It’s that time of year again!
Winter has finally had its last hurrah and spring has officially sprung. That means it’s time to roll up those sleeves, break out the cleaning supplies, and open some windows—it’s time to get spring cleaning!
But wait, before you dive into the dirty deed, take a moment to consider how you can take a green approach to your spring cleaning this year. Here are some tips to keep in mind for an eco-friendly clean!
Ditch the Chemicals & Make Your Own Household Cleaners
Creating your own household cleaners is not only easy and eco-friendly, but cost-effective as well. For the most basic multi-surface cleaner, all you need is white vinegar and essential oils. But there are a number of specialized cleaners you can create as well, especially when using essential oils. Also, no green spring-cleaning supply box is complete without diatomaceous earth – see for yourself all the ways this versatile powder can be used!
So Long Stuffy Air
Forget about using spray air-fresheners to hide that musty wintertime air. Open all the windows in your house and let the fresh air flow through! You can also bring a refreshing scent to the air naturally by boiling a pot of water on the stove and adding your favorite aromatic essential oils. We recommend lemon, cinnamon, and other strong, clean scents. The vapors from this pot will help to fill the air with a sense of cleanliness without using any aerosol spray!
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
This golden triple-R rule can be used for more than just cans and bottles. It’s no secret that spring cleaning uses up more than its fair share of paper towels, which is wasteful in its own sense. Instead, invest in reusable microfiber cloths, or use old t-shirts as cleaning rags—this is a great way to clear out the closet of clothes you’re never going to wear again! If you or a neighbor gets the newspaper, you can even use that instead to clean windows and glass surfaces. Either way, if you use paper products to clean with natural cleaning supplies, toss them in the compost pile rather than the trash.
Clean Those Carpets
Your carpets take a beating (especially if you have pets or children), and a good spring cleaning is imperative for kicking the must from the rug. Before you vacuum, make your own carpet deodorizing powder with baking soda and a touch of essential oils. This double-whammy combination removes unpleasant odors while releasing the refreshing aroma of the oils into the air when you vacuum.
Hang Dry Your Linens
Stripping the beds, couches, pillows, and chairs of linens, covers, and blankets is probably one of our favorite spring-cleaning projects. Whether you hand-wash them or toss them in the washing machine, consider using mother nature to dry them. It’s lovely out—the sun is shining, and the breeze is blowing, so why not line dry your linens outside? You can even hang homemade aromatherapy sachets on the line to help instill lovely scents of essential oils into your sheets. This is a great way to go green with laundry day any day as well by saving the energy your dryer sucks up.
Make Time for your Mattress
Have you ever cleaned your mattress? If you’re like most people, the answer is probably “no,” but believe it or not your mattress needs a good sprucing up every now and then. Before you flip it for the season, sprinkle it with baking soda mixed with a bit of lavender essential oil. Let the mixture sit on the mattress for 1-2 hours to soak up any unpleasant odors and oils from your skin and hair, then vacuum with a hand-vacuum or the hose attachment and flip away.
Declutter = Donate
If you’re incorporating some decluttering in your spring cleaning, consider donating anything that could be valuable or usable for another family. This goes for clothing, appliances, toys, sports equipment… anything you’re getting rid of to make space. Do a bit of research to find out where you can drop off these items to help a family in need—this option is much better than simply bagging and tossing unwanted items!
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