Grow a Cleaning Garden
As homesteaders, we know about dirt.
Dirt from the garden. Dirt under our fingernails. Countertop messes and dirty floors. We worry about germs getting into cuts and scrapes. And most of all, we worry about germs and disease. Getting clean can be a major priority around here. But commercial cleaners are full of chemicals, artificial fragrances, ‘natural’ fragrances (‘real’ lemon in the furniture polish?). I looked for a natural way to clean my home, keep my laundry smelling fresh without chemicals that cause so many health problems. But I still wanted to keep my family healthy and smelling like a summer breeze and do it sustainably, without chemicals. So I grow a cleaning garden!
Now don’t get me wrong, there are a few things that I do stock in my pantry to help with cleaning. Baking soda is always helpful. Bleach does have its purpose. And Borax, I love. But ‘lather’ doesn’t equal ‘clean’. I had to wrap my head around the fact that I want a disinfectant, antifungal, and antiseptic cleanser, not just a sponge full of suds. But mostly I want to have a renewable cleaning system that would work, so of course I turned to the garden! Check out some of these plants for your area and temperature zone.
What To Grow In A Cleaning Garden
Witchhazel: Witchhazel is an amazing plant with astringent properties, antiseptic and antibacterial properties as well. It’s a beautiful plant that is easy to grow In most climates. Combine with a little baking soda for a very effective cleaning solution for counters, and use the liquid with baking soda to make a paste to get rid of bathroom mold. Clean jewelry with witchhazel. Mirrors. Doorknobs, and to make floors shine.
Lavender: Lavender is an herb used for cleaning because of its antiseptic properties. In Victorian times, lavender sachets were carried both for their fragrance and to clean the air. Lavender was put under the pillow to help prevent bedbugs. Lavender oil has been used to relieve pain, treat various skin problems such as acne or psoriasis, keep hair clean, improve digestion and relieve respiratory ailments. Lavender has sedating effect and does help one relax at night. I planted several types of lavender in my cleaning garden and in the herb garden as well as in the flower beds and near vegetables. It’s a great pollinator. Culinary lavender is also a wonderful treat in sweets, cookies, cakes. Grab a handful of fresh leaves and rub on your skin to help repeat mosquitoes and fleas. Lavender vinegar spritzer can freshen laundry and towels. 1 quart spritzer, toss a few lavender leaves in half a cup of cider vinegar, fill the with water. Invest in a few lavender plants and enjoy the fragrance!
Rosemary: Rosemary has been used since Egyptian times for its antiseptic and antifungal properties. A few sprigs boiled in a quart of water for ten minutes will impart a clean fresh fragrance in the house. The liquid can be strained and used to clean the bathroom, kitchen and for fresh floors! It makes a wonderful facial tonic. Infuse a few sprigs of rosemary into really good oil like a blend of almond, sunflower or jojoba oil and use the oil for a hair oil treatment.
Soapwort: Soapwort is a lovely addition to the cleaning garden. It has a sapaponic effect, meaning it will make a lather. For this reason, soapwort needs to be planted as far away from water sources as possible. A mixture of 2 cups chopped Soawort leaves can be boiled in one quart distilled water and cooled for a wonderful cleaning solution. (Add a few lavender leaves while it’s cooling). You can also use Soapwort as a shampoo, with a slightly lower strength concoction. This weaker solution is also a wonderful facial cleanser and helps to ease dry itchy skin. Use carefully, it can be irritating to eyes if it’s too strong. If you have some lemon, the juice can be added for a bleaching effect. The leaves and roots of this plant can be dried for future use. Store in a net bag so they pieces wont get moldy. You can learn more about growing soapwort by visiting: http://theherbgardener.blogspot.com/2010/03/growing-soapwort-saponaria-officinalis.html
Sage: Sage has a longstanding history of benefits. Many cultures use white sage for ‘smudging’, clearing an area of negative energy, negative thoughts, and blessing the home. Maybe because of its antiseptic properties, sage was considered sacred. You can burn sage (careful!) to purify a room or the entire house or a single object. Sage can cleanse the air by simmering. It has many culinary and health benefits, including gastric issues, hoarseness and many other symptoms. Delicious with eggs, sausage and so many other recipes. But for cleaning, steep the leaves along with the lavender and rosemary and add the cooled liquid to a spritzer bottle for cleaning counters and floors. Add a little homemade cider vinegar too for an additional boost.
Basil: Basil has antiseptic properties as well as being a great disinfectant. Use basil alone or in a mixture of sage, rosemary and vinegar. Add it to equal parts baking soda and borax in a shaker jar for a great kitchen sink scrub.
Thyme: Thyme has antiseptic properties, disinfectant and antibacterial properties. Use as you would basil and sage, or in a mixture of the three.
Rose Geranium: Rose geranium not only smells wonderful, but contains a multitude of plant chemicals that possess antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, and antiviral actions. Simmer leaves in water. Add to a jug of vinegar and then a spritzer bottle for cleaning with a nice scent.
Ginger: Ginger also has cleaning properties! Not only is it delicious, it will fragrance the air while cleaning. Add a few slices to your mixed herb jug of vinegar.
Eucalyptus: Eucalyptus is a really powerful antiseptic for colds and flues. It helps colds too, by breathing the scent. Simmer a few sprigs in water for relief of congestion.
Hyssop: Hyssop is related to lavender and can be used for cleansing the skin. It has many biblical references. When planting a biblical garden for cleansing, hyssop was typical planted near a wall so the warmth from the stones could enhance the plant’s growth. Use a concoction of hyssop water as soap for the body.
Mint: Mints such as peppermint, spearmint or mountain mint can help detract pests and rodents. And leave a nice clean smell! I grow several mints and will often strip a few leaves or top a couple stems, and simmer in a pot of water for about twenty minutes. Sometimes I add a sage leaf or rosemary just for a lovely smell. Mint oils work best for keeping flies and mosquitoes away, as well as mice out of your cabinets and pantry.
White Birch Tree: White birch bark has a distinct spearmint smell. The twigs can be cut and one end mashed or split with a knife for a homemade ‘toothbrush’. The twig leaves a minty taste which is released by chewing on it, or just simply brush the teeth and gums with the split end of the twig. A tea can be made from small twigs as well, to clean and disinfect and leave a pleasant fragrance throughout the house.
Vinegar: Vinegar is not a plant, of course, but can be made from different fruits or even wine. Learn how to make vinegar and you’ll never have to store it again, except for the aging process. The same vinegar you make from apples can be used for cooking or cleaning.
Lemon: If you are in a tropical area or have a greenhouse or green room, then lemons can be added to your cleaning garden! Acidic lemon kills germs in the kitchen and bathroom. Use on cutting boards, countertops, etc. Mixed with baking soda, it makes a great scrub for toilets or tubs. Lime has a similar effect.
Air purifying plants: Don’t ignore the air quality in your home! Just being able to breathe better can sometimes make the house seem cleaner and fresher. Plants like Mother-in-Law’s tongue, spider plant, aloe plant, snake plant, pothos, dracaena and Chinese evergreen will help remove formaldehyde, toxins and really improve air quality.
