April 2016 Green Tip: Spring Cleaning

I don't know about you, fellow sustainabuddies, but this winter took a toll on the cleanliness of my apartment. Those long, cold nights left a lot of the mess out of sight and out of mind, and now is the time to wipe it all away! Thanks to some advice from our friends at the Sierra Club, I'll be making sure that my apartment gets clean without using harmful agents or unsustainable practices. I hope you too find the time to brighten up your home this month!

Clean Naturally

Why scrub counters, floors, and tubs with harsh chemicals that reduce indoor air quality and harm the environment when you can use a few common household items to get the job done? Some basic ingredients for DIY cleaners include baking soda, lemon, vinegar, salt, liquid soap, and hot water. Follow these recipes to create nontoxic scrubs for every occasion.

Choose Earth-Friendly Cleaning Products

You dump all sorts of fancy-smelling products into the machine with your clothes, but those commercial detergents are full of nasty chemicals that can end up in rivers and streams. Consider switching to a plant-based, biodegradable laundry soap (but beware of greenwashingand don't forget to read the instructions on the container, because you may be using much more detergent than necessary. Worried about your whites? Instead of chlorine bleach, scan the store's shelves for a nontoxic alternative -- and skip the fabric softener altogether.

Make a Green Window Wash

To clean those panes, fill a spray bottle with a vinegar and water mixture to make a DIY wash. If you've used conventional glass cleaners in the past, Care2 recommends adding soap or detergent to the mixture to cut the wax buildup left by commercial products. Scrub with newspapers to avoid streaking.

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