Spring has sprung! And along with the first peek at daffodils and tulips comes the time honored (read: dreaded!) tradition of Spring Cleaning. There are a lot of aspects to this task… this really (REALLY!) dreaded task! (Can you tell I simply prefer the daffodils and tulips?)
First comes the actual cleaning – the elbow-grease, sweaty-job of getting rid of winter’s grim, gick and dirt. For just about anything, I recommend vinegar, baking soda and water. It can take care of it all. You can find every use and combination I know by checking out Vinegartips.com. Remember to forgo the paper towels and use those old t-shirts and towels that are too tattered for donating and would otherwise meet the trash can. They can always be washed and reused for an even longer life.
Next comes the purge – getting rid of those “things” that no longer have a place or a purpose in your life. Whether it’s clothing, household items, toys, furniture, books… find them a new home (granted they still have some life in them). Donate them to a charity, list them on Freecycle or Craig’s List, or sell them, but don’t let them “find the curb” in a plastic garbage bag!
Then comes the discard of magazines, catalogs and unneeded “paper” (of every sort) – and make sure they get recycled. Even cardboard boxes have a new life if you list them with Boxcycle or Usedcardboardboxes or again, Craig’s List. In fact, with every bit of cleaning-out you do, consider if it’s recyclable. Example: food cupboards. Those boxes and cans are recyclable. You’ll be amazed!
I’ve always considered Spring the true “new beginning” of the year, so your new beginning doesn’t need to stop with only the cleaning part. Consider making changes too, like switching to CFLs, buying those reusable shopping bags you’ve been avoiding, checking for leaks in your plumbing and even giving your car a good tune-up!
A fellow green mom has put together a kit to help us with all of these little “extras” too – check out Kathy’s Climate Kit. She has condensed it down into one fine package and is offering all of my friends here a 10% discount to boot (just enter code: FESTIVAL at check out!). Plus, a tree will be planted with American Forests Global Releaf Program for each kit sold.
So “start your cleaning engines” and let the Green Clean Games begin!
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[...] with compact fluorescents. Skip the chemicals in traditional, commercial cleaners and opt for eco-friendly choices. Start composing food scraps and other biodegradable materials. D – Donate, Disposable – Donate [...]
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