Spring is the perfect time to adopt more eco-friendly cleaning habits. With the weather warming up and windows being opened, reducing indoor air pollution from harsh cleaners is especially important. Here’s how to green your cleaning routine this spring.
Use Natural Cleaning Products
Conventional cleaners often contain toxic ingredients like ammonia, bleach, phosphates, and formaldehyde. These chemicals pollute indoor air and aren’t safe for kids and pets.
Green cleaning products are made from plant-based ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, essential oils, and soap nuts. They get the job done without introducing toxins.
Some of my favorite natural cleaning brands are Mrs. Meyer’s, Seventh Generation, and Method. Look for products that are EWG Verified or EPA Safer Choice certified.
I switched all my cleaners to natural options last year. The change was easy, I saved money, and my home smells fresh instead of like chemicals.
Make Your Own Cleaners
You can also make effective DIY cleaners using ingredients like:
- Baking soda – scouring, deodorizing
- White vinegar – cleaning, disinfecting
- Lemon juice – cutting grease, whitening
- Hydrogen peroxide – disinfecting
- Essential oils – scent, cleaning power
Some recipes to try:
- All-purpose cleaner – mix 1⁄2 cup vinegar, 1⁄4 cup baking soda, and 10 drops essential oil in a spray bottle, then fill with water
- Glass cleaner – mix 2 cups water, 1⁄4 cup vinegar, and 5 drops essential oil
- Scrubbing cleanser – mix baking soda and lemon juice into a paste
Making DIY cleaners saves money and reduces plastic waste from cleaner bottles. The ingredients also work extremely well for everyday cleaning tasks.
Use Cloth Rags and Towels
Paper towels are wasteful and often bleached with chemicals. This spring, try replacing them with reusable cloths and towels for cleaning.
- Cut up old clothes, sheets, or towels
- Unpaper towels – specially designed reusable paper towel substitutes
- Microfiber cloths – great for dusting and cleaning mirrors
To reduce waste, use rags and towels that can be washed and reused. Only use paper towels for messes like animal waste. Reusables are better for the planet and your budget.
Conserve Water
Green cleaning also means conserving water. Some tips:
- Only run dishwashers and washing machines when full
- Turn off water when hand washing dishes, brushing teeth, etc.
- Shorten showers to 5 minutes or less
- Fix any leaky faucets – a small drip can waste hundreds of gallons over time
Making an effort to reduce water usage will help the environment this spring.
Use Greener Yards Products
Yards often require fertilizers, pesticides, and water to maintain. This spring, adopt greener landscaping habits:
- Compost yard waste and use it to fertilize naturally
- Pull weeds by hand instead of using weed killer
- Choose native plants that are drought tolerant
- Install rain barrels to collect water for irrigation
- Mow lawns less frequently to conserve water – let grass grow longer
- Avoid pesticides – use natural remedies, traps, or beneficial insects instead
With some easy changes, you can green your yard care. The environment and local wildlife will thank you.
Recycle and Compost More
Finally, taking the time to recycle and compost properly keeps waste out of landfills. Some tips:
- Set up curbside recycling if not offered already
- Learn what can be recycled locally – clean paper, cardboard, aluminum, glass, and some plastics
- Rinse containers to reduce contamination
- Compost food scraps if possible or use city collection if available
- Reduce use of single-use plastics and properly recycle what you do use
- Donate or sell unwanted items instead of trashing them
Improving recycling and composting habits at home is one of the easiest ways to green your cleaning routine this spring. Small daily actions make a big environmental difference over time.
With some simple product swaps, habit changes, and homemade cleaners, you can green your cleaning routine this spring. These small steps will benefit your health, save money, and help protect the planet. A cleaner home and cleaner environment await!
