Sustainable spring cleaning is easier than you think. A thorough spring cleaning sets the tone for the upcoming seasons and creates a mentally and physically healthy environment for you and your family, even pets!
What is sustainable spring cleaning?
Eco-friendly natural cleaners. Vinegar, baking soda, salt, lemon and essential oil. Homemade green cleaning on white background.
Sustainability has become quite the topic of conversation regarding personal and environmental well-being. Spring cleaning is no exception. According to Eco Warrior Princess,
Sustainable cleaning refers to cleaning habits and methods that individuals can continue to use indefinitely, without worry that their efforts will negatively affect their own health or that of the environment. In other words, it’s a maintainable cleaning routine that is good for you and good for the environment.
The EPA further states, “Sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. To pursue sustainability is to create and maintain the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support present and future generations.”
What are some ideas for sustainable spring cleaning?
It is pretty simple and true; it may take you out of your comfort zone, but isn’t everything that does that deliver a better outcome?
- Cut it and leave it. Cutting your lawn and leaving the grass clippings to decompose is a technique called grasscycling. It is a great way to feed nutrients to your lawn while also keeping yard waste out of landfills.
- Go paperless—Opt-in for digital receipts and paperless billing to eliminate junk mail and papers piling up.
- Donate old clothes, instead of throwing away old clothes, sort and donate lightly used items to churches, nonprofits, shelters, and other organizations. Earn a few extra dollars by selling things to consignment and thrift stores.
- Use non-hazardous cleaners. Many popular cleaning detergents are toxic to the environment. Try using combinations of lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils instead of costly and toxic cleaning solutions. It also adds a great, natural-smelling scent to your space.
- Purchase smart. Before purchasing something new, consider if you really need the new item or if you can use a similar item that you already own. If you decide you really need the purchase, think about how the item is packaged and choose items with the least or recyclable packaging. Also, consider the lifecycle of the new item you are purchasing. Can you repurpose it or recycle it to keep it from the landfill?
Sustainable cleaning and lifestyle are a frame of mind.
Colored trash bins for recycling paper, plastic, glass, and metal are isolated on white background.
As humans, we are often hesitant and suspicious of change. We do not like to do things out of our comfort zone, but sustainability is something you may have been doing all along and never realized it.
- Do you cycle your wardrobe by season and donate things that you no longer need (that don’t fit) or want?
- Have you changed your recycling habits so you don’t just toss that old paint can or brown alarm clock into the garbage? You wait for community day and bring them to the recycling center.
- Have you stopped dry cleaning items that can be washed to cut down on chemicals used in dry cleaning?
- How about natural pesticides? Are there ways to keep your home and yard safe from pests without chemicals? Did you know there are organic pesticides?
- Think conservation when it comes to lighting, heating, and cooling. Your local power company may offer energy-saving light bulbs, thermostats, and timers at a reduced rate to minimize power usage.
Do you need some help getting started with sustainable cleaning?
This is the time for spring cleaning and freshening spaces. Instead of seeing spring cleaning as a cumbersome task, it can be fun -especially learning new, sustainable ways to brighten up and declutter your space.
You do not have to do this alone. Exquisite Property Services is available to assist with all spring-cleaning projects, including waste disposal and recycling. Contact us for more information. You can also find educational resources and programs at epa.com.
EPA Resources:
- Introduction to ecolabels
- Identifying Greener products
- Why buy greener products?
Some handy references: