![]() The image of fresh linens drying in the spring breeze is appealing although it’s also not possible for everyone. ![]() Getty Images/iStockphoto 10) Air-Dry Clothes When Possible What easy power changes could you make this spring? Are there appliances that don’t need to be plugged in 24-7 (toasters are a great example of this easy energy-saver)? Are your lightbulbs energy-efficient? An LED bulb is an investment in both the planet and your electric bill, as these bulbs last longer and use less off the power grid. Getty Images/iStockphoto 9) Audit Your Electricity UseĪs you clean your home this spring, take notice of your electronics. Contribute your food waste to a neighbor’s compost pile (or your own!), or see if your town’s waste management organization collects compost. Expired foods don’t have to go into the garbage for your refrigerator to be fresh and clean. Your fridge is likely calling out for a spring clean-up. The possibilities are nearly endless-and landfill-saving! Toilet paper or paper towel tubes can keep long cords organized under a tech-heavy desk. Cast-off socks make fabulous dusters, as can used dryer sheets. Old newspapers can be crumpled up and used to polish windows to a sparkling shine. Ready to replace an old toothbrush? Add it to your cleaning toolbox for grout-cleaning and other tidying uses. Getty Images/iStockphoto 7) Repurpose Cleaning Tools Save excess water for other uses, like watering your houseplants.Turn off the faucet while loading dishes in the dishwasher, brushing your teeth, or carrying a pot to the stove.Go shoeless in the house to reduce must-mop dirt on the floor.Water is a key ingredient in any spring clean-up, but what if you took your spring refresh as a chance to reduce your usage of this precious resource? Getty Images 6) Cut Back on Your Water Usage A few drops of essential oils in cleansing, pleasing scents like lavender, grapefruit or tea tree elevate your cleaning experience, leaving your home smelling fresh and spa-like.Stainless steel appliances wipe clean with a few drops of dish soap mixed with warm water.A paste of baking soda and white vinegar is a bubbly and effective way to scrub your tub.Equal parts water and white vinegar can be scented with lemon peel or rosemary for a pleasant smell.You can save both money and the environment by switching to easy-to-make cleaning products for your home. Getty Images/iStockphoto 5) Make DIY Cleaning Products Many communities have yellow Planet Aid bins for textile collection, or ask your public works department if they accept textiles for recycling. If you don’t end up using old sheets and towels as paper towel substitutes, please don’t toss them into the garbage! Textile recycling is an easy way to take ripped or unwearable clothing or other fabrics and turn it into reusable materials. Getty Images/iStockphoto 4) Donate Unwanted Textiles Bills, newsletters and bank statements can be safely password-protected online, which saves the postal system and the planet a lot of bulky paper waste. No scrubbing required to get this spring cleaning task done-take inventory of your flow of mail and consider what you are able to switch to paperless communication. Getty Images/iStockphoto 3) Clear the Paper Clutter Cut old t-shirts or towels into squares and rotate through your laundry cycle for ongoing use. Instead of paper towels, which are single-use items that go straight to the landfill, pick up a packet of inexpensive, washable microfiber towels for kitchen spills and bathroom wipe-downs. Getty Images/iStockphoto 2) Lose the Paper Towels The desire to clean our homes in a way that respects and helps heal the larger world only elevates the renewal of spring cleaning. Be clear with yourself that the impulse to do a spring clean-out, from clearing clutter to wiping windowsills and mopping floors, is a symbolic extension of the fresh, new feeling of tender leaves and new buds on the trees outside. Protecting the Earth starts at home, with each choice we make adding our personal impact to no less than the future of our planet. Getty Images/iStockphoto 1) Set an Eco-Friendly Intention Try these tips to change the way you clean, on Earth Day and afterward. The impulse to do a spring clean-out, from clearing clutter to wiping windowsills and mopping floors, is such a logical extension of the fresh, new feeling of tender leaves and new buds on the trees outside. Protecting the Earth starts at home, after all, with each choice we make adding our personal impact to no less than the future of our planet.
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