15 Easy Amish Cleaning Tips to Make Your Home Shine

The Amish lifestyle emphasizes simplicity, self-sufficiency, and traditional values, including maintaining a clean and orderly home.

Their methods often rely on natural ingredients, minimalism, and timeless practices that can inspire us to adopt simpler, more effective cleaning routines.

In this article, we’ll explore 15 Amish-inspired cleaning tips that help make your home shine using natural solutions, eco-friendly tools, and techniques that promote a clutter-free and fresh atmosphere.

Let’s dive into these practical tips to enhance your cleaning routine and easily create a spotless home.

Use Vinegar and Baking Soda for Natural Cleaning Solutions

Vinegar and baking soda are two powerful, natural ingredients that have been used for generations by the Amish for cleaning. They’re inexpensive, versatile, and effective for tackling a variety of household messes.

Vinegar helps cut through grease and grime, while baking soda is a mild abrasive to scrub away stains. You can combine these two to create all-purpose cleaning solutions that are safe for your home and the environment.

Use vinegar and baking soda to clean countertops, sinks, and appliances, and watch as your home shines without the need for harsh chemicals.

How to use vinegar and baking soda:

• Mix 1 part vinegar with 2 parts water to clean glass surfaces, mirrors, and windows.
• Sprinkle baking soda on kitchen surfaces to remove odors and scrub away stains.
• Use a paste of vinegar and baking soda to clean tough stains in the bathroom.

Embrace the Power of Old-Fashioned Sweeping & Dusting

In the Amish way of life, sweeping with a broom and dusting with cloth are preferred over modern vacuum cleaners and electric dusters.

These simple tools are effective for reducing dust and debris without spreading allergens.

A traditional broom is often more efficient in collecting dirt, especially in hard-to-reach areas like corners and under furniture.

Dusting with a soft cloth traps dust rather than just moving it around, helping maintain a healthier home.

Tips for sweeping and dusting:

• Use a broom with natural bristles to sweep floors, especially wood or tile.
• Regularly dust surfaces with a microfiber cloth to minimize dust buildup.
• Sweep and dust frequently to keep dust and dirt under control.

Clean with Simple, Natural Ingredients

The Amish prioritize using effective and safe natural ingredients. By avoiding harsh chemicals, they create eco-friendly cleaning solutions that are both budget-friendly and safe for the family.

Common household items like lemon, baking soda, and essential oils are perfect for making homemade cleaning products. These natural alternatives clean and add fresh, pleasant scents to your home.

Homemade cleaner ideas:

• Mix lemon juice with water to clean kitchen surfaces and remove stubborn odors.
• Create a baking soda paste to clean sinks, tubs, and countertops.
• Use essential oils like lavender or peppermint to make a refreshing all-purpose spray.

Declutter to Simplify Cleaning

The Amish value simplicity, and this extends to their homes. Decluttering is a cornerstone of their cleaning philosophy.

Reducing unnecessary items creates a more organized and less cluttered space, making cleaning tasks much easier and more efficient.

Clutter can trap dust and grime; removing it can reveal cleaner surfaces and less effort in maintaining them.

Benefits of decluttering:

• Reduces the number of surfaces that collect dust and dirt.
• Makes cleaning tasks faster and more manageable.
• Enhances the overall aesthetic of your home, creating a calm and peaceful environment.

Wash Windows with Newspaper for Streak-Free Shine

The Amish have used newspapers to clean windows for generations, providing a streak-free finish.

The ink on the newspaper contains just the right amount of abrasive texture, allowing for better cleaning without leaving behind streaks.

This simple trick leaves your windows sparkling clean, ensuring you don’t need costly window-cleaning sprays.

How to use newspaper:

• Spray your windows with a vinegar-water solution.
• Wipe with a crumpled newspaper for a streak-free shine.
• Repeat for a clearer, cleaner finish.

Use Microfiber Cloths for Streak-Free Cleaning

Microfiber cloths are another favorite of the Amish, offering superior cleaning power without the need for harsh chemicals.

The tiny fibers in microfiber trap dust, dirt, and grime, reducing the amount of water and cleaning solutions needed.

These cloths are perfect for cleaning glass surfaces, mirrors and even dusting furniture.

Advantages of microfiber cloths:

• Trap dust and dirt, preventing streaks on glass surfaces.
• Reusable and eco-friendly, reducing waste from paper towels.
• Work effectively with just water, reducing the need for chemical cleaners.

Natural Wood Polish with Olive Oil and Lemon

The Amish prefer using simple, natural oils like olive oil for polishing wood furniture. This method restores shine and conditions the wood, protecting it from drying out. Lemon adds a fresh scent and helps cut through any grease or grime.

How to make wood polish:

• Mix equal parts olive oil and lemon juice.
• Apply to wood surfaces using a soft cloth.
• Buff gently to restore shine and keep surfaces looking clean.

DIY Carpet Freshener with Baking Soda and Essential Oils

Carpets can trap odors, but the Amish use a simple solution of baking soda and essential oils to refresh them. Baking soda absorbs odors, while essential oils leave a pleasant fragrance. It’s an affordable and effective way to freshen up your home naturally.

Recipe for carpet freshener:

• Sprinkle baking soda on carpets.
• Add a few drops of essential oil (like lavender or eucalyptus).
• Let sit for 15-30 minutes, then vacuum.

Wash Floors with Water and Castile Soap

The Amish often use simple castile soap to clean floors. It’s gentle yet effective, making it ideal for wood or tile surfaces. Castile soap cleans thoroughly without leaving behind residue that could attract dirt.

How to clean floors with castile soap:

• Mix a few drops of castile soap in water.
• Mop the floor with the solution.
• Leave no soap buildup, which helps keep floors cleaner for longer.

Use Rags Instead of Paper Towels for Cleaning

The Amish emphasize reducing waste, so reusable rags are a staple in their cleaning routines.

Rags from old clothes or towels are perfect for wiping surfaces and cleaning messes. They’re cost-effective, eco-friendly, and more durable than paper towels.

Benefits of using rags:

• Reduce waste and save money by eliminating the need for paper towels.
• More absorbent and durable for a variety of cleaning tasks.
• Easy to wash and reuse multiple times.

Homemade Furniture Polish for Dust Resistance

The Amish use a simple furniture polish made with olive oil and vinegar to reduce dust buildup. This makes furniture shine and helps repel dust, keeping surfaces cleaner for longer.

How to make dust-resistant polish:

• Mix equal parts olive oil and vinegar.
• Apply to furniture with a soft cloth.
• Buff gently to restore shine and repel dust.

Clean with Essential Oils for a Fresh Home

Essential oils have been a staple in Amish households for generations due to their antibacterial properties and pleasant scents.

Adding a few drops of oils like lavender, peppermint, or tea tree oil to homemade cleaners can make your home smell fresh while enhancing cleanliness.

Benefits of essential oils:

• Provide natural antibacterial properties that help clean surfaces.
• Fresh scents improve indoor air quality.
• Can be used in multiple cleaning applications, from all-purpose sprays to diffusers.

Dry Herbs for Natural Room Fresheners

The Amish use dried herbs like lavender, rosemary, and mint to create potpourri, which adds a natural fragrance to their homes.

These herbs make your home smell delightful and serve as a beautiful decorative element.

How to make room fresheners:

• Dry herbs like lavender, rosemary, or mint.
• Place in small bowls or sachets throughout your home.
• Refresh the herbs periodically to maintain the pleasant scent.

Freshen Up Fridge and Freezer with Baking Soda

Baking soda is a key ingredient for absorbing odors in the fridge and freezer. The Amish rely on this simple trick to keep their food storage areas smelling fresh and clean.

How to use baking soda:

• Place an open box of baking soda in the fridge and freezer.
• Replace every 3-6 months to maintain freshness.
• Helps neutralize food odors naturally.

Use Amish-Inspired Cleaning Schedules for Consistency

Consistency is key to maintaining a clean home, just as it is in Amish households. Establishing a cleaning schedule helps break tasks into manageable routines, ensuring your home stays tidy without feeling overwhelming.

Tips for creating a cleaning schedule:

• Divide tasks into daily, weekly, and monthly routines.
• Focus on one or two areas each day to avoid burnout.
• Stay consistent with your schedule to maintain a clean, clutter-free home.

Conclusion

The Amish way of cleaning, which focuses on simplicity, natural ingredients, and minimalism, offers practical solutions for maintaining a clean and organized home.

By adopting these Amish-inspired tips, you can reduce the use of harsh chemicals, save money, and create a fresh, welcoming environment.

From using natural cleansers like vinegar and baking soda to embracing the power of decluttering, these methods can help you easily achieve a spotless home. Why not give them a try and experience the benefits for yourself?