Spring Cleaning Tips
Begin the month of April in a productive and sustainable way. Creating better indoor air quality can help you and your family breathe easier even when outdoor air quality is poor. Consider these spring cleaning tips and tricks to clean up your spring in a way that benefits you right at home and begins your journey in creating a better world.
1. Good indoor air quality is just as important as good outdoor air quality. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air pollution can cause health problems. You and your loved ones residing in your home can catch viruses and other bacteria inside. The EPA also provides important information here on how to improve indoor air quality through improved ventilation and air cleaners. Some other tips and tricks to create a healthier indoor environment include:
When cleaning your home, switch to non-toxic cleaning products or consider making your own. Here are some easy recipes to help.
Switch to reusable and biodegradable products. For example, ditch the paper towels and use cleaning rags that you can wash and then hang dry after use. This will also help you save electricity since you aren’t using a dryer. You will also save time and money while reducing fuel emissions by not having to drive to the store every time you run out of paper towels.
2. Instead of throwing old clothing away, consider donating your clothes to a worthy cause to help others and the environment. Clothes in the trash could likely mean clothing ending up in landfills. Here are some places to donate to in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Want to spring clean your kitchen pantry as well? You can also donate when it comes to food. Clean out your pantry and compost any food that is no longer good to consume and donate the items that are not expired. You can even create a nice garden with your composted food to put nutrients back into the soil. If you have never had the chance to compost before, here is an article on “beginners composting” that outlines what can and cannot be composted, and how to begin composting so you can make the most of your experience.
3. Instead of going to the store and buying boxes, use containers that you already have to store your belongings. You can use egg cartons, coffee cans, and fabric for creative storage. Here are some ideas for what to do with those containers. Repurposing or repairing your furniture instead of buying new pieces can give you a chance to make something beautiful out of something used, all while continuing to help reduce the number of items in landfills.
4. Doing simple things around your home to conserve water is important as well. If you use water while cleaning, remember to turn off the faucet immediately after use. Wait until you have a full load to wash your clothes and wash them on cold for the shortest possible cycle. This way, you can conserve electricity and water to help create a healthier planet.
It is important to think about how you can improve outdoor air quality as well. However, that can seem a little daunting because you can’t do it all on your own. Use these tips and tricks to spring clean in an eco-friendly fashion to first help create better indoor air quality to improve your family’s way of life right in your own home. In turn, you will begin to help improve the world’s outdoor air quality.
