For many of us, spring cleaning is an annual ritual designed to literally and figuratively renew our homes for the season. In some cultures spring cleaning is a formal ritual with prescribed timing and tasks. In the west, however, the idea of spring cleaning is a bit looser.
That said, companies and brands latch on to the idea of spring cleaning and ramp up marketing campaigns for everything from disinfectant to vacuum cleaners to laundry detergent. Increasingly, many of these brands are focusing on sustainability with new offerings made of eco-friendly ingredients.
And with good reason, many traditional cleaning products may disinfect the bathroom but may not be planet-friendly. Some have harmful ingredients that impact your indoor air. Others rely on single use wipes that add to the landfill and many simply rely on non-recyclable plastic bottles.
Sustainable Spring Cleaning Tips
As our sensitivity to sustainable practices has increased, we’ve started to look differently at how we tackle spring cleaning.
- You don’t have to look hard to find eco-friendly cleaners these days. Many products now not only have non-toxic ingredients but also come in packaging that is better for the environment such as refillable bottles.
- The pantry may have natural cleaning supplies already stocked. Vinegar, lemons and baking soda can all be used to help clean and disinfect most areas of your home. For a comprehensive list of all of the things these wonder-ingredients can clean, check out this article on The Spruce.
- Beware the paper products! If you’re creating a lot of paper towel waste while cleaning, it’s time to re-think your approach. Reusable towels and sponges may be better options. But it’s important to remember to keep them clean and germ-free. We’ve heard of people buying inexpensive terry cloth towels in bulk at Costco and on Amazon so there is always a stash handy when spills happen.
- Don’t be afraid of the dishwasher. You might think that using a dishwasher is less sustainable than washing by hand. But that’s not necessarily the case when it comes to water usage. According to this article in Green Matters, hand washing a load of dishes can waste as much as five times as much water as an efficient automatic dishwasher. Good thing our plant-based Zungleboo plates and bowls are dishwasher safe!
- For tile or wood floors, consider sweeping more frequently than vacuuming to use less energy and spot cleaning instead of frequent mopping to use less water.
These may seem like small steps. But if each of us changes a few habits or adopts some new Earth-friendly routines, we can make a difference. One step at a time.
