Spring Clean but Make it Green!
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Spring cleaning - an annual tradition that comes with equal parts dread and eager anticipation... Nothing feels quite as satisfying as clearing out the old to make way for the new. Since cleaning your house from top to bottom can be overwhelming - take it room by room with these spring cleaning tips. While you’re at it, why not make way for a greener lifestyle! Consider this to be your unofficial spring cleaning checklist, green home makeover guide, and generals tips for a more livable space - just in time for spring and summer.
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But before you even get to work, make sure you have all the best supplies at the ready. Toxic cleaning supplies are a big concern - hazardous cleaners can use harmful chemicals that linger on surfaces or in the air for hours before dissipating. So, when it comes to spring cleaning this year, give our natural and DIY cleaners a try in your home instead!
KITCHEN
Time to ‘Marie Kondo’ Those Cupboards.
- Have some items not seen the light of day in a year or more? Rather than putting them on the curb, find a local charity that can give them a second life.
- Cereal, pasta, and tea boxes taking up too much space? Replace them with airtight kitchen storage container options. This will keep your food items fresh and you can make sure that cardboard packaging goes where it belongs - the recycling bin.
Consider Zero-Waste Replacements.
- A lifetime of drinkware can pile up! Silipint products save you the trouble of broken glass, worrisome washing instructions and they’re eco-friendly items that will last you a lifetime!
- Teflon pans leach harmful chemicals into food and damage easily. We love cast iron, ceramic, and stainless steel cookware - these materials take a beating, last forever, and tend to heat more evenly.
- For storing or reheating leftovers, Silipint Bowls are a microwave safe, durable, and dishwasher friendly alternative to plastic Tupperware. They also make a great bakeware alternative, as they’re oven safe up to 450° F.
We’re Cleaning From the Inside, Out.
- Time to get after that fridge, microwave, those small appliances and work our way to the counter tops.
- Store bought products can be toxic, expensive, and result in extra plastic waste. DIY recipes and ingredients are cheap, readily available, and you feel good knowing exactly what’s going on your surfaces. This simple recipe kills germs and works great on food surfaces:
- 1 tablespoon baking soda, ½ cup white vinegar, 20-30 drops lemon essential oil or juice, 1 cup water - combine in a large spray bottle.
LIVING ROOM
Scent Your Space Naturally.
- Skip the synthetics in air fresheners. Tea tree, lime, and cinnamon oils are known for their disinfectant properties, and can be diffused to help cleanse your home from airborne bacteria.
- Damp areas in and around window tracks can be a worrisome place for mold or mildew. You can use clove oil rather than bleach to get rid of any growth - and avoid unfortunate odors.
Grow Some Social-Distance-Friendly Companions.
- House plants aren’t just beautiful, they can help clean the air inside your home. A NASA study recommends the following plants for their efficiency in eliminating toxins and pollutants: Garden Mum, Spider Plant, Dracaena, Ficus/Weeping Fig, Peace Lily, Boston Fern, Snake Plant, Bamboo Palm, and Aloe Vera.
Kick off your shoes.
- Leave the outside, outside, and keep your shoes on a rug by the door. Make sure you check your vacuum filter frequently, as they can become blocked, damaged or defective over time.
BEDROOM
Kondo that Closet.
- Holding on to personal belonging is part of the human condition - especially when it comes to clothing! Once or twice a year, take the time to weed out what’s past its prime or past that waistline. Rather than throwing them out, donate to Goodwill or another charitable service.
- Clean the dust bunnies from the closet, out from under your bed, and show some love to shelves or other surfaces.
Hit the Sheets.
- Wash all of your bedding, including the pillows. Underneath those attractive pillowcases, your cushions might be hiding a few dirty secrets. But make sure you check the manufacturer's label before tossing them into the washing machine.
- Time to attend to what's under the sheets. Your mattress is a unique item that attracts odors but can be difficult to clean. This DIY cleansing powder is all natural, smells great and gets the job done:
- 3 cups baking soda, 1 tablespoon essential oil (fragrance of your choice) - combine in a shaker bottle. Shake well and let sit for a few days to allow the essential oils to fully mix with the baking soda. Sprinkle on your mattress and let sit for about 30 minutes before vacuuming up, using a hand-held vacuum.
BATHROOM
De-clutter cosmetics and other products.
- No matter how tightly we screw on those lids, product expiration dates matter! Check to make sure your products are still in fighting form.
Wash that Bathroom Cup - You Know the One.
- Many of us keep a cup in the bathroom for easy access rinsing or midnight thirst quenching. Silipint cups are perfect examples as they’re unbreakable if bumped or dropped and are stain-resistant, hypoallergenic, and have no open pores to harbor harmful bacteria. But still, wash it.
Neglect the Medicine Cabinet No More.
- Spring cleaning is the perfect time to get rid of expired or unused medicines. But it’s not as simple as tossing them in the trash. Some medicines can be harmful, or even fatal if ingested by children or animals. Many medicines that find their way into our waterways can harm aquatic life too. it’s best to find a drug take-back center.
Clean Green!
- Small in size, bathrooms are the most dangerous room to clean if you’re using potentially hazardous chemical cleaning agents. Here is a list of seven popular, yet toxic cleaners and their safe alternatives.
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The state of your environment can have a profound impact on your wellbeing - you know what they say, a cluttered space = a cluttered mind. Clean your space, clear your mind and get ready for a new season. Sunshine is right around the corner - Happy Cleaning!