Tips for an eco and ethical spring clean

As the Northern hemisphere wakes into warmth from a slow quiet winter, we are seeing the creeping emergence of spring flowers. With spring, for many, comes the urge to open the windows, dust away winter and have a spring clean. I have put together some tips to get you started and inspired on ways to have a little bit more of a eco friendly and sustainable spring clean.

I have broken it down into different parts. You, me and others all have different resources in which we can utilise and I also might approach a spring clean in different ways. I have also taken a holistic approach, I hope it helps.

Firstly, have a stock take as it makes it much easier to clean with less stuff about.

• Especially important for your fridge, freezers and cupboards. Can you use the spring clean to create a basket or drawer to eat things nearing their best before? Have a clean out of freezers before summer season of plenty?

• Clothing stock take. What needs a bit of TLC, what no longer serves you?

  
  

Eco friendly cleaning:

• Use up cleaning products that you already have and mindfully restock, no spring cleaning hauls. You don't need lots of cleaning products either, many things work for lots of things.

• Washing up liquid is great for cleaning. A simple bowl of washing up water and a cloth will clean lots of hard surfaces, including external as long as you have an eco washing up liquid.

• Vinegar is fantastic for cleaning and polishing. I put citrus peels in my vinegar to add a fresh smell.

• Bicarbonate of soda is a great scrubbing agent, just be really careful not to scratch hard surfaces.

• Oxygen bleach, sodium percarbonate is a great eco friendly bleaching agent. It is an absolute must that you research this one first though.

• Elbow grease, sometimes the simplest answer is some hard work. Instead of reaching for harsh chemicals, try a bit of elbow grease first.

• Refill products, from shops or sachets. You can refill spray bottles from plastic free shops that buy in bulk. You can also get sachets that you fill with water, shake and use. I find these really handy as you can keep them in your cupboard for when needed, that is my HomeThings refill washing up liquid sachet I have ready to go.

• There is a huge range of ready made, eco products that are suitable to be bought and used straightaway. Particularly useful if you don't have spray bottles already.

• Use wind and solar for drying, simply by putting things outside. A day outside in the wind is fantastic for things you might not want to fully wash, I put all my bedding outside on sunny days as UV rays are disinfecting!

• Wash and clean from a bucket or bowl, try not to run the tap, to save water

• If you can, try and stick to natural fibres for cleaning brushes. They can be a more expensive outlay but can be washed and reused. For example I have had the same wooden pot brush for 6 years, it goes in the dishwasher each time. Each time you wash with synthetic cloths, you will be shedding tiny plastic in the water ways.

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Clearing out:

• Recycle properly for your local area. You can recycle batteries, you can earn Boots advantage card points for recycling certain items at Boots, you can donate worn clothes to clothing bins.

• If you are donating items to a charity shop, make sure the items work and the charity shop wants the items. Do not dump bags of items outside of the shops opening times. Don't donate overly worn items, items that are ripped etc.

• Do you have an electrical item that you love but doesn’t work anymore? Can you try your local repair cafe before throwing it out?

• Sell anything of value on Facebook or secondhand sites such as vinted. Someone may be looking for precisely what you're getting rid of, and will be excited to be able to purchase second hand. This one does take a bit longer, but is sooo worth it.

• If you have clothes you’re finished with but that aren’t suitable for donating or selling, can they become rags? I have a roll of rags that were a pair of trousers!

Not just cleaning- caring for things you own:

• Ensuring they are well looked after ensures a long life.

• Give your white goods a good clean. You may want to run them empty, with a vinegar wash, or with a cleaning fluid for white goods. Check your machines guidelines- at the end of the day the aim is to ensure longevity of these products.

• Give your summer clothes an air and or mend if needed.

• Give your indoor plants some love. Follow instructions for your plants, but I like to give them a good wash in the shower, check for pests and check if they need repotting.

• Give shoes a clean, either through the washing machine for trainers or rewaxing, or simply a good brush down.

• Sort through your reusable bags, give them a wash or donate extras. Community fridges, for example, are often grateful for spare bags.

Digital spring clean

• Clear out your emails, delete, file and unsubscribe from mailing lists you don't need or want to receive anymore.

• Delete spare photos

Best tip, is to take your time. The more time you take, the more mindful you can be with spring cleaning, the more likely you are to ensure everything ends up in the correct channels, using the right chemicals and making sure you’re caring for things properly. A good spring clean is an amazing oppertunity to care, clear out and clean.

I hope this ideas are useful, happy spring cleaning.