Going Green: Spring Cleaning Tips For a Greener Home
March 24, 2011
Children everywhere are learning what the "go green" movement is all about. Perhaps yours are even encouraging you to join in at home. If you want to improve some of your less than environmentally friendly habits, here are some spring cleaning tips for a greener home:
Practice the Three Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
It's difficult to do a complete spring cleaning of your home if your closets, drawers, basement or garage is overflowing with stuff you never use anymore. Reducing the material things accumulated over many years demands that you approach the task with complete honesty. A good rule of thumb is if you haven't used or worn an item for over a year, you don't need it. After you have made your decisions, now it's time to think about how you might "reuse" some of them.
Evaluate at your "reduce" pile with a keen eye and consider whether or not there may be another way this item can be used. For example, any odd socks can be turned into shoe covers for out-of-season storage. A library of old books, when stacked and covered, can become an end table. Maybe you don't like that old painting from your aunt Edna, but perhaps the antique frame around it can become the home for a picture you do like. Let your kids join in on this going green spring cleaning activity for their own items.
Any pile left over that can't be reused can be "recycled." By now you are probably already in the habit of recycling newspapers, magazines, glass and properly marked plastic. Now take another look at your pile with a fresh, green eye. Are there any electronics in your pile, such as old computers, cell phones or VCRs? Most communities have electronic recycling locations, or many electronic stores will offer this service.
Donate Gently Used Items
Choose items in the best condition for donation to your favorite charity. Gently used furniture, kitchen items, toys and clothing are always in demand. Goodwill often provides easy-to-access donation boxes in key locations around many cities, while other organizations offer free pick-ups at your front door.
If you keep an accurate list, anything you give away can become a tax deduction if you itemize your taxes. You can claim up to 30% of the item's original value.
If your bank account needs an injection of cash, you can offer these same gently used items for sale online on Craigslist or eBay, or advertise them for sale in your neighborhood.
Use Natural Cleaning Products
Many manufacturers are jumping on the "going green spring cleaning" bandwagon with natural products for sale in supermarkets. While these products are a safer choice for use inside your home, their production and delivery system still leaves a large environmental footprint.
Many go green purists have learned to use simple recipes to make their own cleaning products. These natural ingredients are almost always found in every home: white vinegar (cuts grease and deodorizes), baking soda (scours and deodorizes), natural borax (scours and disinfects), cornstarch (cleans windows and polishes furniture), and fresh lemon (acid cleaner and bacteria fighter). All have green cleaning power when combined with hot water for just about every spring cleaning job in your home.
Don't Use Paper Towels
If you have used all the spring cleaning tips for a greener home shown above but have used an entire roll of paper towels to wash your windows, you just failed "going green 101"! Change your mindset and use old towels as rags and a squeegee that will actually do a better cleaning job and that can be washed and used again.
