Clutter and mess around your house can impact your mental health and wear you down. Hoarding excess “stuff” you no longer need can zap your energy and make you sluggish, so a good old spring clean is in order to help you refresh, clear your mind and refocus.

Breathing some fresh air and life into a closed-up winter home can improve air quality and make you feel better, so open up those windows and doors and give your home a good makeover while you’re at it. Get rid of tatty magazines, dated ornaments, dying house plants and faded cushions. Arranging a few simple key pieces in complementing colours, with some new fresh houseplants or herbs to clean the air can really leave you with a sense of accomplishment, as well as help you increase productivity around the home and workplace

Less is more, as the saying goes!

Natural cleaners: best for you and the environment
Natural cleaning products are way better for your health, and our environment. Some believe that cleaning with lemon helps you destress quicker an any other scented cleaning products!

To get you started on your spring clean, here’s a great natural lemon cleaning spray recipe for you to try at home.

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons baking soda
• 1 litre (4 cups) hot water
• ½ lemon

Method:

• In a small bucket or 4-cup Pyrex measuring cup, combine vinegar, baking soda and hot water
• Squeeze in the juice from half a lemon, then drop in the rind to infuse the cleaner
• Stir well to dissolve the baking soda, and allow to cool
• Transfer into a spray bottle or squeeze bottle and label clearly.
• Your homemade cleaner is ready to use!

Happy spring cleaning everyone! And don’t forget to put on some dance music while you’re beavering away to get yourself moving!

Caroline Patterson is a freelance writer and editor who lives with animals and teenagers, and is wild about nature (and wine).