Spring Cleaning? More Like Spring Greening!
If you ask us, it’s way more fun to deep-clean your family’s home with a springtime backdrop of blooming flowers and chirping birds. And this year, we’re upping the spring-cleaning ante to get greener—not just cleaner.
It’s easier than you might expect to incorporate more eco-friendly practices into your spring-cleaning ritual. Here are a few easy ways to positively impact the environment and make your home a happier, healthier place to be.
It’s Only Natural
You don’t have to rely on harsh chemical cleaners to make your whole house sparkle. There are plenty of naturally-derived ingredients (think vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice) that can effectively clean surfaces without leaving behind harmful chemical residues.
According to a study by the Environmental Working Group, many common household cleaners contain toxic chemicals that may contribute to indoor air pollution and potentially pose some health risks down the line. It’s simple to reduce your exposure to these questionable substances by buying non-chemical cleaning products—or by mixing up your own!
Declutter Responsibly
If you find yourself on a spring decluttering spree, pause for a moment to consider the possible environmental impact of that discard pile. Instead of throwing away items that are still in good and useful condition, consider donating them to charities or re-selling through online consignment retailers.
Earth.org estimates that in a typical year, the average American throws away about 80 pounds of clothing and other textiles. And that’s just fabrics—think about all the other unwanted items that pile up in landfills every year! By donating or selling any items that no longer spark joy, you’re making a small but meaningful dent in this overwhelming figure.
Up with Upcycling
There are positively oodles of ways to creatively repurpose items that you no longer need for their original intended purpose. Ever cut up old towels to use as cleaning rags? Or turned empty glass jars into cute storage containers? And those are just a couple of ideas to get you started on your upcycling journey.
These may seem like small choices with small impacts to match. But taken together, those small changes can seriously add up. The Ocean Blue Project reports that upcycling can reduce manufacturing costs, minimize the drain on natural resources, and cut back on society-wide waste and pollution. Plus, it’s just plain fun to get those creative juices flowing towards the good of our planet.
Mind the Taps
Throughout your cleaning journey, keep an eye on your usage of water and energy. Turn off the tap while hand-washing dishes, and use the cold water setting on your washing machine whenever possible.
It’s a win-win situation: Reducing water consumption can help conserve this precious resource and lower your utility bills. Bonus benefit! Per the American Cleaning Institute, washing clothes and household linens in cold water may be a positive step in the fight against greenhouse gas emissions.
Reuse, Reuse Again
Instead of single-use cleaning wipes and paper towels, choose reusable cloths (or those old towels we just talked about!) and mop heads. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, paper products account for about 25% of the waste that winds up in landfills. Help reduce that amount of waste—and save yourself some money in the long run—with durable, reusable alternatives.
This is the year! The year you challenge yourself to green up spring cleaning by choosing natural products, decluttering responsibly, repurposing items, conserving resources, and ditching single-use cleaning tools.
So what are you waiting for? Let’s roll up our sleeves, put on an energizing cleaning playlist, and make this spring-cleaning season the greenest one yet!
Looking to make the move into a more sustainable home? Find out how you can plant your roots in our Weslyn Park neighborhood.
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