5 Tips For Green Spring Cleaning

Spring cleaning not only involves getting rid of the dirt, it is also a time to freshen up the house by clearing the clutter and changing the decor to something light and breezy. In order to safeguard your family, pets and environment, read the following five tips on how to spring clean the green way:

* Declutter your house. That way the clutter won’t get in the way of cleaning and you won’t have to deep clean twice.

* Take outdated clothes and sort them into piles: rags, hand-me-downs, thrift-store donations, children’s clothes swaps, consignment and tag sales. Disperse the clothes accordingly, take the rag pile and cut up the clothes to use for cleaning. Remember to remove decorations, buttons and zippers. You can either save or discard them.

* Empty and wash your cupboards inside and out

* Go through your cupboards and donate items (dishes, appliances, tools, etc.) that you never — or rarely — use to a thrift store. You can also sell, swap or give them away.

* Check for food items that are outdated or near their expiration dates. Either use them immediately or give them to a food pantry. If you’re unsure as to whether the food is still good, throw it out.

* Shred unnecessary paperwork and recycle the rest. Don’t recycle important personal information that a potential identity thief could use. Shred it.

* Bric-a-brac and collectibles can get out of hand. Settle on what you want, store or sell the rest. Give unwanted heirlooms to relatives. Rotate your remaining collectibles monthly or seasonally.

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* Clean your house using green and non-toxic supplies

* Some people may want the ease of using commercial green cleansers. Whatever you use, always read the labels carefully to ensure what you buy is environmentally friendly.

* Homemade cleansers work very well. Basic cleansers consist of simple items found in your kitchen or laundry room; borax, white vinegar, baking soda, lemons, lemon juice, and of course good old water and elbow grease. Using these natural and non-toxic products will not pollute your home environment and are easy and cheap to use.  Recipes for cleaners using these products are readily found on the Internet. Keep in mind that borax, while natural, isn’t non-toxic. Always store it away from children and pets.

* Swap out heavier and darker curtains, throws, tablecloths and wall decorations for lighter, more spring-like ones. Make sure to wash or clean everything that is taken down and stored or newly put up.

* Steam clean your upholstery. The steam should naturally get the stains and dirt out, but if more than steam is needed, then make sure green cleansers are used. Replace old and dingy materials with new or recycled ones to freshen up drab areas.

* Use sustainable and recyclable cleaning materials such as rags, reusable mops and old newspapers. Avoid using paper towels, and one-time use things such as mop pads and wipes. Avoid using products that do not have recyclable or reusable containers.

* Add lush healthy plants or wash the dust off your existing plants to freshen up the house and make the air cleaner. Plants filter harmful pollutants from the air and will do a better job when they are free of dust and other dirt or grease on their leaves. This is a good time to take off all the dead leaves and stems and assess the health of the plant. A lukewarm soapy bath will do wonders in getting rid of harmful insects and fungus as well as dust that harm the plants. The plants will not only clean the air more efficiently but they will look better, too.

These simple steps can help you perform spring cleaning that saves money and the environment.