Simple Tips to Make Your Spring Cleaning More Sustainable
Spring is here, and like many of you- I’m starting on the spring cleaning and getting ready for warmer weather! In my house, that means getting rid of clothes that don’t fit, tackling those piles of paper I’ve been ignoring all winter, and getting all of my belongings in order.
Before you get started and clear out your closet to make room for something new- consider a few simple tips to make the process a little more sustainable, reuse and repurpose what you have, and save a little money along the way!
1) Skip the Disposable Cleaning Products
Rags and towels are a great option for those deep cleans- not only for sustainability, but because you don’t have to keep buying them like paper towels or mop pads. The most sustainable option is to invest in the long haul with your purchases- or even better, use what you already have!
In the past, I’ve cut up old t-shirts, stretched out socks, and faded towels I didn’t want anymore to give them a new life as cloths, scrubbers, dusters, and even erasers for my dry erase board!
2) Find Meaningful Places to Donate Unwanted Items
Although thrift stores are a great and very accessible option for a lot of donations, many items can still end up in the trash if they aren’t high quality or in-demand.
Searching for other, more direct ways of letting your unwanted items have a second life is never a bad idea. Whether it’s a local shelter, a mutual aid group, or even a buy nothing group in your city, there are plenty of opportunities to find a new and loving home for your stuff that has a higher chance of diverting it from a landfill.
P.S.- Check out my guide on What to Do With Clothes You Don’t Want for more ideas!
3) Go Paperless
If you’re anything like me, you have a pile of junk mail and old bills sitting in the corner of your kitchen waiting for the day you finally go through them and inevitably toss every single piece in the trash.
Even though it isn’t possible to avoid all this paper waste (I wish!), I’ve made it a goal to go paperless in as many places as I can- the bank, health insurance, etc.
In this digital age, there’s no reason to create waste that will rot in a landfill when you can get the same info in an email!
4) Only Replace What You Actually Need
Spring is a time when a lot of people look for a whole new wardrobe, but what’s wrong with the one you already have? Instead of leaning into new trends, assess what’s already in your closet and decide what needs replacing and what’s really necessary and useful in your life.
Our society has given us a lot of bad habits- including a wide-spread addiction to consumption. The textile industry, in particular, is incredible wasteful and cruel to its workers, so if you don’t actually need something- don’t buy it. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go full capsule wardrobe, but if you don’t see a long future with something new, it’s probably not a good buy- for the sake of your wallet and for the environment.
5) Reuse & Repair
You’d be surprised how easy it is to fix things that you thought were irreparably glitchy or damaged. Whether it’s a pair of jeans or the toaster you’ve had since college, there are plenty of opportunities to use community resources or pick up a new skill to save yourself money and prevent waste!
Even if something isn’t shiny and brand new, there are plenty of ways to breath new life into it- either by repairing it or finding a new way to use it, like:
Plant herbs in chipped mugs
Learn a few simple stitches on YouTube to repair your clothes
Find a local repair cafe to fix broken items and electronics
Cut up and repurpose old clothes as cloths or towels
