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Spring has sprung! This is the perfect time to start organizing and scrubbing down your home from top to bottom with some green Spring cleaning.
Small changes to green your cleaning techniques will have an impact on your health and the environment that can really add up over time. Did you know that indoor air pollution in our homes can be as much as 100 times worse than outdoor air pollution? Most of that pollution comes from the evaporation of VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) or the ‘offgas’ from cleaning supplies, air fresheners, and home decorating items like paint, wallpaper, and carpeting. While we think we’re cleaning and disinfecting our homes, we’re really loading the air with toxic chemicals.
Here are a few tips to help you get all your Spring cleaning done the green way:
Open the windows
The best way to get dirty air moving out and fresh air moving in is to open the doors and windows. Feel the breeze.
Use natural air fresheners
To really freshen up a room invest in houseplants. They will give off a natural, beautiful scent and absorb pollutants, unlike synthetic air fresheners. Or buy fresh flowers in lieu of traditional air fresheners. An open box of baking soda, cedar blocks, and dried flowers also add natural fragrance to the room.
Make your own natural cleaning products
When you make the switch to natural cleaning products, be sure to safely dispose of any dangerous chemical products. Don’t pour them down the drain, into the ground, or into the trash. Read the labels or check with your waste management provider for options.
Hang dry your laundry
Save energy and let your clothes dry naturally. Stay green every step of the way and install a clothesline in your backyard, or look for a retractable clothesline. The sun is a natural brightener so consider hanging up your ‘whites’, the sun will whiten them naturally.
Ditch the paper towels
Save trees and landfill waste. Use natural fiber sponges or washable cleaning and dusting cloths or give an old piece of cloth a new life.
Donate
Go through what you have and do not plan to use. Once you’ve taken stock of what you can use, separate out items that someone else might need. Just drop it all off at your local Salvation Army and they will find a second life with someone else.
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