As rejuvenation outside begins, those of us concerned with the domestic angle may realize that chirping birds and blooming tulips herald the time of year for freshening up inside. Yes, spring cleaning time is upon us and hopefully we have the energy and determination to tackle it, thanks to longer days and extra sunshine.
Spring cleaning may take on many forms and may include many different tasks for each of us, but we all have one thing in common: to perform our yearly ritual in as ‘green’ a manner as possible. So dispose of the clutter of conventional cleaning techniques, and open the drapes to cleaner, greener tips for spring cleaning.
Use Natural Substances: Harsh chemical cleaners are not only harmful to your health and to the environment, they don’t have anything on natural substances like salt, water, vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice. Use these various ingredients to remove stains and fight odors.
Speaking of Odors: Chemical air fresheners are said to be a leading environmentally unhealthy ‘home’ product. And they’re unnecessary if you try natural baking soda or essential oils. Why mask or hide bad odors? Want fresh air inside? Open the windows! Let spring breezes circulate and freshen your indoor atmosphere. You can also try planting various houseplants that have exceptional air-purifying abilities
Clear Out the Clutter: Have a yard sale or visit a swap shop to get rid of items in good shape that you no longer use. Don’t forget about online classifieds like Craigslist or that old favorite, the ‘free-to-a-good-home’ sign. Your now unloved or unused possession may be just what someone else is looking for.
Recycle: Remember to take electronic waste like old cell phones and computers to appropriate recycling depots in your community. Some areas have specific drop-off locations on certain days, so check online. Going through old papers and magazines? Don’t forget to recycle these as well, instead of tossing them in the trash.
Eco-friendly Renos: Dreaming of a new daffodil yellow hue to spruce up your walls? If you’re considering repainting your rooms, choose a paint with a low VOC (volatile organic compounds). This will ensure a minimum amount of indoor air pollution, which can cause serious health problems.
Laundry: If you have large drapes or blankets to wash, hang them outside to dry or set up a special clothesline inside, perhaps in your basement or in a warm area of the house. The energy used to heat your home can do double duty by drying your laundry as well, and save you money on your power bill.
Organization: Proper organization can make life so much easier. But instead of stacking up on plastic bins, consider using neatly labeled (and even decoratively wrapped) shoe boxes or bamboo baskets. You can make your own cloth bags out of the fabric of old clothes to hang things in your closets.
Go Paperless: This is one tip that will ease the workload, not just for spring cleaning, but for everyday tidying up as well. Switch to online banking and keep track of other expenses by receiving messages or bills online.
Use Reusable Cleaning Tools: There may be times when paper towel is very convenient, but most wiping up and scrubbing down can be done with rags from old t-shirts or towels, or by using reusable sponges instead of using disposable mops or sweepers.
In the Dirt: While perhaps not a cleaning tip, it’s a great time of year to think about starting to grow herbs, tomato plants, or other favorite foods indoors so that when spring cleaning is but a distant memory, you’ll be relaxing in the summer sun, eating fresh, homegrown produce!
What are some of your favorite spring cleaning tips?
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