Spring brings so much excitement into the air. The weather gets warmer, flowers begin to blossom. And the whole family is ready to spend more time outside after the long winter. One of our favorite ways to welcome springtime is with a green spring clean.
Taking the time to declutter and pack away our winter essentials is a good way to clear the space and energy in our home for the bright new season. But instead of spreading chemicals around and getting stressed out, we like to keep the process green and simple and full of ease! Below, we’ve put together a list of our favorite ways to get our home healthy and in sparkling shape.
8 Tips for a Green Spring Clean
Make your own all-natural household cleaners
While most store-bought cleaners are loaded with harmful chemicals, you can easily formulate your own all-natural cleaner using a few ingredients from your kitchen cupboard. White vinegar diluted with water makes an excellent wash for floors and windows, and tea tree oil mixed with water is a great way to clean your bathroom as well as get rid of kitchen mold.
If you like the fresh scent of lemons, check out this resourceful post on the 15 All-Natural Homemade Lemon Cleaning Products for ways to scrub, polish, and clean your house using your favorite citrus. Make sure to get a few recyclable water bottles to store your new creations. We’re sure that the kids will love helping you with the mixing process, too!
Of course, there are times when we need to disinfect as well as clean. Especially now, with the COVID-19 corona virus lurking, our homes might benefit from a more stringent approach. For information on how to thoroughly clean and disinfect your home, please visit the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) site.
Donate clothing that no longer fits
Kids grow up so fast! Donate clothes that no longer fit to your local Salvation Army, Goodwill, or local church. And if the clothes have gotten so much wear that they've become tattered, visit your local textile recycling plant to prevent your items from ending up in a landfill. This way, you’ll not only clear up space in your closets, but you’ll also be kind to the environment.Rethink your dryer
If you can, leave your clothing out to dry in the sunshine. Not only will you conserve energy, but your clothes will also last longer and smell cleaner and fresher!
Implement a no-shoes policy
The simple act of leaving your shoes by the door prevents grit and grime from accumulating in your house, and ultimately, makes it easier for you to keep your floors clean.
Decorate with more houseplants
Besides beautifying your home, houseplants bring a variety of other benefits. Certain plants, such as peace lilies and snake plants, remove toxins like formaldehyde from the air, helping you and your family breathe easier. Studies have also shown that the presence of greenery indoors promotes relaxation.
Embrace creativity
During your spring clean, instead of automatically throwing things out, see if there are any items that could be reused in creative ways. It’s a great opportunity to get your kids involved! Encourage them to think outside the box about whether certain items could be used for future art projects, instead of letting those things go to waste.
Use washable cloths
Paper towels can be convenient. But with all the scrubbing and polishing you’ll be doing, washable cloths are a smart choice, both for the environment as well as for your budget. Microfiber cloths are a cheap and long-lasting solution.
Be mindful about future purchases
In addition to cleaning, another way you can go green at home is to be mindful about your future purchases. You can choose non-toxic and organic options for everything from the food you eat to the products you use in your bathroom to the clothing you purchase for you and your children. Small changes like this will add up and make a big impact over time. What are some of your go-to green spring cleaning tips?
By Serena Norr.