Green Your Spring-Cleaning

You don’t need an arsenal of harsh cleaning products to keep your house spick-and-span. Follow these four steps for maintaining a healthy home that’s free of dirt and dust, as well as potentially toxic chemicals.

• Prevention goes a long way. Clean up spills immediately, so the liquid won’t have a chance to harden. Wipe wet surfaces to prevent mold from forming on them. And remember to line your oven with foil. By taking these precautions, you won’t need to break out the big guns — stain removers, oven cleaners and bleach — later on. Some other ideas: buy a good doormat, and take your shoes off at the door to keep from tracking dirt, or other outside elements into your home.
• Clear the clutter. It’s much easier to clean when there isn’t a lot of stuff piled up. Sara Bereika, a Certified Professional Organizer® and a guest blogger at Cozi.com, offers suggestions on green ways to get rid of electronics that you no longer need. For example, you can sell these items on Craigslist.com or find someone to give them to on Freecycle. Earth911 also has tips for responsible disposal of computers, batteries and cell phones. (For more information, read Preventing E-Waste.)
• Raid your pantry. Distilled white vinegar is a useful cleaning tool because it acts as a disinfectant; mix it with water to clean floors and windows. For sinks and tubs, use baking soda as a scouring powder (add liquid soap to give the baking soda an added boost). Baking soda can also be used to absorb odor, so sprinkle some on your carpet or keep an open box in your fridge. Finally, a little lemon juice goes a long way toward cutting through grease.
• Ditch the throwaway wipes. Many wipes contain chemicals and create unnecessary waste. Instead, use microfiber towels or rags. Another option is to cut up old T-shirts. Socks are also useful: Slip your hand inside a clean sock for dusting or scrubbing — to protect the skin on your hand. You may also want to consider using pure cellulose sponges that haven’t been treated with antimicrobial agents. Not only are the antimicrobial agents unnecessary, but they may possibly do more harm than good by helping to create antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

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