8 Easy Ways to Make Spring Cleaning More Eco-Friendly
It might not feel like it now, but spring is right around the corner. With this change in seasons comes renewed energy and opportunity for a fresh start.
Many people direct that boost in energy toward organizing, decluttering, and spring cleaning. After all, cleaning and organizing our physical environment also helps our mental and emotional state.
Before you drag out the trusty mop, bucket, and cleaning chemicals, let’s explore some ways to spruce up spring cleaning to make it more earth-friendly. We gathered some tips, tricks, and strategies to make your spring cleaning activities more environmentally conscious!
8 Eco-Friendly Spring Cleaning and Decluttering Strategies
While spring cleaning might be excellent for your home and mental state, it’s not always good for the planet. Many cleaning practices release harmful chemicals into the air, water, and ground. Add in the shocking number of single-use products and non-recyclable plastic bottles, and suddenly, spring cleaning doesn’t feel so fresh.
It doesn’t have to be this way! Here are eight easy ways to make spring cleaning more eco-friendly this year.
1 Reduce paper towel use.
Paper towels are helpful and convenient but have you considered their environmental impact? While they have a small carbon footprint, paper towels collectively contribute to deforestation and the ever-growing waste problem. Unfortunately, even many recyclable paper towels aren’t recycled for various reasons.
Some situations require single-use paper towels, but we can dramatically reduce our paper towel consumption by adding reusable rags and towels to our cleaning supplies. Grab some inexpensive cleaning rags or cut up some old towels and t-shirts.
2 Choose cleaning supplies with “ecolabel” certifications.
We can effectively clean our homes without using harsh chemicals. Instead, we can choose nontoxic and biodegradable cleaning products that won’t harm the environment or expose us to unhealthy toxins.
Today, there are a host of high-quality cleaning products that are environmentally conscious and effective. To choose eco-friendly products, look for cleaning products with “ecolabel” certifications.
The EPA runs two ecolabel programs: Safer Choice and Design for the Environment. Safer Choice is for all-purpose cleaners, dish soaps, and laundry detergents. The Design for the Environment program certifies antimicrobial products like toilet cleaners, bath disinfectants, and similar cleaners.
Both EPA standards evaluate product ingredients to ensure they meet environmental and human health criteria. Products that meet the standards of these programs are required to list all the ingredients (which is not a national law for all products). Each product also must use sustainable packaging.
The two EPA programs also maintain online databases where you can browse all the certified products to make shopping easier.
3 Skip the dryer and hang your clothes.
As you’re spring cleaning, consider hanging at least some of your sheets, towels, blankets, and clothes outside to dry. Skipping the dryer on laundry day has loads of physical and environmental benefits (even if you hang just one load).
Did you know that the sun is a natural disinfectant that helps keep whites whiter? Hanging your clothes outside also softens the fibers and reduces static.
Hang-drying is easier on your wallet, too. Dryers can account for up to 12% of your home’s energy use as they typically use more energy per use than any other appliance.
Dryers can also be quite harsh on your clothes, causing them to wear out more quickly. Hanging your clothes in the sun will protect them from getting overheated or over-dried. Additionally, hanging blankets, duvets, and other large items outside can reduce bacteria build-up.
Outside clothes lines aren’t permitted everywhere, so check your local regulations before installing a line. If you live in an area that doesn’t allow outdoor clotheslines, consider installing one in your bathroom or basement. Or invest in a folding drying rack that you can tuck away when not in use.
This small change to your cleaning routine can reduce your energy footprint, lower your electric bill, and extend the life of your clothes–everyone wins!
4 Be more conscious of water use.
Cleaning can involve quite a lot of water consumption if we aren’t mindful. Another way to make spring cleaning more environmentally conscious is to reduce water consumption. Consider filling buckets with just the amount of water you need for a particular cleaning task rather than letting the tap water run. Or wait to rinse all your cleaning sponges and rags out at once.
Reducing your water consumption by just a few gallons can make a big difference over a year of cleaning.
5 Donate or sell rather than throw away.
Clothing, household items, and kids’ toys are particularly helpful to donate if they’re in good condition. Whether you find a local charity, thrift store, or online “buy, sell, or trade” group, any items you can “rehome” keeps them out of landfills.
6 Go paperless and reduce junk mail.
If part of your spring cleaning list includes organizing your bills and accounts, consider taking this opportunity to sign up for paperless electronic communication. Receiving your statements and invoices via email will significantly reduce the amount of mail cluttering your home, and it’s easier to organize into files on your computer. Additionally, this reduces your carbon footprint by reducing the amount of unnecessary mail being carried around the country!
7 Look for small ways to make your home more energy efficient.
Spring cleaning is a great time to get that leaky faucet fixed, check the air filters on your HVAC system, and ensure the seals on your windows and ductwork are in good shape.
That light bulb you’ve been meaning to replace for the last two weeks–consider purchasing an LED light bulb that uses less energy and emits less heat.
Small changes can dramatically improve your home’s energy efficiency. In fact, many electric companies will conduct free energy efficiency checks to identify small ways to reduce your energy consumption. Call your electric company to find out if they offer this service, especially before the summer heat has your air conditioner running on full blast!
8 Learn how to recycle effectively.
Sadly, recycling isn’t quite as user-friendly as we’d like to believe. Even single-stream recycling programs usually take limited items. Putting items in the recycling that can’t be recycled can cause loads of recyclable goods to be dumped in the trash rather than recycled.
Take the time to learn what items your local recycling program can take from your municipal waste treatment facility. Follow their guidelines and be sure you’re sorting everything properly.
Identify where to properly dispose of toxic household items like batteries, old medications, paint, and chemicals. Most cities have collection sites and programs for these items, so they don’t end up in landfills or add toxins to the water and soil.
Being more environmentally conscious as we go about spring cleaning activities can be a manageable task. The key is to choose to do what feels possible and sustainable. Even choosing one or two things on this list can make an impact over time. Together, we can make a big difference!
