Try a Green Spring Clean!

Spring is a great time to be green, just ask nature. And it’s a great time to be clean. So we thought we’d put two and two together, and hey pesto – it’s a Green Spring Clean!

This month we’ll give you some ideas about how to de-clutter your home the green way and use natural alternatives to chemical cleaners. So throw open the doors and windows and let’s get started…

DETOX YOUR HOME:

Everyone knows the first step of spring cleaning is cleaning out the clutter. This is a great time to reflect on how much junk we can accumulate in our homes and where it all ends up – in landfill! 

The good news is that there are services designed to help you out. Freecycle is a free online service designed to find a home in your neighbourhood for your unwanted goods, while The Sharehood prevents clutter in the first place by hooking up people who are willing to share their possessions with others! Give them a go, and next time you’re going to buy something, think again about whether you really need it or if you’ll likely be giving it the old heave-ho next spring clean.

freecyle.org > 

thesharehood.org >

If you’ve got any hazardous household waste (we won’t ask what you’ve been up to!), why not try the free Detox your Home service run by Sustainability Victoria. You can take paint, motor oil, all types of batteries, BBQ gas cylinders and fluorescent tubes to a convenient drop-off point or dispose of it via the mobile service. Head here for more info >

NATURAL CLEANERS  – GOOD FOR YOU AND SMELL GOOD TOO: 

Commercial cleaning products are full of chemicals. A quick glance at the list of ingredients will reveal a list of nasties which can burn skin, accumulate in your body, even cause cancer – not to mention polluting our waterways once they’re washed down the drain. So why use cleaning products at all, when there are natural alternatives already in your home?  

Here are some great suggestions to get you started. Got your own green cleaning tips? Let us know by leaving a comment below and you’ll be in the running to score a reusable microfibre cloth (see ‘Cleaning Surfaces’ below)…

	Toilet Bowl Cleaner Use a toilet brush with baking soda or vinegar. Source >
	Glass Cleaner Mix 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice in 1L of water. Source >
	Furniture Polish Mix 1 teaspoon of lemon juice in 500ml of vegetable oil. Source >
	Rug Deodorizer Sprinkle baking soda on rug and vacuum after 15 minutes. Source >
	Cleaning surfaces Use an orange netting bag as a scourer that won’t scratch your surfaces, or a microfibre cloth which lasts longer and because it cleans like magic just with water, no nasty chemicals needed.
	Mothballs Use cedar chips, lavender flowers, rosemary, mint, or white peppercorns. Source >
	Ant repellent Mix 3/4 teaspoon boric acid with 4 tablespoons peanut butter and 6 tablespoons honey. Spread it on masking tape or small pieces of cardboard and place them where you see ants. Source >