Spring cleaning is a great time to declutter your home and adopt more sustainable habits. Here is a detailed, room-by-room guide to spring cleaning with sustainability in mind:
Kitchen
The kitchen often accumulates a lot of clutter and waste. Follow these tips for an eco-friendly kitchen refresh:
Clean out the pantry
- Go through all canned/packaged goods and look for expired items. Properly discard anything past its prime.
- Donate any unopened non-perishable items you won’t use. Local food banks often accept pantry item donations.
- Wipe down shelves and reorder items so the oldest products get used first.
Deep clean the fridge
- Remove and discard expired condiments and old produce.
- Clean shelves and drawers with a baking soda paste. Baking soda naturally deodorizes.
- Organize fridge contents so you can clearly see everything. Put newer items towards the back.
Be diligent about food waste
- Audit the fridge weekly and plan meals around items that need to be used soon.
- Freeze surplus fresh produce or prepped meals to prevent waste.
- Compost inedible food scraps instead of throwing them away.
Use eco-friendly cleaning products
- For appliances, use a mix of baking soda, vinegar, and lemon. These natural ingredients are effective degreasers.
- For counters, try reusable microfiber cloths and use castile soap, a plant-based multipurpose cleaner.
Living Room
Your living room collects clutter easily. Here’s how to tackle it sustainably:
Dust and clean surfaces
- Use a microfiber duster to trap dust instead of spreading it around.
- Mix a vinegar cleaning spray. Vinegar is a natural disinfectant and cuts grease.
- Prioritize decluttering flat surfaces like coffee tables, shelves, and side tables.
Declutter media and accessories
- Remove and donate any books, DVDs, or decor you don’t use anymore.
- Store media in repurposed boxes and baskets instead of plastic organizers.
- Simplify your knickknacks. Put sentimental items in one place and rotate seasonal decorations.
Deep clean upholstered furniture
- Vacuum cushions and under cushions to remove loose dirt and debris.
- Spot clean stains with equal parts vinegar and water.
- For a deeper clean, add baking soda and vinegar to a spray bottle for a fizzy foam.
Dust wall hangings
- Use a microfiber duster on picture frames and hanging art.
- For delicate pieces, use a brush attachment on your vacuum.
- Rotate any pieces that have been hanging a while to avoid faded spots.
Bedrooms
Bedrooms and closets always need a seasonal overhaul. Make your spring cleaning more eco-friendly with these suggestions:
Wash all linens
- Wash sheets, duvet covers, and pillowcases in cold water to save energy. Vinegar helps naturally disinfect and deodorize.
- Clean mattress pads and mattress toppers. Let them air dry outside if possible.
- Fluff comforters outside on a breezy day. The fresh air helps renew them.
Deep clean the closet
- Donate or consign quality secondhand clothes and earn some cash back.
- Vacuum closet floors and wipe down shelves. Use cedar blocks to repel moths.
- Organize with reusable bins, baskets, or shelves. Avoid plastic organizers and hangers.
Dust ceiling fans and vents
- Use a microfiber duster on fan blades to clean and remove dust.
- Vacuum air vent covers and where the wall meets the ceiling. Dust collects there!
- Change HVAC air filters as needed so your system runs efficiently.
Declutter and organize
- Donate any unused items like decor, electronics, extra chairs etc.
- File away bills and paperwork that have accumulated.
- Display sentimental items while putting excess decor into storage.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms require lots of cleaning supplies, so use natural options when possible:
Scrub tile and grout
- Mix baking soda and vinegar to scour soap scum. Use a toothbrush for grout.
- For tougher mildew stains, try oxygen bleach cleaners, a more eco-friendly alternative to chlorine bleach.
Disinfect fixtures
- Use a premixed vinegar spray to wipe down sinks, faucets, counters etc.
- For toilets, pour in baking soda followed by vinegar and let the foam work. Scrub and then flush.
Organize supplies
- Declutter medicine cabinets and vanity drawers. Toss expired products.
- Store daily use items in repurposed/recycled organizing bins, jars, or baskets.
Deep clean shower and tub
- Use a vinegar solution on fiberglass or porcelain. For soap scum, try a baking soda paste.
- Clean shower tracks and doors with an old toothbrush and baking soda.
- For mildew stains, allow hydrogen peroxide to sit, then scrub and rinse.
Freshen laundry
- To remove musty smells from towels, wash them in vinegar once a month.
- Between washes, hang damp towels outside to air dry. The sun naturally disinfects them.
- Clean the inside of the washer by running an empty hot cycle with vinegar or baking soda.
Throughout the House
Some cleaning tasks span your entire home. Here are some handy sustainable tips:
Deep clean floors
- Sweep and mop using a vinegar solution. For carpets, sprinkle baking soda as a natural odor absorber before vacuuming.
- Rent or borrow a steam cleaner for grouted tile, linoleum, and sealed hardwood floors. The steam sanitizes floors without chemicals.
Dust ceiling fans
- Use a microfiber duster on fan blades. For hard-to-reach spots, attach a microfiber cloth to a wooden rod.
- Clean lights near fans at the same time. Use a cloth dampened with water and vinegar.
Wash windows
- Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a reusable spray bottle. Wipe with newspaper or reusable cloths.
- Clean window tracks and window sills too using an old toothbrush and simple soap and water.
Freshen fabrics
- Sprinkle upholstered furniture with baking soda and let sit for 15 minutes before vacuuming to absorb odors.
- Place bowls of white vinegar around rooms to help dissipate funky smells. It cuts through smoke, mildew, and pet odors naturally.
Improve indoor air quality
- Open windows regularly to let in fresh air, especially on dry breezy days.
- Clean furnace and air conditioner filters every 1-3 months to remove dust and improve air circulation.
- Set houseplants in rooms to help filter the air. Some great options are spider plants, aloe vera, peace lilies, and snake plants.
Following these simple room-by-room tips will help make your spring cleaning more eco-friendly while still getting your home fresh and decluttered! Focus on small daily habits throughout the season to help maintain your green home.
