass cleaner, and while it is highly effective at leaving a streak-free shine, it also irritates human tissue. If you have lung or breathing problems, you’ll notice pain and discomfort quickly. If you don’t, prolonged exposure will still affect you and can cause permanent damage to your mucous membranes and cardiovascular system.

• Chlorine. The same chemical used to clean pool water is concentrated in scouring powder, laundry whiteners, toilet bowl cleaners, and mildew removers. Prolonged exposure can disrupt thyroid function, irritate skin, and cause chronic dryness.

• Propylene Glycol. This is a PEG. You can read more on it here: https://davidsuzuki.org/.../dirty-dozen-peg-compounds.../

• Laureth-8. Another PEG.

• Fragrance. Fragrance can help to make a product more recognisable and enhance the overall sensory experience. Fragrance is also added to some products to help mask unpleasant odors of other product ingredients. They are however also a label used to mask other ingredients. Legally, it can be used to describe a preservative, and other toxic substances. Fragrance is basically a blend of aromatic extracts from natural and synthetic ingredients. Used in nearly 50% of beauty products, it actually has a LOT of unknown toxic chemicals that can be harmful to you. Without you knowing, fragrance can irritate skin, have toxic hormonal effects, and may even cause cancer, and may also be quite harmful to waterways.

Consumer NZ recently did a survey on Multi Spray Cleaners with some really disturbing results - see it here: https://www.consumer.org.nz/.../multi-purpose.../review

Hope that helps you with your spray cleaner choices! And happy cupboard day!